The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-08-12

escape OF his mother. At last his walk
brought him to Mr.. Carman's store, and
in passing he was surprised to see Il
light within.
"What can this mean?" he asked
himself, new fear creeping, with shud.
dering impulse, into his heart.
lie listened at the doors and windows,
but he could hear nothing.
"Therc's something wrong" he said,
"what can it be- If this should be dis
covered, what will be the ehd of itY-
Ruin ruin! My poor mother"
The wrctchcd young man hastened
on, and walked the streets for two hours
when he returned home. His mother
met him when he entered, and with un-
concealed anxiety asked him if he was
better. He said yes, but in manner
that only increased the trouble she al
ready felt, and passed on to his room
In the morning, the strange altered
face Of james, as he met his mother at
the breakfast table, struck alarm into
her heart. He was silent at the table !;
the door bell rung loudly. The sound
startled James aud he turned his head
to listen in nervous way.
"Who is it?" asked Mrs. Lewis.
"a gentleman who wishes to see Mr..
James" replied the girl.
james rose instantly and went out
into the hall shutting the door as he did
so. Mrs. Lewis sat watching her son s
return. She heard him coming back in
a few moments; but he did not enter the
dining room. Then he returned along
the hall to the street door, and she heard
it shut. All was silent. Starting up
she ran into the passage. But James
was not there. He was gone again with
the person who called.
"The young villain shall lie in the
bed he has made for himself!" exclaimed
Mr.. Carman in his bitter indignation.
Aud he made the exposure complete
ly. On the trial he showed au eager
desire to have him convicted, and pre-.
sented such an array Of evidence that
the jury could not give any other yer.
dict than guilty.
All, that was a sad going away. Mr..
Carman was half the night in examining
the account Of James, and found frauds
Of over six thousand dollars. Blindly
indignant, he sent an officer to arrest
him IN the morning; it was with this
officer be went away from his mother
nerer TO return.
The poor mother was in court, audi.
BILE in the silence that followed came
her convulsed sobs upon the air.
The presiding judge addressed the
culprit, and asked if he had anything
to say why the sentence of the law
should not be pronounced against him,
and all eyes were turned upon the pale
agltated young man, who arose with au
effort, and leaned against the railing by
which he stood, as if needing support
"Will please your honors," he said
"to direct my prosecutor to come little
nearer, so that | can look at him and
your honors at the same timer"
Mr.. Carmau was directed to come for.
watu 70 wnere the boy stood james
'ooked a' MIN steadily Tor a few mo
mems, ana turned 10 the judges.
nat nave 70 say to your honors
is this" Che spoke calmly and distinct-
ly) sand it may in degree extenuate
though 1t cannot excuse my crime"
L went 70 that mans store an limo.
cent boy; and II he had been an honest
man, would not have stood before you
TO- Dag as guilty criminal"
Mr. Carman appealed to the court for
protection against an allegation of such
an outrageous character; but he was
Peremtorily ordered to be silent. James
then continued in firm and steady
voice:
"Only few weeks after | went into
his employment, examined bill by
nus direction, and discovered an error
OF twenty dollars:
The face of MIR. Carman crimsoned,
"You remember it, see" remarked
James, "and | shall have cause to re-
member 1t while | live. The error was
in favor Of Mr.. Carman. l asked if |
should correct the figures, and he an.
swered: "No, let them correct their
own mistakes, we don't examine bills
for other peoples benefit"
ut was my first lesson in dishonesty.
l saw the bill, and Mr.. Carman take
twenty dollars that was not his own
1t seemed such wrong thing. But
soon after he called me a simpleton for
handing back fifty dollar bill to the
teller OF bank which he had overpaid
mo m N obaok all H.