The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-01-21
8 OTTUMWA, IOWA, THURSDAY JANUARY q, 1853.

srs.fa s4ss> SIS . sasf
sIl s,g i Aed
"I-i-perhaps--be prompt, sir, ] cannot
stand on hesitation. already wish l had
gone to a more determined lawyer. To ease
a little your tender conscience, ! will as,ure
you that Mr.. Legrand, nor any Of his family
shall ever suffer for the want Of anything Of
comfort.''
"Then you do not intend to bring positive
distress upon him?'
"He shall not suffer in consequence of any
thing you may do.''
"That would modify the cruelty of the act.
But how can it be done ?''
"ItcAN be DONE"
Call Tomorrow, sir, at ten o'clock-let
me reflect before undertaking so momentuous
an enterprise"
every well-but remember the cartion-I
am not to be trifed with. The matter MUST be
accomplished. It requires daring--and he
who speaks to my disgrace, shall feel my RE-
vENGE,' said he, violently, as he took up the
purse and departed.
levitt being now left to the solitude Of his
own reflections, paused . few moments in as
tonishment at that which he had just seen and
heard. He was bewildered with conjectures
concerning the cause and object OF the extra
ordinary propositions. At length he arose
suddenly and twirling a piece Of paper in his
hands, and breathing deeply, walked to and
fro across the office, manifesting in the hag-
gard expression of his countenance, the con-
test that was raging in his mind. Shortly he
stopped--looked wildly around and unused
with himself in an audible whisper:
GA promise of more, did he say7 an inde-
pendence? All, me! hope, indeed, glm-
merihg through the darkness of dishonor; an
independence from foul proceedings! But
ut,-they shall not suffer? Ten thousand Of
gold or more? No injury then, will be done
and shall be greatly benefited. Benefited
did say! Oh cursed beneft-at the expense
Of character, conscience and good name let
me see-in debt-losing credit-discourage
What can do? Ten thousand Yes, and he
must double the sam, that may half repair
the injury that may be occasioned thereby and
quell the rising tumuN Of the conscience. p
Here he paced the Office again, rubbing his
hands--then stopped and in the sgony of ex-
preston. exclaimed-s' Reputation what is it
to lose my repu.aiion? Tobecome areproach
TO the mother that bore me, and disgrace to
the race! To be forced from the society of
honesty. innocence and virtue! IT'S too much.
But will the plot be discoverd?. Cannot vii
Iainy be cloaked with honest appearing; so that
while the hands are buried in the filthy busi-
ness. and all virtue wheimed in the base plot
| ,ings Of a too strongly tempted mind, the ex-
ternal man can still commend the character to
the favorable regard of the public? And if no
one will suspect me, and no one shall suffer.
where is the injury to weigh against the riches
shall acquire? Tit must be done! Gold
I must have! And yet,-and yet ,--how is il
| to be done, and the whole be thought fair
proceeding ?" After rubbing his forehead for
a moment, and exhibiting evidence of the most
intense thought, he said: "I see it--now fol
the chain of Legrand's title-I'll to the re-
| cOTuS, anu Hc tooA Shcet VI "'iIu6 PoPci
and departed.
/ The struggle between temptation and virtu.
ons inclination is frequently severe. Few evel
Elunge into minor crimes without being stop.
ped on their way to the abyss by the monition'
Of higher spirit Then succeeds contes
between excited passion and the moral power
their strer 9Th is tested and il the latter prove
too weak to maintain ITS virtuo,is guidance
the deed is done-the hands soiled, and the
mind abased by CRIME.
On the next morning long before the time
appointed to meet Adams, levitt was seated
in his Office more calm, but still abstracted from
everything except the momentuous subject
that had gwen him so much trouble during the
last sixteen hours. He had examined the re.
cords and found Legrand's title detective
The estate had passe through several propri.
etors, ard back beyond the recollection Of the
oldest inhabitants the chain was brokers'
link was gore. The title deeds from which
the tenth purchaser before Legrand derived
covery had done much to relieve levitt. for he
argued, IL this title be spurious. somebody
has been wronged, and in law have as good
right 10 the estate as he.
Atthe time appointed Adams entered the
Office and enquired:
"What is yonr determination"
"I am not warranted in undertaking the bus
iaess for 50 small price. II must be doubled.''
&" Well, doubled il shall be, but YOU must nav