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neglected his duties that he was dismissed by his employer . He w . is idle for some months , not caring to exert himself to obtain another situation . An unexpected vacancy occurred in Mr . Hastings' office , a clerk , from ill-health , was compelled to leave . Lucy spoke on

behalf of her brother Georgo to Mr Hastings , who consented to eng . ige him , temporarily , until the clerk resumed his duties . This , however , he never did , for he died abroad two months afterwards . George , who had been on his best behaviour , and , by steady imp lication to his work , had acquired the good graces

of Mr . Hastings , was permitted to retain his post as a permanency , with the hope of promotion should he deserve it . He now considered his situation secure , but did not , unfortunately , continue to show the zeal he had previously done ; he relaxed his efforts , irregularities crept into the office work —a serious mistake he made caused a heavy pecuniary loss .

Mr . Hastings was , at first , determined to dismiss him , but Lucy appealed so earnestly , on behalf of her brother George , that Mr . Hastings could not resist her , and pardoned , on this occasion , his delinquencies , warning him at the same time that they must not occur again . George readily promised

amendment—it lasted a little while—then thero was a relapse . Ho had again joined his former evil associates , became involved in horse racing , and , from the anxieties which occupied his mind , was not fitted for business avocations ; he ventured to stake heavily on what , in racing parlance , is called a " dead cert "—

lost , and knew not where he should find the money to meet his obligations . In this dilemma he yielded to tho temptation , whicli hc had not the courage to resist , of forging Mr . Hastings ' signature on a blank cheque which he had managed to secure . As he was well known at the bank , he did not dare to present

the cheque himself , which purported to be for Self , with his employer's signature—he , therefore , went to the room where his sister was , and said : " Lucy , the governor wants this cheque cashed : he has

asked me to go—I am very busy just now , will you go in my place , present the cheque at the bank , receive the money , come back , hand it to me , and I will give it the governor ?"

Lucy , suspecting nothing , agreed to go ; she went to the bank , received the cash , which she left with her brother for him to give to Mr . Hastings . It need hardly be said that the money did not go beyond , the hands of her brother George . Some days afterwards Mr . Hastings , on looking over his

bank-book , observed an item of £ 50 , drawn by himself , of which he had no recollection . Ho called at the bank , and asked to see the cancelled cheques . Hc noticed the one for £ 50 , looked carefully at it—it was a clever imitation of his signature , but an undoubted forgery . He enquired of tho

cashier by whom it was presented—was told by a young lady . From her personal description it was evident that it had beeu cashed by Lucy . He went back to the ollice , heavy at heart

—he would fain believe that Lucy was not guilty , but the evidence against her was too strong to be refuted . After mature deliberation he determined to say nothing to her at present , and await the future development of affairs .

One day , some time afterwards , happening to go into the counting-house , he noticed George was busily occupied , so much so that ho did not notice that Mr . Hastings was close by him . Happening to look up , he caught his master ' s eye , became confused , and hastily put in his pocket a scrap of

paper , and made some excuse I ' or going into an inner ollice . As he thought , he had put fhe scrap of paper in his pocket , but , in fact , he had not done so . In the hurry of the moment he had failed in his intent , and it had fallen , unknown

to him , on the lloor . \\ hen George was gone Mr . Hastings , looking downwards , perceived something whito ; ho picked it up—it was a crumpled scrap of paper . Ho smoothed it out , and perceived three imitations of his own signature .

Proceeding to Miss Ashlord ' s room , he asked Lucy , in a careless manner , " Miss Ashford , did you cash a cheque for £ 50 at the Bank somo days ago '' . " Lucy replied in the allirmativo . " I do not remember giving it to you . Erom whom did yon receive it ?

