The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-08-20

why shall we not see you again?'
| asked, when he had resumed his seat
He laughed; then, selecting pen
from a small collection on IL writing
table, he wrote on the back Of an en-
'elope and tosseG the paper over to
me.
What is that?" he asked: and |
looked upon it with amazement
1T is my signature" l faltered. "An
imitation of my signature"
ut is forgery, is it not?"
"Yes, but l don't quite see the drift
of the business"
THE business speaks for itself, my
dear fellow" ard he tossed his cigar
end into the CRATE. at is my business
i am forget" There was a pause.
Sharp was smiling. while l felt as if
some one was pouring ice water down
the small of my back. l could only
murmur: You are forger!"
Listen. You know, of course, that
Gracie's mother was my sister. The
Sharps were poor as church mice. and
my father strict old parson. got me
into London office when was mere
boy. l shall not drivel about tempta-
tion and so on; be it entskgh to say that
my talent for drawing and penman-
ship made me friendless for life before
l was II years of age. To be quite plain
with you. I spent the halcyon days of
dawning manhood in Portland prison.
Oracle knows nothing of this. and no
member of my family heard of me for
years, until I came to the rescue of my
sister when old Farleigh died. for
was well off then. Farleigh was not in
sured, and left my sister badly off. and
so helped her out and paid for Gracie's
education.
'The story goes that I made my
money in America. but l am able to
correct that statement for your benefit
On my release from prison | threw in
my lot with two of the most daring
criminals of the high grade and, al
though we had some narrow shaves in
our time. we were never captured
'Since Oracle came to live with me
Cher mother, as you know. died a year
ago) have often feared that by some
odd chance might be run to earth, and
/ set to work to get her settled in time
in position that she has always en-
joyed. | would rather die than that she
should know me for the villain | have
been.
Thanks to you, this will never hap
pen now. In few days you will hear
that / have gone abroad. l shall die
there (officially), and you will hear
of me no more. 1t will be your part
to assist me in deceiving Grace in this
one matter. You have married a lady,
and one who will do you credit"
tap came at the door and my lovely
young wife walked into the room. ]
was looking and feeling confused.
81 have been giving Jack some whole
some advice. my dear" said Sharp. COM
ing to my rescue. Then, in sterner
voice and looking very hard at me: He
will love and cherish you. dear. as
have done. He has sworn to do so.' e
Grace threw her arms about his neck
This man had taught her to love him
very dearly. The carriage was at the
door, and Sharp would give me no
chance of speaking to him again. Tears
were glstening in his eyes as he
watched his niece getting into the cab.
but he did not offer his hand to me;
he only laid it on my shoulder and
whispered: Remember"
Many years have passed away. and I
am living in London again. My name
is Il household word in the world of
medicine. Oracle and my daughters
and sons are received with pleasure and
respect in many fashionable draw
ing-room. There are times. however.
when, seated alone in my study. my
thoughts wander back through a vista
of years, and my conscience tells me
that my success was founded on the
compounding of felony; that am
still, in spite of title. wealth and re-
spectability. the accomplice of that
strange man, who passed out of my life
forever on the night bade him fare
well at Rose Villa so long. long ago
Tit-Bits.