A BANKRUPT'S SECRET.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7529, 19 April 1890, Page 2

A BANKRUPT'S SECRET.

Charlie Powell was generally regarded by his acquaintances as " the luckiest fellow in the whole world," Be had a for tune of a quarter of a million, bequeathed to him by his father, the famous banker, on his death some years back; he was clever, handsome, and engaging in his manners ; aud he was affianced to Miss Julia Hunter, the belle of the London ballrooms, with whom he had fallen madly in love the first time he set eyes on her. She was the daughter of Sir M'Pherson Hunter, a Scotch baronet, with very much blood and very little money, and was, therefore, well suited to her betrothed, whose strength was her weakness, and whose weakness was her strength.

Now, Charlie Powell was, like most young lovers, very anxious to get married without delay, and he pressed his betrothed to fix an early date for their union. Neither Miss Julia, who lived in rather straitened circumstances at home, nor her parents, who wanted their daugbt_r off their hands, had any objection to offer, and so a day, scarcely two months distant, was named for the ceremony. But in that short period an event occurred which made it necessary to postpone the wedding for some time. Lady Hunter, mother of the bride-elect, caught a serious chill at the Duchess of Bodmin's ball, from the effects of which she died within 48 hours. It was notorious that the deceased lady had not lived on the best possible terms with Sir M*Pherson ; but the latter was so punctilious about "form" that he would not hear of his daughter's marriage taking place for a twelvemonth after her ladyship's death. And Charlie, though vowing that he could never endure to wait so long, was fain to submit to the baronet's decision.

However, he found time pass very much more quickly than he had expected. Nine months out of the twelve soon flew by— and he was quite startled one morning to realise that he was within three months of his wedding-day, and yet he had not begun to make any preparations. The first thing, of course, to do was to secure the services of a " best man." He decided to ask his intimate friend, Arthur Staveley, to undertake the office.

Acting on this resolve, he went to Stave-ay's chambers, in the Albany, that same afternoon. He was lucky enough to find his friend at home, and alone.

"I say, Arthur," he began, MI want you to do mc a favour. I'm goipg to be married to Miss Hunter, you know, In three months' time. Will you act as my "best man f"

"Certainly, old fellow. I shall be delighted to assist at your execution. But come, neat yourself in that arm-chair, take a cigar from the box on your left, let mc mix you a brandy and soda, and then we will have a little chat."

Powell declined the brandy and soda, but he helped himself to a cigar, which he lit with ereat slowness and deliberation. Then he said, gravely— "Marrying and getting settled is a rather serious affair for a fellow—isn't it, Arthur?"

The other laughed. " I believe you," he replied, "It is no light thing to give up the independence of bachelorhood. They say, by the bye—though perhaps I ought not to repeat it to you—that Miss Hunter has a will of her own—not to mention a temper. I wonder" (with a sly glance at Powell)," whether she would have shown it had she seen you on the river, at Richmond, the other day with little Una Tranbury I" Charlie coloured and started. "I wasn't—at least, how did you know about it ?" he exclaimed.

"I passed you on the water, my dear fellow.; Only I was not so wholly engrossed with my fair companion as to have no eyes for anyone else I" " Well, if I choose to do the civil to Miss Tranbury, and take her out for a row, there's no harm in it, I suppose ? " retorted Powell, in a tone of annoyance. "Not the least in the world, my dear fellow 1 By the way, how long have you known herf "I met her down at Richmond about six weeks ago. I find that her father and mine used to be great friends in days gone "Ah, I seel She's a nice girl, but Awfully poor. She and her mother have nothing to live upon but the latter'Fehsion as a general's widow: otherwise, ■should have tried my fortune with Miss Una, I think, but Trntoo hai-d top to marry anything but a heiress." _ Powell flung the stump of his Cigar into the fender", and rose to go. " What I off ro soon! exclaimed his friend. " What's the matter with you today* Charlie f . "Nothing; only I have a number of things to do this afternoon. Au revoir. I may count on you for my beat man, j then?" " Of course. And when.you next come, I hope .'you'll' not be in quite such a ;| hurry." Powell made no reply to this observation ---probably did not even hear it, being by that time nearly half-way downstairs. And Staveley, having mixed himself another brandy-and-soda, wondered to himself what the devil had Come to his friend. One evening, about a week later, Staveley called in at Powell's on his way back from the club, and found his friend playing " loo" with some half-dozen companions, Refusing an invitation to join the party, he helped himself to a cigar, and sat down to watch the play, as he had often done in Powell's rooms before; for the latter was fond of cards, and frequently held small gambling reunions. On the present occasion the host, who had evidently drank rather too much champagne, was playing in a manner which made Stavely open his eyes; he was always accustomed to see him play a bold game, but'on this occasion he was: inexcusably rash, and was losing heavily. Hi- stock of cash was already swallowed up, and LO.U.'s bearing his signature were flying about on every side. Nov*, Stavely, had too much knowledge of the world to remonstrate with his friend in-the presence of the other players; so he sat quietly smoking, and did not speak a word. He made up bis mind, howeverTtO stay until they had ail gone. At length—that is to say, about 3 a.i__— the pafty agreed to break Up, and, having received cheques from Powell ia redemption of his LO.U.'s, they took their dethey had gone Stavely seized his "I say, Charlie," he observed, -'.7°? were playing devilishly rashly to-night. You must have lost no end r ■ "About three thou," Was the reply; and Powell laughed a careless laugh. "Really, its nothing to laugh at, Stanley rejoined ; "your losses weredoe not to ill-luck, bat to sheer folly. Why, I saw you 'stand-in' against three others on an 'unguarded knave,' with two hundred in the pool r _ "Oh. I hate your tame, cautions platers, Powell retorted. " Give mc a fellow who plays abold game J" . ~ . "My dear fellow, a bold game is one thin-? but foolish temerity is another.

