The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-08-21
! shsss sasse9pnu ueaengs
,Tha Fatal Racaint.

Z actefsso the empire, whose early life
WAS one continued series Of struggles
against fortune, and who had ended
by leading her captive and enchant.
ing her'to his side, after she had led
bin through every danger, sorrow,
and crimc. Envy and his rapid rise
5 had, indeed, at one time fixed upon
him the murder of his own son--ma.
nypeople believe his guilt even to
this day, and those who, like himself,
have placed their whole stake upon
the attainment of wealth, upon com.
mercial honour and financial influence
are forced not only to excuse the
deed, but even to defend it. Dur.
4 ing Napoleon's war in Spain, the
individual in question had succeeded
in Obtaining the contract for the
supplies of forage for the troops, upon
which he had founded, with all ap-
pearance Of justice, his hopes of a
splendid and speedy fortune. The
deposits at that time were compelled
to be immense, in order to deter nee
dy spectators from entering into
competition; but as the gains were
known to be enormous likewise, spec
ulators were always capable of pro.
duclng the sum required. BY dint
ofmuch effort, and using every re-
source in his power, M. O-had
succeeded in gathering together the
deposit, which was placed in the
hands of banker before the opening
of the contract. His was the lowest
tender, and he was accordingly pro.
nounced the successful competitor, to
his own great delight and the despair
of his rivals, who judged his charac-
ter sufficiently to know that if once
he got his foot in the stirrups he
would not be long in riding over
their necks. Judge, then of his con-
stelnaton, upon being informed that
his contract was broken by the non
fulflment of the agreement concern
ing the deposit, and that not more
than one half the sum required re-
maincd in the bankers hands! A
draft was handed in by which the
greater part of the money originally
deposited had been drawn out the day
before. Suspicion immediately fell
upon the eldest son of the contractor,
a wild, dissipatcd young man, who
had already given him much uncasi.
ness by his extravaganza. The faith
or immediately sent for him into his
study, and accused him of the forge
ry. "Is this your writing?" said he,
without taking his eyes from the
young man, who turned pale when
he heheld the signatures appended to
the cheque. "It is," replied he. in
a low and trembling voice. "You
paid this in YOURSELF" said the faith
or, 81 did," was the doggcd reply
ofthe youth. Then take the re.
ceipt," shouted the wrctchcd parent,
as he drew loaded pistol from his
pocket, and shot his son dead upon
the spot. The youth fell without a
groan upon tho carpet, and O,
with the same stole firmness which
had impelled him to commit the crime,
immediately rang the bell, and order
cd his servant to 90 and fetch the
guard to take him into custody. lie
was conveyed to the Abbayc, and as
soon as fouche became appriscd of
the catastrophe he went to seek the
sltmperor. Napoleon was much agi.
tated by the news; he felt that o.
was aman after his own heart, and one
upon whom he could rely for the re.
moval Of all his difficulties. lie pa.
ced the room for some moments with
folded arms, biting his lips as lie
strobe hurricdly across the floor, 1T
is a bad job" said he, at length, as
he scratched his head, as was his
wont when embarrassed in his mind;
'tis bad job for O.; but we
must bring it in suicide, and he must
execute our contract for nothing. -
AS the verdict was pronounced. So
was it executed. O. furnished
the forage without payment, and be-
camc one of the richest men in Eu-
rope. He has died, It's said possess
ed of seven millions--hc has died at
q good old age, if cighty-four can be
called any thing good-hc has died
nhis bed, a green satin bed with gold
bulllon-fringc and tasscls-all his
kind friends and relatives surround
ing him, and his children Che has
other sons) and his childrcn's chill
drcn gathered about the room. The
priests were there too, in their dress
cs and decorations dc premiere classe
as they always are whenever a ricl
man dies, and he confessed, and OBJ
tanned absolution, and breathcd hi:
last in peace; and yet, somehow, nc
one enyicd him his solitary thoughts
when living, nor the memory he has
left behind Paris c0jycsD0u,3eD,