The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-10-10
THE DUN Or the Unread Letter.
BY JOHN KENEDY.

Mr.. Miltnn-that is Mr.. John Milton,
should have said, IS he likes TO have himself
caIIrd-was seated 10 his counting room, 10
a deep study II needed deep study, for
Mr. John Milton's affairs we're IN a condition
that il required long head aud long study
10 wind mentally through the many crooks
and turns of hi business Well, he was lust
ii profound study. with his EYES fixed mp
on one particular spot, until the Inanimated
mass seemed alive. AMI gradually moved, as
il some life had been Infused into il.
Just as his thoughts were dashing off into
some particular branch IT business, a pnst-
man arrested the fngitiyes, aud brought Mr..
Milton to sense of things eorporeal, By an.
nouncing letter.
Hang the letter - he replied pettishly,
as he seized the document, and gazcd at the
superscriptiun.
"Fran that unscrupnloas and unrelenting
dun Lazarus, Tor ever threatening me, and
destroying all nv peace Of mind with his
insulting letters. Keeps me IN constant fear
Of an unexpected and unlopketl for crash Of
my affairs. Fool that | was 10 9rrow his
money, and place myself in his power!
"If could wipe out the obligation ] am
under TO him a. easily as can his insulting
letters, | would feel Tree, and caald breathe
Ike Tree man. Go where the rest have
gone. and Mr.. Milton threw the unopened
s letter inta the stove, aud then set watching
the FIRE deyuur L. lie suddenly turned lead.
i ly pale. straighienrd himself up ia his chair,
strained his gaze to penetrate deep into the
glowing mass of ashes. as II be could search
! from amung the characters they had just ex.
/ ,inruished, evidence to strengthen a snpph-
sition which had Just entered his mind.
"All fancy. guess be said. a he saw
the ashes whirl buutan instant or two. aud
then ascended the stoveppe;
Still lie was not satisfied; load seemed
10 hang about his heart. and he felt as il that
+ letter eontalped something mpre than the
dun from the Jew I,zafus. Why did he not
/ lonk at the contents: Why did be mt even
break the seal Because he lelt 80 confident
that 10 have daubted his own Judgment would
have been sin, in his estimation.
"lt is very strange" said Me-. John Milton
the day IoIlowing the shove Transaction. that
the firm ol Clifford & Co dues nut rsmit the
amount nl their notes. now due. AMI this i
the last day, They must 20 e protest
feel sorry that house winch has been -
punctual should not meet their ,tliiiaatian..
+" Ii seems 10 me there must b. .atss MS
take. for have known Cliiiaru's hpu>a mum.
ber 81 wears, aud never khsW them - tt BE-.
hind az hour. Perhaps their Femittancr ~,
reach IL tine q day, aud save tlter credit
repltrd ihc clerk.
/" hope -, aud save mine, tun,' thnught
w. Inhn Milton, a. he walked into his prI.
yate apartment ID the cUunting.ruUm.
This /, strange, very strange said he
10 himself a. be threw his corporal mass
into chair. ~ the money dues mt come
10 .,ay am broken mn. II fail, down
70 other houses with me. All thraugl, the lail.
IRE u Clianrds 10 meet t,rir obligations.
Il il very strange men cahnut sec further,
snd manage their business 80 as 10 meet
their notes. aud st,c their credit. But why
should I talk about others. just on the brink
of ruin myself. al depending upon single
turn ai the wheel I"
Mr.. John Milton linked into the stove ; Il
seemed 10 have peculiar attraction iet him,
and the more he gazed into Il the more he
became irans6xed to some unseen object.
The day closed CliHord's notes we're pro.
tested, and John Milton was broken mer.