The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-18

there was a knock at the side door. Es-
Their sprang up with a flush OF expecta-
ton and ran to open the door.
Good evening, Miss Birchington," said
a voice In the darkness Can l speak
TO you?'
Her heart sank, for she recognized the
voice in moment; 1t was not that of her
sweetheart, but that of Matthew Grover,
the solicitor.
Il cannot speak to you tonight. Mr..
Grover" she said.
you must, though" said the man. push
ing past her. My business won't keep"
He walked into the room-a short thick
set, gray-hared man, with a sharp. fox
like face, keen black eyes, clean shaver
lips and gray side-whiskers. She follow
ed him, and looked at him in amaze, for
his face was white and strange and his
lips were set cruelty.
What is it?" cried Esther, trembling
In spite of herself.
III tell you if youI send the girl
away" said Grover: its private, You
know. Come, take my advice, and do as
I tell your
Utterly amazed Esther told her little
servant to retire upstairs, and then, trem-
bling still, waited for her visitor to ex-
plain.
If you'll sit down, Miss Esther" he
| said, mottoning her to a chair, I'm tell
you why I'm here" He added, as she
obeyed him: IT'S only right that you
should know, but before you do 1 want
to say to you that 1 bear you no malice,
! and that l stin wish you we'll l was
truly fond of you, Miss Esther, when 1
| asked you to be my wife, and I'm truly
fond of you still That's why l want TO
| prove to you that I should be very sorry
| to see you in trouble"
She gazed at him in wonder, dreadng
every moment to hear her lover at the
door
Il don't understand" she murmured.
you'll understand soon enough" said
| Grover, seating himself opposite to her,
and drawing out a handful of papers tied
with red tape. First let me ask you
if it's true, as I've heard, that you're 60
ing to marry Mr.. John Beairs of Lon
don?'
1T Is quite true" said Esther, with an
angry flush.
IT thought so, and of course you
wouldn't be going to marry him If you
didn't think him a gentleman and a man
of honor. Now I'm going to ask you an
other question. Have you ever lent him
any money!"
with an impatient cry Esther sprans
to her feet. How dare you ask such a
question:" she exclaimed.
mo offense." said the lawyer, dryly
'Well, If you haven't lent him any money,
have you ever done as good? Have you
ever put your name to any document
which he could turn into money!"
Again Esther exclaimed in Indignation;
but as she did so Glover drew from the
documents he held a small piece OF blue
paper, which he placed on the table before
her, still holding the edges of it between
his fingers.
Look there, Miss Esther. Is that your
handwritfhg?"
he ,
as follows:
Three months after date pay to my or
der the sum of 800 pounds for value re-
ceived. Signed. John Bellairs"
And across the paper was written in a
feminine hand:
Accepted, payable at the London and
County Bank, Deal Branch. Esther
Birchiugton."
AS she looked at the writing Esther felt
as If her very heart grew dead within her;
all the color faded out Of her face, her very
lips grew ashen pale. She looked and look
ed and tried to speak. but could not utter
word. Fortunately. or unfortunately,
Grover spoke on, and gave her time to col
lect her ideas.
Nov, Miss Esther, that document has
come into my hands, and In Just a month
from now it will be presented for pay
ment. I've had a suspicion from the first,
however, that there was something wrong
about it-something very wrong"
She felt the keen eyes fixed upon her
as she murmured
Something wrong?"
"In other words" said Grover. thrust
ing forward his face to hers, "this bill
is a forgery, and III tell you how it has
come about. This man Belalrs, being hard
up, and knowing you were so soon to be
married, has initiated your signature and
cashed this BILL managing to arrange that
no questions should be asked by anybody
and no reference made to acceptor tin
the document was presented for payment.
By that time he'd be safe enough, for your
money would be his and-do you see, Miss
Esther?"
There was no mistaking the mans tone
of secret exultation. He reckoned how
ever, without his match, for by this time
Esther had recovered her self possession
and determined how to act Their eyes
met Then deadly pale, but strangely
firm and forcing a cold smile, Esther said:
'If that is adj you have to say to me, Mr..
Grover, / will wish you good EVENING"
The man started as if he had received
blow. His eyes glared, and he exclaim-
ed:
''Take care, Miss Esther! Mind what
you're about l know this acceptance isn't
your handwriting, and word from me
will put your lover in a felons dockp'
Drawing herself up, Esther pointed to the
door.
please GO" she said. Il expect Mr..
BelIairs. When that bill is presented my
signature will be honored, for l daresay
YOU know I have the money at the bank"
rs it, or is it not, your signature?"
cried the lawyer.
She looked him full in the face.
Eyes" she replied. Then crossing to the
door she threw it open. He gave an
other wild look at her, uttered an OATH
and passed forth.
An hour later Esther sat by the fire
white as death. She had sent the little
maid to bed, and remained up alone. What
she had endured during that hour Of agony
she never fully realized. She had neither
cried nor wept, her eyes were quite dry
but she felt like a dead woman sitting in
her shroud.
All the beautiful dream Of her young life
had melted like a castle in the air. The
man she had loved and trusted was a
xyho had committed a dfegraco-