Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-06
THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY s, 1859.

pin, coming on young Blakely as it did, at
time when he had just made the unpleasant dis
covery of deficit in his income, when compared
with his expenses, of several hundred dollars,
sadly disheartened him. But he was not brave
enough to meet the eXigency, and, therefore,
weakly yielded to a demand that should have
been met by an unfinchIng refusal.
The first of January found Blakely short of
funds by considerably more than the price to be
paid for the diamond pin. Camield's bill came
in, and must be settled. 1t would not do for
him to hold back in tie matter of payment, for
the jeweler was an acquaintance of more than
one of the directors of the bank, and Questions
might be asked, and inferences drawn prejudi-
cial to his standing. In an evil hour, under
distress ofmind and strong temptation, the young
man made false entry which enabled him to
abstract two hundred dollars from the funds of
the bank.
This was only the beginning of series of de-
falcations, which ran through many years, be-
fore the exposure came which always follows
such a crime. 1t was easier now to supply the
eXtravagant demands of his wife, whose annual
wardrobe, and bills for jewelry, for which she
had that passion which is characteristic of weak
minds, almost reached the full amount of his
salary.
But the end came at last. One evening, sew
en- years from the day of their marriage, Mr.. and
Mrs. Blakely were about leaving for the opera,
when the bell was rung violently. Mr.. Blake
ly started and turned pale with sudden pre-
sentiment of evil.
''What is the matter!" asked his wife, who
saw the singular change in his countenance.
Mr. Blakely did not answer, but stood listen
ing at the door. Mems voices were now heard,
and the tread of heavy feet along the passage
Tba-a s4o nj
Blakely; then he stood still as if riveted to the
spot.
| "Who are they! what is the meaning of
thisl'' asked Mrs. Blakely in alarm. At the
same moment two men entered the room.
"You are arrested" said one of them, "on a
charge of defalcation,"
| Mrs Blakely shrieked, but her husband stood
still and statue like, his face of an ashen hue.
"George! George This is false" exclaimed
Mrs. Blakely, recovering herself "You could
not stoop to crime!"
SIT is true" he answered. il a low and de
| spairing voice. Then laying one of his fingers
| on the diamond pin that glistened on her bosom,
| he added, speaking to her alone
"You gained that at the price OF your hus-
bands dishonor! You demanded it L remon
strated, and said l could not afford so costly an
ornament. You repeated your demand, and l,
weak fool that was, permitted the contraction
of debt that could only be cancelled by dis
honest means. l thought, when married you,
that had obtained wife whose virtues might
help me upward to Heaven, but you have proved
only tempting 6end, dragging me daily near,
er and nearer the brink of destruction, over
which now fall to hopeless ruin. | have robbed
the bank, but it was for you !"
Then turning to the officers he said, in calm
voice
"Iam at your service -
The words of her husband had stunned Mrs
Blakely She never saw him afterwards. Thai
night he passed to his account before higher
tribunal than an earthly one, and she was left
in poverty and disgrace.
The storyfs one of every day life. George
Blabely is the representative of class. MOI
all of them rob banks, or defraud their EN-
ployers. But all of them to support idle
extravagant wives, and costly establishments
costly in comparison with their means
spend more than their earnings or profits
and fail in the end to pay their just obi
cations.
A modern young lady, fashionably educated
and with modern notions of style, fashion AM
domestic equipments, is altogether too costly al
article for young man of small means or
moderate salary Diamond pins, Tich silks an
laces, rosewood furniture, six, seven, eight o
nine hundred dollar houses, operas, balls, fash
ionable parties, Saratoga and Newport, an
! success in business, are altogether out of th
question. If young men would unite the latte
and matriHony, they must look into anothC
circle for wives. A girl who is independer
enough to earn her own living teacher {
with the needle, is wife worth score of sue
butterflies of fashion; and rising young maj
who has only his industry to rest upon for SUI
cess in life, is fool to marry any other
Useful industry is always honorable, an
: difference of sex makes no difference in tn
particular.
= Y Dr. Lyons Office is removed from
d IL I'll.