Recollect that you are just on the eve of your marriage, and that now is the very time when you ought to be a bit careful." The reckless, defiant expression suddenly faded from Powell's face. He covered his eyes with his hand and groaned aloud. This sudden charge of demeanour was no less welcome to Staveley than it was surprising, and he took advantage of it to have a serious talk with his friend, which, in the end, lasted so long that neither of them went to bed at all that night. It seemed that his friend's good advice was not lost on Charlie Powell, since from that time forward he appeared to curb his recklessness and extravagance in no alight degree.

But, alas! appearances are deceptive, and the young man's bankers conld have told a widely different tale. Security after security was sold out to meet his heavy cheques, which were presented for payment also daily, until at last nothing further remained to be realised upon. Consequently one fine morning, little more than three weeks before his wedding day, Charles Powell woke up to find that the £50 in cash, which lay upon his dressing table was all the money in the world that be could now call his own.

That very day —by an unfortunate coincidence^ —a certain jjeweller, to whom Powell owed a long bill, called "to have his little account settled," having applied by letter several times In vain. Of courae, Charlie could not comply with his demands, and the jeweller, suspecting that matters were going wrong, J issued a writ for the recovery of the debt. Then the other tradesmen to whom Charlie owed money soon got wind of this and followed suit, with the consequence that, ere a week was out, Powell's name appeared in the papers as having filed a petition in bankruptcy. Sir M'Pherson Hunter and his daughter were at home in Scotland, getting ready for the wedding, and the appearance of Powell's name in the Bankruptcy Court was the first intimation that they had of tho altered circumstances of the bride-groom-elect. The Baronet at once wrote off a furious letter to him, wanting to know what the devil he meant by his conduct, ordering him to give up all thought of marrying Julia at once, and abusing him violently all round. By the same post came a packet of returned letters, accompanied by a short note from the young lady herself, in which she requested Charlie to return all her letters and presents atonce, adding that she freely forgave him the wrong he had done her, but that him papa had bidden her break the engagement off, and her sense of filial duty left her no alternative but to obey. "Filialfiddlesticks!" said Staveley, to whom Charlie showed this note. "Miss Julia hates her papa cordially ; they have only one quality in common—the love of gold. Send her back her letters, old fellow, ' and have done with her. I don't doubt she'll soon console her lacerated heart with some other chap I" The particulars of Charlie's failure were reported in most of the papers ;' we quote the following extract from the Timet .— " Cotjrt of Bankruptcy.— ln r_ Char__ss Poweix. " A first meeting of creditors was held yesterday, at which Mr Whltehouse, who appeared for the debtor, said he was glad to be in a position to make a most satisfactory offer. The debtor's failure was of an unusual kind. Three months ago he was in affluent circumstances, but in that short space of time he had run through a large fortune by reckless gambling. The young man's friends, to whom he lost much of his money, had now come forward, considering themselves partly responsible for his failure, and were willing to settle all claims in full. Mr Registrar Hyde commended the honourable manner In which the debtor's friends had behaved, and their offer was at once accepted by the creditors."

So, by the kindness of his friends, Charlie found himself free of all liabilities; but, except for what they might give him, he was without a shilling in the world. As for Miss Julia Hunter—Staveley's prediction concerning her was soon verified. The man with whom she consoled herself was a wealthy American, and she married him In less than four months from the day on which she returned Charlie Powell's letters. .

