Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-01-01

Sh~s9 AAAWAN EGG
it as she nav Il Like Thousands Of others, be
ives Inclined 70 take the smOOahesG and easiest
path which presented ikSelt without looking
ahead to see whgthsF Il mlEht Iesd him over
9 preeipice, Or bring him up IN dismal
Swamp. He felt too ccn0dent whsIe the son
shOne, and would not re that the storm niGht
come upon him when be ives least prepared
for Il.
And Frederick took the four hundred and
Hfty dollars oi the money which had been en-.
trusted 70 hin keobing, and pSld bib note. Il
was "a unsaGs steps step which has ruined
thousandSl He meant no wrOng-.mOney
could not have hired him 10 betray 30 sacred
Q tfust-And yet he had laid himself liable TO
ell the results Of . most hagrant breach Of
trust. He had placed his character for hon.
esty and truth upon the hazard Of die, and
his whole future might take its tone and color
rom the cast Il was very easy way to meet
present demand, and that other demand,
which lay 10 the future, he would meet 10
good time.
Three days passed away without any UneaS.
iness, but on the fourth day Frederick thought
be would look around and do something to-
wards raisiug the money against Mrs. Morgan
should come home. He had only about fifty
dollars Of hiS own, and that he would have to
use In his business; 30 he must raise the whole
amount He went to few friends that day,
but be could do nothing. None Of them had
any money 70 spare. On the following day he
tried again. but with no better success. in
short money was very scare and hard to be
got. And Frederick should have known this.
de did know It, but when he used that money
ne had forgotten t.; or, at least, he did not
allow that knowledge 70 influence him.
Saturday came, and with It came Mrs. Nor.
gan 70 her home. Frederic went out. but he
could not borrow the sum be needed II He
spent the whole day In running around, but
such IN amount as he wanted was not to be
had on such paper as his simple note. There
was money IN the market but il could be let
on short time, and on better paper than his.
Towards night Mrs. Morgan entered his
store. At any other time he would have
been glad to see her, but now her presence
tortured him. lie knew she had been in.
formed Of the donation which had been set
apart for her, and that she had come to get it.
Perhsps she wanted to use 1t very much,
and shs bad thus thrown hcrsclf in his way
to give him an opportunity Of paying 1t over.
Yet she did not ask for 1t. She had not the
assurance for that Nor did she offer to buy
anything She spoke Of the weather; and
she said she had had . pleasant visit and
finally she turned to take her leave. She
looked at the young shopkeeper as though she
wished he would relieve her, but he could
not. She went reluctantly away, and Fred
crick TOwne bowed his head upon his desk
and groaned aloud. Then he put on his hat
and rushed into the street. lie went TO this
man. and that man, but he could not raise
the money.
just aS he was shutting up his dAy.book,
preparatory to closing his place for the night,
the president Of tho association came In.
Ah-havc you seen Mrs. Morgan, Fred ?"
he asked.
"Ycs," stammered Frederic. "Shc drop
ped in here this evening"
How did she seem to feel when you gave
her the money!"
II did not give it to her." the young man
replied, trembling with terror and rCmOrse.-
q. ] had LEFT it st hOme," he added, not mean.
1ng to lie willingly, but forced thereto. IL
suppose II will answer If hand it to her ON
Monday"
Yes-that will do; though wish she
could have had It tonight, as am sure she
is really In want"
A more miserable man than was Frederick
Towne, "a no started for home that night,
could not be found. lie dared not 60 into the
Reading Room, where he was wont to meet
his friends; nor dared he stop in any store.
When he met member Of the association
and he met several Of them-he tried TO hide
his face, for he felt guilty and ashamed. 1t
seemsd. to him that everybody Knew he.was
atrAitor TO his most sOlem obligations, and he
dared not meet the gaze of an honest man.
When he reached bis home be sank into .
chAiE and buried his face in his hands.
7" "FEedssick," ," spoke hEs viiss :" what is the
mattesf' ,nr.s.s.i
But be made ro reply. She moved her seat
% his side, and placed one Of her arms about
his neck.
"WhAt Is itf" she continued.
He only groAned an answer.
"Has Mrs Morgan returnedl" she asked.
"Yes."
And have you got the money for her :"
"Oh, my soul, mol"
" And can you not get Il somewhere :"
The young man lifted his head, and caught
his wiEe's hand.
"CIsra, !" ho cried, In piteous tones, do not
you add more to my misery. God knows
have suffered enough. know you warned
me Of this, but would not sec it. meant
no wrong, and yet the wrong have done -
end my name is blasted -dishonored forever |!
IcAnnOt raise the money! have tried in every
place."
= feared Il would be sO," said the wife,
soIemnly. That money was no more yours,
IoF ye0r own use, than would have hssn the
sams sum in your neighbOr's drawer; aud
your own honor should have been the key to
its keeping"
"I know II, sroaned the Gnhappy man.
e. re SOW. But don't upbsald me. Obi
know not how shall meet my friends TO-
morrow. They WIN ask me how die widow
tecsivea their kind gin. And how shall I
nsee them on Monday, when they must know
thAt ] havs used thsmOney 7" Fi''s'7'
: But isnppbse you could, BY some means,
get this money "N Hts
= aDon't CIaFG. Il is imppOssibleg'' n
a Net qsitsy n returned tbs wife, wsadlng her
arms aesin about her husbands neck.
Who bad not The ls9Fes Ue business to distract
NY IndsmsuE saw An this from the iarlt. Or,
at tlcast, I 1slred Il and I resolved b prepare
10 meek e went 10 my moeAss, and told
her aI1 I tnld her that shemust help uS--nOt
only for my iSke. but for your iastihg good.
] told Der you would repay her as soon e yon
could. She had he money lii was nsaEly all
h69 hcAhtS dlcsV and she let me have e and
I put itsAesst tAe etAeF sum shOdild hsvS been