Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-03-07
A CONFESSION.
BY A VERY OLD MAN.

Most men would hesitate at tellino
such a story of themselves. But | am
convinced that it will afford a sugges.
ton OF mercy toward such as do fall.
ana some may be turned away from
temptation by its recital.
| had been an under clerk in large
establishment for many years. Natur-
ally economical, my savings had at
famed to such a respectable sum that l
ventured upon married life, quite as
much as refuge from the monotony of
my inexpensive style of living, as in ODE
dlence to those yearnings of nature
which a man is very foolish or very bad
not to heed in due season. Like most
men, however, adventures of this kind
are not followed by the comfort and
ease which depend upon money
Tor their possession. In the course of
time | came to repent the undertaking.
tor L was In debt, my family had in,
creased, While my income had not kept
pace with my expenses. My wife lacked
the courage to practice the self-denial
which would be consequent upon a re-
trenchment of our expenses. was
daily annoyed by duns. | had borrowed
nA'ney IN every available quarter, and a
wslk IN the public street was literally
denfeol me by the fear of encountering
some one to whom was indebted for
my house expenses.
Returning home late one night faded
by listless stroll through the town, |
found the junior member of the firm
waiting for me. The house had re-
ceiNed intelligence, after business hours,
. Of transaction entered into on their
Eccount which required the immediate
transmission to an isolated island town
of several thousand dollars, together
with certain papers and statements
necessary to conclude the affair. 1t was
too important a matter to be intrusted
to the delay and uncertainty of the
mail at the time. Upon consultation
of the firm, had been selected to per-
form the necessary two days journey.
accepted the mission with alacrity, for
the reason, among others, that it would
be such a recreation as would divert
my thoughts for a time from the
perplexities of my miserable condi-
ton.
With the usual foresight of the firm,
everything necessary to my prompt de-
parture had been prearranged. The
needful papers and accounts, and the
indispensable money requisite to finish
the transaction were placed in nv
hands in an envelope addressed to the
gentleman who had acted as agent of
the concern in the matter. a letter of
instruction was likewise inclosed.
remember well the bright Septem-
Der morning on which | started on
horseback and alone on my journey,
of which accomplished half the first
day, arriving at farm house, whose oc-
cupant unhesitatingly granted my petit
ton for share for the night in its hum
bic hospitality.
The weather had grown colder as the
evening came on, and by the time |
had reached the house l experienced a
sensible chill. had with me flask of
liquor, and was furnished, at nv re-
quest, at bedtime, with small GUAM
tity of hot water with which to COM
pound sort of punch, as an antidote
to the cold l apprehended having
taken.
had removed the package of money
from my pocket and laid it on the ia
BILE, with a view of putting it under my
pillow before going to bed. AS it Law
on the table the address was upper
most; on the left-hand upper corner
was a memorandum, "$5 900 inclosed.n
was standing with my back to the
door. Succeeding few moments of
entire silence, heard step behind
me, and almost think breath upon
my lace. Turning suddenly round, 1
,beheld my host, with the hot water l
had called for in tumbler in his hand.
He was quite beside me, and his eyes
rested, or fancied they rested on. the
package upon the table. 1 must con
fess was sensibly startled by the incl
dent. My concern was not diminished
by observing that he had removed his
boots from his feet, and was standing as
ne had come up-in his stockings. NV
hrst impulse and act was to take the