The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-10-17
Your sarcasm is rather out Of place

.
/ asked if / had given you any cause o.
offence. / know I have not; you false
" imagine that have, and thus mag
ming. Won have done yourself great
injury. Nay, no questions will tell
YOU all. On the day that Mr.. Ogie-
tborp was here noticed great alter
alton in your looks, your words, your
whole conduct. l suspected at once
that Phillip had overheard our CONVEX
sation and repeated it to you, In conse-
quence of which you were disturbed IN
mind. This was natural, and was tar
from blaming you; but it afforded me
opportunity for test which 1 had pc
cuiiar reasons for desiring to apply. |
penned a brief note to Mr.. Oglethorp,
cave it to you to seal, and watched
' Your after proceedings from that win,
dow. l thought the temptation would
prove a severe one, ana that if you arose
superior to it 1 need never have any
fears concerning you. l was right, the
temptation was strong-too strong for
your honor or integrity to withstand.
saw you open the letter-'twas enough;
I did not at all wonder when l heard
of your applying for new situation; ;
YOU thought l was acting treacherously
to you, and that you would outwlt
me.
Mr.. Beale ceased, and looked fixedly
at Richard, whose whole countenance
was sufused with bushes as the true
nature of his conduct was brought thus
calmly to his view. In his indignant
feelings he had not till this moment
thought of his derehction of principle
in opening letter not intended for his
inspection; now he was overwhelmed
with shame and remorse, for he was
naturally upright and ingenious.
Mr.. Beale saw his confusion, and
turned to his desk to pay what was due
of Richards salary, but first taking
some papers from a secret drawer,
threw them on the table before the
young man.
Ali this is at an end now, he said,
but you may see how unjust your sup
position was to me, how injurious to
yourself, as I said awhile ago.
Richards eyes were intently bent
upon the papers. One was in the mer-
chants handwriting a notice ofRichard
Wilkins's having been admitted as .ju-
Nor partner into his old and estab-
lished business firm: the others were
necessary legal papers relating thereto;
Richard continued gazing on them as if
fascinated, till the merchants voice
broke the spell.
"Well, young man, do you under
stand the matter now ?"
Oh, sir! said Richard, turning his
eyes imploringly on him, and then un
able to repress his tortured feelings, he
bent his head on the table to conceal
the fast gushing tears.
Regret is unavailing now, said Mr..
Beale, in his clear, cold tones. l had
every reason to place confidence in you.
During these four years have observ--
ed your conduct closely. 1t was such as
to satisfy me; and Iresolved to reward
you strict integrity and faithfulnesss-
I had decided to take you into part,
nership as you see by these papers, pre-
pared nearly two months ago, and only
wanting signatures and date. My friend,
Mr.. Oglethorp, had frequently men,
toned bis nephew, whom he much de-
sire me to employ. At his last visit l
agreed to do so. 1t was my intention
to give you an agreeable surprise to-mor-
row, and therefore l desired to keep all
my arrangements secret, fortunately as
l now see; for my whim enabled me
test the strength of your principles.
Oh, if you could only forgive me, Mr..
Beale, exclaimed Richard, imploringly.
1t was my first error in this regard-I
am sure it will be my last.
For all answer, Mr.. Beadle quietly
pushed the moneyhe had counted over to
Richard, and picking up the papers
tore them into small fragments. The
young man looked sadly at them, know
ing that remonstranse or entreaty was
alike unavailing in the stern man. He
by a strong effort conquered his emotion,
and taking up his money bowed his
thanks and farewell to his late employ.
er, and turned to leave the room. As
he laid his hand on the door knob, he
paused and asked, in a still faltering
voice, if Mr.. Curtis was informed of all
this.
No, l did not think it necessary to
speak of it, said Mr.. Beale, for l had
reason to think it was your first de-
parture from the straight road; and
though all business connected between
us has ceased, yet l would not injure
your reputation by REVEALING an act
which l thought you would regret.
You will find Mr.. Curtis more indul-
gent employer than you are leaving;
your salary will be larger than it has
been here, SO that on the whole, perhaps,
you are no loser, and l hope for your
sake that your first error will prove also
your last.
Richard sadly left the store. On the
morrow he entered on the duties of his
new situation. 1t proved agreeable,
and the addition to his previous salary
was of great use to him but what could
silence remorse for that act by which
ne had not only lost so much in a pc.
ceuniary point of view, but also sank
lmmeasurably in his own estimation?
lie profted by the lesson, however.
Years after he found himselfin position
prosperous and enviable as that which
ne had forfeited in early manhood, but
but to his dying day he never tried to
Danish the humiliating but salutary rec
election Of his first and last deviation
from the straiphtforward moth IF bnnor