The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-30

vi our memoefS OF the Board spoke StrOn:
in favor OF Mr.. Elliotson, and offered to &,
his security in double the amount required
IN the Cashier, it was voted to let the choic,
of that officer lie over for u day, that ther,
might be time for reflection.
Mr.. Elliotson sat at his window. with eve
fixed on the building where the Directors
were in session, his heart beating with an
uneasy motion. He had been seated thus
for nearly two hours, and was beginning tc
grow restless with impatience, when he saw
the door open, and the gentlemen who seem
ed to him to hold his fate in their hands,
slowly emerge, and move in little groups,
ielSurely down the street. OF these, two,
VINO were among his warmeSt friends ap-
preached his house. Now his heart became
| almost still, and he experienced choking
sensation. \ few minutes would decide his
! late. What was to be that fate: He scarce
ly dared hope for the best, and shrunk from
contemplating the worst. The two friends
paused short distance from his house, and
! Stood Tor some minutes. IN earnest cOnycrSa-
ton. This was looked upon as bad omc
! the bearers Of good news would not thus
pause and linger. The poor mans suspense
became terrible. At lcng h the men sepa-
rated, and one of them came towards. Iris
house with grave and deliberate step.
| From the window, Mr.. ElIiotson could see
| his lace. 1t wore a thoughtful sober ex-
! preston. His heart ceased to beat for few
/ moments, and then flUttercd on wildly. 1T
/ length the mans knock was heard at the
/ door. L!iiotson had scarcely strength to
open it, and when he did do SO, he stood
with his knees shifting against each other,
/ looking into his friends face without the
power of utterance. 70 relieve this sus-
hsnt Dz -, l.
friend said
There has been no election Of Cashier
yet"
EIliotson leaned against the door for sup
port.
None: Why not:" he wa. able to ask.
a. will tell you"
Walk into the parlor," E,liotson had
now presence Of mind to say, and he stepped
back while the Director entered When
alone the latter said,
g reg-e; to say, that an unexpected OBJ
lection was made by member of the Board,
winch would have defeated your election
had ballot taken place. therefore moved
to have the election for Cashier postponed
until tomorrow; and have come to talk TO
you about this Ohjection."'
What is it," asked Elliotson, in a husky
voice.
!! touches your character; is, in fact a
charge against your integrity as Il man"
Philip E.!iotson drew himself up calmly.
while his eye became bright and steady, aud
his lips arched and firm.
- am ready to meet all such charges"
he said, w.th much dignity Of manner u
know not a single act Of my life that oud
fear TO have canvasscd. What is the al.esa-
tom"
..co,,, evo o- 60, ,..o~- 49, 81 - -
addition built to this house" said the Di-
rcctO-.
There was"
Do you remember the fact that load o?
lime was thrown down, late one afternoon,
at your back gate:'
Mr.. Eiiotson thought for 4 moment, and
then said
YES, remember it very we'll"
Do you likewise remember taking two
or three pieces Of that lime for your own
use, and concealins them in an clubhouse -
- ] do The blood mounted 10 the cLeel.
Of Mr.. ElIiotson.
"You were econ TO do this: and it is now
brought forward against ycu, and urged as
a reason why you should not be given the
appointment Of Cashier"
Mr. EljotsOn seemed stunned for few
moments. lie leaned his head down upon a
table, and sat almost mo;ionless for nearly a
minute, while his friend looked on with
grief When he at length raised his head,
his face was pale but calm.
:" am, of course, charged with being a
dishonest man" lie said, in a firm voice
That Is the inference drawn from til.
act"
Mr. El,iotson arose, and going to his secre-
tary, and took thcreirOm two account books
One OF these lac opened and turning TO an
account, laid 1t on the table before the Di-
rector, saying, as he did so, The plastorer
who finished this addition made by my land
lord 10 this house, was named Eidred. lie
dealt ~ my store, and settled his accounts
once in three months. The addition was
made in June, Is. On the 10th OF July,
in the same year, you see there is credit
to his account Of fifteen cents. Now | will
show you the day-book entry
The day-book entry was opened, when
the entry stood thus
james Eldred, CIR. BY lime used for
whtewashing at the time he was plastering
my house-tfteen cents"
- | took the lime said Ellotson, after he
had exhibited this entry, - thoughtlessly.
II was not my property, and | had no right
to it. But | did not reflect at the time
About month afterwards, a thought of what
| had done flashed across my mind. and
startled me. | saw that | had been guilty
of taking another's property for my own
use, and Immediately made this entry. In
settlement, pointed out the matter to Ell
dred, anC he said it was of no consequence
whatever, that was welcome to the lime,
and double as much more. He did not wish
the deduction made from his account; but
insisted on its being done. Ifyou will see
l.; H. s-l,N IL. 7
dered"
"May have these books at the meeting
of Directors tomorrow 2" eagerly asked the
friend, who was trembling with delight.
"Certainly 1t is but justice to me that
this charge should be fully refuted"
"Then you may set your heart at rest
about the Cashership. You will certainly
get the appointment But for this matter,
YOU would have received every vote to-day,
on the first baiioting."
When the Directors met on the next day,
and the books of Elliotson were laid open at
the entry just mentioned, Mr.. Gage was con-
founded.
~ have not a word more to say" he re-
marked, "Mr. Elliotson has my vote. 1t
grieves me to think. that l have wronged SO
| upright man.
| The vote was at once taken, and Elliotson
elected unanimously, to the office of Cashier,
at a salary of twelve hundred dollars year.
About a year after this happy change in
Mr.. Elliotson's external circumstances, Her
/ bert, the storekeeper who had obtained
I nearly the whole of his country custom, and
accumulated quite handsome little proper
/ ty, died, and his widow attempted, by means
| of a clerk, to carry on the business. But in
the course Of few months, her friends ad-
vised her to sell out and be content with the
amount of property left to her by her hus-
band, which was enough for her support.
As soon as this fact became known to Mr..
Gage, the carpenter, whose mind had never
| felt easy about Mr.. Elliotson, he called upon