The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-09-21
OFFICE IN HooPER's BRICK


ed partly away from his mothers dircc
gaze.
Perhaps the tea will make you feel bet
ter
IN lie down on the sofa in the parlor fol
q short time said the young man, rising
from the table; "a little quiet may give 10
lief And he went from the dining-room.:
Mrs. Lewis followed him into the parlol
in little while, and, sitting down by tn,
sofa on which he was lying, placed her hanc
upon his head. All, il would take moro thar
the loving pressure of mothers hand t.
ease the pain from which he was suffering
The touch ofthat pure hand increase the pair
to agony.
.Do YOU feel bettcr?' asked Mrs. Lewis
after she had remained for sometime with hel
hand on his forehead.
Not much,' he replied and, rising as h'
spoke, he added, Il think walk in the oper
air would do me good
Don't 90 out, James, said Mrs Lewis, q
troubled feeling coming into her heart.
III walk only few squares. and james
went from the parlor, and, taking up his
hat, passed into the street without another
word.
There's something more than headache
the matter with him. was the thought OF
Mrs. Lewis, and the slight feeling Of trouble
she had experienced began deepening into a
strange concern that involved dread OF COM
ing evil. =,
For half an hour James walked without
any purpose in his mind beyond escape from
the presence of his mother. Every phase oil
Mr.. Carman's manner toward him after the
receipt of that letter was reviewed and dwelt
on, in order, ifpossible, to determine whether
suspicion of wrons-dealing was entertained.
At last his aimless walk brought him into the
neighborhood OF Mr.. Carman's store, and, In
passing, he was surprised at seeing a light
within.
There 5 something wrong, he said what
can it be? II this thing is discovered, what
will be the endof it? Ruin ruin My poor
mother!'
The wrctched young man passed on, and
walked the streets for two hours, when he re-
turned home. His mother met him as he
entered, and inquired, with unconcealcd
anxiety il he were better. He said, Yes,
but with manner that only increased the
trouble she felt, and passed up hastily to his
own room.
In the morning the strangely-altered face
of James us he met his mother ut the break.
fast table, struck alarm into her heart. lie
was silent, and eyaded all her questions.
While he sat at the table the door-bcll rung
loudly. The sound startled James, and he
turned his ear to listen in u nervous way,
which did not escape the observation OF his
mother.
who is it?' asFcd Mrs. Lewis, as the SER
want came back from the door
~ gentleman wishes to see MIR. James,
replied the girl.
James arose instantly, and went out into
the hall, shutting the dining-room door as
he did so. Mrs. Lewis sat, in almost breath
less expectation, awaiting her sons return.
She heard him coming back in q few moments
bat he did not enter the dining-room. Then
ho returned along the hall to the street-door,
and she heard it shut. All was now silent.
Starting up, she ran out into the passage,
but James was not there. lie had gone away
with the person who had called, and without
a word
All, that was sad going away! Mr.. Car
man had spent half the night in examining
the accounts of James, and discovered frauds
to the amount of over six thousand dollars.
Blindly indignant, he had sent IN officer to
arrest him early in the morning: and it was
with this officer that the unhappy boy went
away from the home Of his mother never
again to return.
The young villain shall lie in the bed he
has made for himself2' excl lined Mr.. Car.
man, in his bitter indignation. And he did
not hold back in anything, but made the cx-
posurc Of the young mans crime complete.
On the trial he showed an eager desire to
have him convicted, and presented such an
array OF evidence that the jury could not give
any other verdict than Guilty
The poor mother was IN court, and audi
bic, in the silence that followed, came her
conyulsed sobs upon the air. The presiding
Judge then addressed the culprit, and asked
ifhe had anything to say why sentence of the
law should not be pronounced against him.
All eyes were turned upon the pale, agita-
ted young man, who arose with an effort,
and leaned against the railing by which he
stood, rs il needing the support.
.Will il please your honors, he said, 'to
direct Mr.. Carman, my prosecutor to come
little nearer, 50 that can look at him and
your honors at the same timer
Mr.. Carman was directed to come forward
to where the boy stood, There was breath
less silence In the courtroom as the prosccu-
tor obeyod the order, and came forward 50 as
to be in the eyes Of all. James looked at
him steadily for a few moments and then
turned to the judges.
.What have to say, your honors, is this
he spoke calmly and distinctly-'and II
may in a degree. extenuate, though 1t can
not excuse my crime. Invent into that man s
employ an innocent boy and if he had been
an honest man would not have stood before
you to-day rs criminal.
Mr.. Carman interrupted the young man,
and appealed to the court for protection
against allegations OF such an outrageous
character but he was ordered to be silent.
James went on in firm voice: 'Only a
few weeks after went into Unemployment
examined bill by his direction, and dis
covered an error Of twenty dollars
The face of Mr.. Carman crimsoned Instant
ly.
you remember il, see, remarked James.
'and shall have cause to remember 1t while
| live. The error was in favor Of Mr.. Carman,
and asked il should correct their own mis-.
takes. His reply was we don texamine bills
for other peoples benefit Ii was my first
lesson in dishonesty, and never forgot the
words. saw the bill settled, and saw Mr..
Carman take twenty dollars that was not bis
own. felt shocked at first; it seemed such
wrong thing. But, soon after, he called
=. . ...,.lo,c,, C.- ha nd;n,, hack n, tha toll.v
ola bank fifty dollars overpaid on a check;
and them
= May | ask the protection Of tho court?'
said Mr.. Carman, appealing to the judges.
is IL true what the lad saysT asked the
presiding judge.
Mr.. Carman hesitated, and looked con-
fused. All eyes were on his face; and jury,
LAWYERS. and spectators felt certain that he
was guilty of leading the unhappy man
aatr