WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 181

 

abstracted in money, and given the notes of the firm
for his own use, to the enormous amount of fifty
thousand dollars. .

A dissolution of co-partnership took place in con-
sequence. Parker, blasted in reputation, was dragged
before a court of justice, in order to make him dis-
gorge property alleged to be in his possession. But
nothing could be found; and he was finally dis-
charged from custody. The whole loss fell upon
Jasper. He had nursed a serpent in his bosom,
warming it with the warmth of his own life; and
the serpent had stung him. Is it any wonder ?

This circumstance, the discovery of Parker’s fraud-
ulent doings, took place about two years prior to
the time when Fanny Elder attained her legal age.

The first thought of Jasper, after his separation
from Parker, which took place immediately on dis-
covering that he had used the credit of the firm im-
properly, was to send for Claire, and offer him a
salary of a thousand dollars a year, to come in and
fill the responsible position as clerk, from which
Parker had just been ejected as partner.

“TJ can trust him fully,” said Jasper to himself;
“and I don’t know anybody else that I can trust.
He is honest; I will give him credit for that; too
honest, it may be, for his own good. But, I don’t
know. Who would not rather be in his shoes than
in Parker’s?”

For some time Jasper’s mind was favourable to
making Claire the offer proposed, and he was about
writing him a note, when a new view of the case
struck him, dependent on the young man’s relation

to his ward, Fanny Elder.
16