The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-06-22

Holman!
81 am sorry to say do, Mr.. LEST
range Who else had an opportunity
to become familiar enough with my
penmanship to initiate it?''
Ned hesitatcd an instant before he
answered. Then he said:
Can the matter be settled by pay
ing YOU the amount Of those drafts?"
"As you are q young man in whom
We have taken an interest, | think |
can answer for the other members of
the firm, and say yes, Mr.. L 'Estrange.
But, of course, only to save you from
ruin. l am sorry to be SO disappointed,
sir. / may say we are sorry-spcak-
ing of my partners also"
Ncd's features worked with emotion.
1t scemel strange that such an honest,
frank pair of eyes could look out of a
forger's face.
"If you will excuse me, | will try
and raise the money in the course of
the day" he said, hurrctly, evidently
wishing to csca +" from his qucstioner
without breaking down.
He received the desired permission
to depart, and went away at once.
His efforts proved unsuccessful, and
he came back.
"Takc the full course of the law with
me-" he said, sadly. IL cannot raise
over one-half of the amount required. "
Feeling a just Indignation at his con-
duct, his employers were about to take
him at his word, when 4 new actor ap-
peared upon the scene. 1t was his
wife. He had promised to take her to
the Botanical Gardens that afternoon,
as it was halfholiday. She had called
for him, and had been unwittingly con-
Quoted thither by one of the clerks in
the establishment
The distress upon his face, and the
sternness upon Mr.. Holman's frown-
ing brow, told her that something was
wrong.
She turned TO Ned
"What is it?' she asked, TREMENDOUSLY.
care you in trouble? Don't keep any
thing from me- | can bear it as long
as you are we'll"
I'VE are sorry, Mrs. L'Estrange,"
said Mr.. Holman, ''but it is no fault of
ours. Your husband can best explain
what has occurred"
81 am accused Of crime, Nanny"
said Ned, "and l have to suffer for it.
Go hcme, dear, and don't worry. It'll
do no good"
With little cry Nanny went to her
husband and threw her arms about his
neck.
But you are not guilty, arc you,
Ned, won't believe it of you'll"
eff l cannot prove my innocence.
your faith in me, darling, will not save
me. A little money now would be a
good thing, much as have scorned it
in the past"
81 have something | saved from my
earnings as a teacher, Ned. Will that
do any good?"
keep it, Nanny. With such Lus-
band as am turning out, yoa'll prob
ably need it, Your small savings
could not do anything towards meet
ing this and this" handing her the two
drafts as he spoke. ."They accuse me
of forging these signatures.
ooh, sirs," said Nanny, her eyes run
ming over with tears, as she turned first
to one Mr.. Holman, then to the other,
"Ned cannot have done such 4 thing
He is the soul of honor
"Hush, Nanny!' said Ned. "You
speak of me according to your knowl-
edge of me. You may not be in the
right"
You ought to be good man with
such wife, Mr.. l. Estrange,' said Mr..
James Holman, stcrnly. Then he
turned toward Nanny:
"Madam," he said, in softer tone,
"for your sake We will suspend action
against your husband for the present,
and will give him chance to retrieve
himself by allowing him to retain his
position in our house. In saying this,
sir, you will see that we have no wish
to prosecute you"
Ned's pale face flushed rs Mr. Hol-
man thus addressed him; and he said,
with a thrill of gratitude in his voice:
"You will find that l am grateful
man, Mr.. Holman, and that your kind
ness will not be thrown away"
And Nanny held out her trembling
little hand, with look of deep thank
fulness in her tearwet eyes. Then they
went home. The punishment of the
law was no longer to be feared.
Nanny was as loving rs ever, but
there was q change in her from that
time. All her bright bouyance OF
spirits had gone, and she would fall in
to brown study every little while.
The truth was the idol she had set up
in her heart had wounded her by turn.
ing into clay. She still worshiped her
husband, but did not reverence hin. If
he would only say: Nanny, | am an
innocent man." she would have be-
lieved him; but he kept silent about
the matter, aud she reasoned to her
self that no innocent man could bear