The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-06-09
VOL. XXXV.--NO. S3.

good education, and then to lose you right
away; and it's natural that | should feel
sore about it.
stYou won't lose me You'll gain
another child instead. I'm sure Ned'll |
love you dearly-that is, if you II give him
a chance and with another kiss, Nanny |
hastened away to hide the tears her moth
er' S suggestion had brought to her bright |
eyes No, indeed ! I'll love my mother
all the better for loving Ned SO faithful
and true T. she thought.
As Mrs Leydon had said, Edward
l. Estrange belonged to an entirely differ
ent class of society to the one in hich
Nanny had been reared. He was the
younger son Of a country gentleman who
had only been able to save from his income
sufficient to insure comfortable support
to his widow and daughter in case Of his
death, as the estate was entailed upon the
eldest son. So the younger ones had to
seek for fortune gifts for themselves, or
go without them.
Frederick L Estrange was employed as
bookkeeper by the same firm in which
Edward acted as cashier. He was very
different, both in looks and in tempera-
ment, from his brother, being naughty,
reserved and indolent; extravagant in his
habits, and living up to his income, if not
beyond it, On the contrary, Ned was
frank, genial, and energetic, caring little
for luxury, and ever ready to lend help
ing hand to a needy fellow creature.
Frederick i Estrange considered Nanny
Leydon so much beneath him in the social
scale that he had scarcely vouchsafed her a
glance before her engagement to his broth
er, and even after that his manner toward
her was mixture of superciliousness and
coldness upon the.rare occasions of their
meeting.
She had a sweet, powerful soprano
voice, and had been invited for its sake
into the choir of the church which she had
attended as Sunday scholar, and where
her singing had attracted notice as child,
SO that any of the exhibitions which were
given occasionally to show the pupils off in
public, were considered bereft of the prin-
cipal attraction if anything occurred to
keep Nanny away.
Ned was passionate lover of music,
and sang with correctness and feeling him
self When he first came to Ito enter
upon his new, self-supporting mode of life,
he attended the church where, every
Lord day, Nanny's sweet voice scared
up in its bird-like clearness and purity as
distinct in its individuality from the notes
of the choir singers, as lark S would be
among chorus of less gifted songsters.
So attracted at first by her voice, he had
learned to look for the shy, lovely face of
its owner until it had grown into his heart,
and his love for Nanny had become part
of himself He sought an introduction,
and, as we have seen, had won her con-
sent to be his wife.
Their wedding was a quiet one, and the
young couple settled down in a pleasant
home, with every prospect of happiness.
All went on well for several years; then
sudden and terrible shock came to the
young wife, tender heart. The husband
whom she loved so dearly was accused of
forgery. Upon going to his place of bus
ines one morning he was told that his
presence was desired in the private Office
of Messrs. Holman & Co., his employers.
He found the two senior members of the
firm awaiting him there. He was imme
diately confronted with some drafts which
had been signed apparently by Mr.. james
Holman. The writing was close imita-
ton Of that gentleman hand, but there
was peeuliarity about some of the letters
which had caused the bank officials to
scrutinize them closely before accepting
them, although deciding them to be gen.
uine at the last.
There was mingling of expressions
upon the young mans face as he glanced
at the signature He was about to speak,
but, as though controlled by sudden
thought, he hesitated, slowly serutinized
the writing again, and then said
'Do you think am the guilty party
who has tried to defraud you, Mr.. Hol-
man p
81 am sorry to say do, Mr.. l. Est
range Who else has had an opportunity
to become familiar enough with my pen
manship to initiate it r.
Ned hesitated an instant before he an
swered. Then he said
s'Can the matter l,o settled by paying
you the amount of those drafts r.
GAS you are young man in whom we
have taken an interest, think ] can an
swer for the other members of the firm,
and say yes, Mr.. L Estrange. But, of
course, only to save you from ruin. am
sorry to be SO disappointed, sir may
say we are sorry speaking Of my part
ners also. =
Ned's features worked with emotion.
1t seemed strange that such an honest,
frank pair Of eyes could look out of for
gers face.
ssIf you will excuse me. I will try and