Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-12-16

my power [ felt that as soon as I began
to cool down little There was but one
pain straightforward way left now out OF
tie scrape in which had been mad enough
TO involve myself. [ took my hat, and,
without stopping an instant to hesitate, hur-
llE;ied off to the bank to make clean breast
Iof it to Mr.. Fauntleroy.
I when knocked atsthe private door and
asked for him was told that he had not
been at the bank for the last two days.
One of the other partners was there, how
eyer, and was working at that moment in
hS own room. sent in my name at once,
and asked to see him. He and [ were lit
tie better than strangers to each other; and
the interview was likely to be, on that ac-
ceunt, unspeakably embarrassing and hu-
initiating on my side. Still could not 60
home. [ could not endure the inaction OF
the next day, Sunday, without having done
my best on the spot to repair the error into
which my own folly had led me. Uncom-
Portable as felt at the approaching inter-
view, [ should have been far more uneasy
in my mind if the partner had declined to
see me.
To my relief, the bank-rcporter returned
with message requesting me to walk in.
What particular form my explanations and
apologies took when [ tried to offer them is
more than can tell now. [ was so con-
fused and distressed that [ hardly knew
what was talking about at the time. The
one circumstance which [ remember clearly
is,..that was ashamed to refer to my inter-
vlAW with the strange man ; and that [ tried
toaccont for my balance by referring it to
some ineSplicable panic, caused by mischiev-
Gus reports which [ was unable to trace to
their source, and which, for any thing I
knew to the contrary, might, after all, have
been only started in jest. Greatly to my
surprise, the partner did not seem to notice
the lamentable lamenesss of my excuses,
and did not additionally confuse me by ask
ing any questions. A weary, absent look,
which had observed on his face when I
came in, remained on it while was speak
ing. It seemed to be an effort to him even
to keep up the appearance of listening to
me. And when, at last, [ fairly broke
dom in the middle of sentence, and gave
II.-a-he hope Of getting any further, all the
few civil, commonplace words:
s'Never mind, Mr. Trowbridge; pray
don't think of apologizing. We are all liza
bic to make Mistakes Say nothing more
about it; and bring the money back on
Monday if you still honor us with your con-
fidence."
| He looked down at his papers, as if he
was anxious to be alone again and [ had
no alternative, of course, but to take my
leave Immediately. Iwent home, feeling a
little easier in my mind now that [ had
paved the way for making the best practi-
cal atonement in my power by bringing
my balance back the first thing on Monday
morning. Still [ passed weary day on
Sunday, rejecting, sadly enough, that [ had
not yet made my peace with Mr.. Fauntleroy
My anxiety to set myself right with my
generous friend was so intense that risked
intruding myself on his privacy by calling
at his town residence on the Sunday. He
was not there and his servant could tell me
nothing Of his whereabouts. There was nc
help for it now but to wait till his weekday
duties brought him back to the bank.
went to business on Monday morning
half an hour earlier than usual, so great was
my impatience to restore the amount of that
unlucky draft to my account as soon as pos
sible after the bank opened. On entering
my Office [ stopped, with startled feeling,
/ Just inside the door, Something serious had
happened The clerks. instead Of being at
their desks as usual, were all huddled to-
gether in a group, talking to each other with
blank faces. When they saw me they fell
back behind my managing man, who step
ped forward with circular in his hand
s'Have you heard the news, Sir?'' he said.
.sNo. What is it %
He handed me the circular NV heart
gave one violent throb the instant looked
at it. felt myself turn pale: felt my
knees trembling under me.
Marsh, Stracey, Fauntleroy, & Graham
had stopped payment
s'The circular has not been issued more
than half an hour" continued my managing
clerk. Il have just come from the bank,
Sir. The doors are shut-there is no doubt
about it. Marsh & Company have stopped
this morning"
[ hardly heard him 1 hardly knew who
was talking to me. My strange visitor of
the Saturday had taken instant possession of
all my thoughts and his words of warning
seemed to be sounding once more in my
ears. This man had known the true con-
dition of the bank, when not another soul
outside the doors was aware of it !! The last
draft paid across the counter of that ruined
house, when the doors closed on Saturday,
was the draft that had so bitterly reproach-
ed myself for drawing; the one balance saved
from the wreck was my balance. Where
had the stranger get the information that
had saved me, and why had he brought it
to my ears?
I was still groping, like man in the