Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-03-28
Almost a Thief.

the Paris correspondent of the
Boston Saturday Eeeaeisag Gazette,
admirably illustrates the fact that
even with naturally honest peo-
Iple, the slightest accident some
times keeps them from becoming
rogues. It is the 'Hair 'twiXt
SOU and SOU west side" that when
temptation is strong, often divides
the upright from the dishonest:
There was cashier of a bank
here who became fevered with a
desire to own a country house.
He wanted something more than
a hovel. A cottage and a bit of
ground costing some three thou
sand dollars would crafty his
wishes. He had only $1,000 a
year, and, strive as he might, there
was no such thing as hoping to
obtain the desired sum for years.
He was already bald and gray
AS he handled bank-notes after
bank-notes by the hundred of
thousands, he thought twas a
pity none of them would stick in
his hands, and from thinking this
was pity he came by degrees to
determine to redress the grievance.
Then he thought since he was
sullying his name he might as
we'll take enough to make him
self comfortable the rest of his
life, as a little would tarnish his
reputation quite as much as a
great deal. He resolved to take
$10O, 1000 and not the beggarly
$4,000 which first tempted him
from honor's path. He waited
till Saturday evening to carry
his scheme into execution. You
may conceive the, tremor with
which he counted the slow hours
move on and obstacle after OBJ
stacle disappear. The partners
quilted the office. The last clerk
took his departure. He put the
500, 900 Ill his coat pocket and
went home. The porter Ito his
astonishment) did not stop him as
he walked by, to insist upon his
returning the 100000 to the
safe. He felt nervous whenever
he passed a policeman and won.
dered how it was that they did
not see .felon flaming on his brow.
He felt it was there. He reached
home almost ready to faint. He
packed his carpet bag, and dared
not go out until eleven o'clock to
take the midnight train for Brus-
lsels. Distressing was his anxiety
until the train started. At last
he was off; but what if the tele-
graph ordered his arrest at the
next station? Looking on the
me.table, he observed St. Quentin.
1t was the town where the earlier
years of his life had passed away.
How happy they seemed to him
as memory revived them cloudless
and careless in her magic mirrorl
He determined to stop there
Next day was Sunday. His crime
could not be discovered till Mon
day. He would take Sundays
train and still reach Brussels be-
fore the police could be put on his
track. He stopped at st. Quentin.
1t was now morning. He slept
late, breakfasted and then went
out to see his friends. They were
delighted to see him. He never
before felt how pleasant it was to
be an honest man it was the last
time he would taste that happi-
ness! He had repented him of
his folly, wavered whether he
should go on or return to Paris,
resume his seat at the old desk
with clear conscience and an un-
stained name. The day hewlby
fast. He stayed to dinner. After
dinner he was prevailed upon to
GO to the club. Play ran high
there. He bet. Luck set con-
stantly in his favor. AT eleven
o'clock he arose, declaring he
must be off. He was 81 600 the
winner. He took the midnight
train for Paris, made his reappear-
ance at his desk Monday morning,
put the Sl00, ,00G back IN his'iron
safe, and set to work with a heart
all the lighter from the fearful
perils he had escaped You smile