The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-05-23
Interesting STORIES TOLD
Some People Can Be Honest
When 1t Pays Them.
Hiss x Did Not Receive the Note.
But Charitably Inclined Woman
Did. The Hen Chose
Strange Place to Hatch
Her Young.

An old resident of Rochester recently
related an experience which illustrates
In rather striking fashion tho mean
ness and shonesty which persons es-
teemed by the community will descend
60 when they consider themselves Sc
cure from discovery.
"Some years ago." ho snid, II re-
ceiyed note from young woman, the
daughter Of friend of mine, which
puzzled me greatly. She stated that she
had run in debt to a considerable amount
above her allowance, and that several
shopkeepers had Threatened 10 send their
bills to her father unless settlement
should be made within q certain timo.
She said she had been in similar diff
culties several times before, and that
her father had satisfied the creditors on
her promising to incur no debts in the
future. His anger on tho last occasion
had been so great that she feared to con-
Tess her straits and turned to mo rs
family friend for temporary assistance
The amount she asked for was 800.
She begged me to put the money in an
envelope and place it in book that
used to stand on table in tho ladies'
waiting room of Powers hotel at IL
O'Clock on the following morning
The request annoyed me exceeding
ly, and was in doubt whether it was
not my duty to inform my friend, who
was wealthy merchant, Of his daugh-
ter's indiscrction. However, I decided
cNr,,T1y, will, ),nr
little good advice ut the first oppor-
tunity.
THE following morning 1 drew the
money in $40 bills and was Oh my way
to the hotel when met Miss Y. OH the
street. I received your note, said
My note she exclaimed in astonish-
ment. L have written You no note Bnt
that reminds me that l was going TO
write you. My mother wishes You to
dine with us next Monday | turned
the matter Off, and TO this day Miss Y.
is Ignorant Of thu cause of my strange
remark.
Il saw at once that some one Ind
been forging her name, and stepping
into private detective agency stated
the facts to detective. He advised me
TO pnt some slips Of paper i'll the envel-
ope and place it in the book us direct
ed. This did, and the officer took Il
position where he could note every one
who entered or left the room.
During the next hour two women
entered the room at different times, both
OF whom were known to me. One was
the Wife OF an intimate friend, who held
high position in the social life of the
town and was generally noted for her
hberality and generous disposition. The
other was an unmarried woman border
ing on the thirties, who was conspicuous
for her zeal in charitable works and her
energy IN educational reforms. Each of
these Women was alone in the room for
some minutes, and when they both had
departed the envelope had been taken
from tho book. One of them was guilty
or as mean and dishonorable an act as
can readily be conceived of, an act which
but for lucky chance would have put
an innocent girl in most trying posi-
ton. l often meet these women, but
which it was who wrote the letter have
never been able to determine nor even
suspect in my own mind. '-Rochester
Union.