That young gentleman was present &t the wedding ceremony—as one of the public, and he witnessed it throughout with a scornful smile. No sooner was it over than he went straight from the church to Waterloo Station and took the first train for Richmond. Arrived there, he made his way to the river, and, hiring a dingey, sculled himself leisurely up stream.

He had not proceeded far when he pulled his boat up to some landing-steps on the Surrey side. A small cottage, In the backf round, peeped through the willows which ere fringed the river a bank, and, alighting from his boat, he bent his steps towards it. Before he had accomplished half the distance between the river and the house, a young lady, who was reading in the garden, caught the sound of his football on the gravel path, and, laying down the bodk, came forward to meet him. " Oh, Mr Powell 1" she exclaimed. "Have you come by river? lam co glad to see you." "I have come." he answered, " straight from Bt. Peters Church, where I have just witnessed the marriage of Miss Hunter. But I have a few words lam anxious to say to you." She blushed and looked down, but suffered him to lead her to a seat under a weeping ash near the river. Here they sat side by side.

" Miss Tranbury," he began, after a long pause, during which she toyed nervously with her gloves and kept her eyes fixed on the daises at her feet, "I wish to ask you one question. Bankrupt and ruined spendthrift that I am, I wonder at my own audacity In daring to ask it. But my feelings master mc, andforce'me to give them expression. Miss Tranbury—Una—do you love mc ? "

She.raade no reply, and still fixed her eyes upon the daisies. " Una—darling Una," he repeated In a voice tremulous with subdued passion. " For God's sake, speak, and tell mc." bha raised her beautiful face to his, and her lips tried in vain to murmur a reply. But he cared not for that. He had read her answer in her glorious eyes, and the next instant was pressing her to hb heart;

" And now," said Charlie, at the expiration at half an hour, " I have one favour I wish to aik you. Let our engagement be a short one. ■

On hearing this she blushed and averted her gaze, ii ;.„. *v ... s .. -, " I am so poor," she murmured. " I have

no money at all, And you " I "Are equally penniless, you were going to say. r But, Una—my darling—can you keep a secret f' i "l hope sol" she answered, regarding him with a puzzled airyas if to guage the purpose of his question. "Then I will tell you one 1" he replied. "But.first—youknow Staveley f "Yes I" she said, with ever so slight a pout of her dainty lips. "And I used to like him. But—but—people say that—" "Say what, Una?" " That he Is the man who won from you the greater part Of your fortune r '" "For once, my darling, people say the truth. Staveley is the man to whom I lost most of my money I" '•Then I shall never care to see him again 1 she replied, with emphasis. "But let roe tell you how it was,"he continued. "I once thought I loved Julia Hunter. But when I had seen you, I loved her no longer; and, as my weddingday drew near, the thought of marrying her grew more and more hateful. I became reckless. I took to mad gambling to drown my trouble; and one night Staveley saw mc playing, and remonstrated with mc on my rashness. I replied that! cared not a pin if I lost every farthing of my fortune-indeed, I should prefer to do so, since that would certainly drive Julia Hunter to break off her engagement with mc. And Staveley answered —(you are listening, my darling! " "With all my ears! What did Mr Staveley answer V ***Charlie.'he said, 'if you're going to be such a foot as to lose all your money, you may as well lose it to mc as any one else,' * Right you are,' I replied; * you're my most intimate friend, and you shall have the first chance of wlnnlngit.'.".----"A most disinterested friend, indeed 1" She Said, sarcastically, t% scornful smile curving her pretty little mouth. "And you let him win it!" " Every penny, he returned; "and I was thus reduced to bankruptcy. Julia threw mc over, and—l was accordingly free. Staveley, I may add, paid my creditors tn fall, which, as you must admit, w*>s very honourable of him."

'"He could have done no less,** she fIH __IV&F--___t " No, my darling, But he was in ft position to do a great deal more—and he did it. For no -ooner was my bankruptcy settled* and Julia Hunter was fairly engaged to that unfortunate YattMe-, than Staveley repaid mc the whole of coy lost money i" . •'WhaiTl" she gasped ia at_ia_«menfc» feeling convinced that her ears muafe have played, her ialse. * - ,_. _ # "It is ouite true I" be said, with a Quiet

.srauW' "The lost btoknjpto. were omy fL&? i__u! of Jnlia Hunter, and** ISS * «r*S wound he* waist, a„a fiffjj him), "1 think we _ffy-X*-?-, fift a tninK wo may I" at., aoftly, as she yielded -race,~_YuiA, * " a *° -«» lo^g