" My brother George tohl me that you had desired him to cash it , ami hand the money to you . He asked me to go in his place , as he was very busy . 1 did so , and received tho cash , which I handed to him . "

" 1 am very sorry to ( ell you , . Miss Ashford , that I did not give the cheque to your brother ; he forged my signature , and has appropriated the money . " Poor Lucy turned very pale , and felt ready to faint . She stammered , in broken words , " I am sure—George could not —be so wicked ; there must have been—some mistake . ' ' "No ! there is no mistake , " said Mr . Hustings , " see , here on this scrap of paper whicli foil , unknowingly , from your

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brother's hands , not long ago , are three imitations of my signature ; the evidence of your brother ' s guilt is conclusive . " " But what do you intend to do , Mr . Hastings ? I implore you not to prosecute him ; the disgrace will break my heart . Pray have mercy , and forgive him . "

Be at ease on that point , Miss Ashford ; I will not take proceedings against him . Unworth y brother of so good and worthy a sister , he shall not bring unmerited shame upon yon . I will at once see him and confront him with the proofs of his crime . Go , now , to your room , and rely upon my forbearance . "

Lucy retired . George , little dreaming what was impending , came to Mr . Hastings , who said , "George Ashford , by a forged signature you obtained £ 50 some days ago . Attempt no denial —it is useless . This scrap of paper , which you thought you

had put into your pocket , when I came into the office , you let fall upon the ground . I picked it up when you left . Here it is , * ou it there are three imitations of my signature . It is very evident you intended to obtain more money by the samo dishonest means . What have you to say ? "

George , convicted , could only murmur some inarticulate sounds ; he was an arrant coward . Mr . Hastings said , " Were I to treat you as you deserve , I should at once give you in charge to stand your trial . You must know that you would be convicted , and receive a long

term of . imprisonment—it not penal servitude . I will , however , spare you , clearly understand , not for your sake but for that of your sister , who has pleaded earnestly in your behalf . The shame and disgrace you deserve to suffer shall not be shared by her . You must , without delay , leave the country , and

proceed to Australia . I have an agent at Melbourne who will , at my request , obtain you employment ; your passage shall be paid , with a small sum of money for necessary expenses . If you do not agree to this , I will prosecute you without mercy . You had better tell your sister my fixed resolve . Leave mo ; consult with her . I am sure she will give you good counsel . "

George quitted his employer ' s presence , saw his sister , who , though , of course , grieved to lose hex brother , felt that it was the only thing to be done to avert conviction and disgrace . We may here mention that Mr . Hastings spoke to Lucy on the subject , who sadly acquiesced in his decision .

We need only say , further , that arrangements wero speedily made , aud George left his native country about ten days afterwards , provided with a letter to Mr . Hastings' agent at

Melbourne . The parting between the brother and sister was tender on the part of Lucy . As for George , he cared little for his sister ; he was a worthless fellow , and we are glad to be quit of him .

It was some time before Lucy recovered her spirits after the shock she had received . She found , however , in the daily routine of business a means of diverting her sad thoughts . She had now become not only a rapid typo writer but an ablo secretary , conducting all Mr . Hastings' correspondence , to

whom she became invaluable . What a delight it was to her to devote herself to his interests ; how grateful sho felt for the kindness ho showed to her . Imperceptibly , gratitude merged

itself into love , of whicli , however , Harry had not the least idea , for she kept her feelings well under control , and did not indicate them iu the slightest degree , being outwardly cold and formal in her manner to her employer .

Harry , who at first had merely looked upon Lucy in the light of his lady clerk , whom by his patient forbearance he had succeeded in training for her work , found he began to tako au interest in her which he could not account for . Ah , Master Harry , it was but a repetition of the old , old story—he pitied

her at first , and then , pity being akin to love , his heart was touched , and he would , if he dared , declare his passion to Lucy . Wo havo said if lie dared , for Harry , fine manly fellow that he was , had not the courage to avow his honourable love . He was so modest and diffident ; he knew not his own worth , nor how deserving ho was of a true woman ' s affection .

As Lucy was so careful to keep her secret , so , equally so , was Harry . He became more reserved and precise in his business relations with her , which grieved Lucy exceedingly ,

for she feared she had incurred his displeasure by some remissness in the performance of her duties . In fact , it was a game of cross-purposes , for which that naughty boy , Cupid , was to blame ; each was secretly afraid of the other .

Lucy began to notice that Mr . Hastings' manner became very strange ; he seemed to be distrait , ill at ease , and did not take his accustomed interest in business . Some girls would have at once , instinctively , divined the cause ; but she was too pure aud

innocent in her heart to entertain the least suspicion of the truth . In her few idle moments , for she had not many , she would , in her day dreams , associate Harry ' s name , as she called him to herself , in the intimate relations of man and wife , * then