Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-10-11
TEMPTED BY GAIN.

RnQane0
deposits bad been unusually large-the day being
8 lturday. other business hsd been In a pro
porition during the afternoon there had been
casual overlooking OF the books by the directors
but much bank work had been done since them
and this work must be squared up before Edgar
could leave.
Young, handsome, and ambitious was Edgar
Fontenay and IL he had not stood most excel
Iently we'll in the community, both morally and
socially, he could never have obtained that posi-
tion in the bank.
Il was an autumnal evening. and Edgar had
been left alone at his work. The President of
the bank went out just after the gas had been
lighted, remarking that he might be in again.
Edgar was left alone at his work. For time
his pen moved rapidly. Many lines were writ
ten and hosts OF figures were made. by and
by he leaned back as though to rest. He rest
ed awhile, aud reflected. Then he took from
his pocket paper, and read an article which
interested him. From his desk he took another
paper, and read another article. The subject
matter was the came in all that he read-Re-
ports of wondrous rise in Stocks and of large
fortunes suddenly made.
And then Edgar Fontenay leaned his head
upon his hand, and looked in a different direc-
tion. He thought OF Julia Annelsly, who had
promised to be his wife, and OF the home he
would like to give her. And he thought Of his
widowed mother, looking to him for support.
what pleasure and jov 1t would be to provide
fitting cage for his beautiful mate What
satisfaction to bestow comforts such as only men
OF wealth can give to their loved ones
He looked at the papers again. These men
had made fortunes in few weeks. This man
had made sixty thousand dollars by one opera
ton. He had ii in mind that he could make a
golden speculation. On that very day it had
been whispered to him by street operator that
the stock Of the Ash Valley Railroad was destin-
to a sudden and unexpected rise. Old Money
bags was coming in with his help, and the Legis-
lsture was sure to pass the bill granting State
aid in the shape of land Only few OF the fav-
ored ones knew of this. A strike to be effective.
must be quickly made.
With nervous twitching OF the hands the
young man turned back the leaves Of his ledger.
and overlooked the work of the week. He saw
how he could retain i've thousand dollars for
the space Of thirty days. He could do it., and
it-he would not embezzle it-he would o4ly
borrow it /; and he would pay good interest for
its use.
Then he took piece of paper and a pencil
and began to figure Ash Valley stock was now
selling for $40. 1t would be up to $50 before
the next week was out. There could be no mis-
take about that. The favorable action OF the
Legislature, to say nothing Of old Moneybag's
assistance, would send it up like flash. II he
bad the money he could get that stock at twen-
ty days for cash payment of five dollars per
share. With five thousand dollars in hand he
could purchase one thousand shares OF stock
for twenty days and before half those twenty
days should have expired his stock would be
There could be no dOubt-nOt the least In the
world. The friendly broker had enlightened
him. He was INSIDE he ring Aud a very few
pen-marks upon the pages of his books would
give him the use Of five thousand dollors for a
month
He bowed his head upon his hands, and strug-
gled with the tempter. Alas the tempter was
powerfully armed. The sum Of twenty Thousand
dollars, to be made at one stroke, was iIresisti'
Bile.
The scene changes. 1t is no longer in the
bank, but in little room, that needs to be light
ed with gas at midday, where the broker sits at
his board of Fate
tenay enters the dark office for cast OF the die
upon which he has resolved. He sits down,
and At ks the broker:
"How about Ash Valley this morning."
The broker rubs his hands, and mods with a
mysterious smile.
Don't say word, FOntenay. II you remem-
ber what told you Saturday, keep mum. There
amt maby that know anything about it, It's
going to be the taltling event Of the week.
Ere and Paciic Mail are going to the wall. ASH
Valley is the thing"
Suppose wanted little of this stock to
hold for twenty or thirty days, what should l
haye TO pay DOWN"
- couldn't get it for thirty days; but can get
it for twenty days, for five dollars"
Can you get me one Thousand shares?
The broker started.
You're going in strong, my boy"
II am going for a bold stroke"
II glory in your pluck. All, them's the kind
that winsl Yes MIR. Fontenay, can get it easy.
Plenty of men hold this stock who haven't the
most remote idea that il can advance before the
Eastern connection is made next summer Shall
get you thousand shares?"
My name will not be mentioned Z"
BLESS you, no."
yes. you may get me a Thousand shares"
Aud the five thousand dollars We're placed in
the brokers' hands.
For time after reaching the bank, Edgar
was not like himself He could not shake of,
at once, the load that oppressed him. He could
not Immediately get his face out from beneath
the cloud that lowered upon him. For the first
time in his life he had done dishonest thing
He was deceivng those who had trusted hun.
lie had taken the first step toward betraying
those who had given him their entire and hear
ty confidence. But did not others do the sameI
Was he not knowing to the facts that some Of
the first men it the country speculated with
funds not strictly their own And further, he
was sure of coming out right
All there was the sum Of twenty thousand dol
lars-perhaps twenty-five thOusand-in prospect
he Enlightened with thg glare Of the golden prom
ise, and went at his work.
That evening he called on Julia Annelsly. o!
beautiful. blessed girl! What pleasure and
Joy to make HER happy And she loved him 80
truly and 80 deyotedly. They talked OF the fu-
ture They hoped to be married with the New
Year.
I'VE shall have to economise, darling" said
Edgar. / must not venture beyond my income"
'Our best aud surest income shall be love and
help for one another" answered Julia, beaming-
E
He kissed her, and thought how, for her sake,
he would like to be rich.
He went homo, building huge castles in the
air by the way. His mother received him with a
kiss and blessing. She was proud OF her son,
aud she was grateful to him for we'll she knew,
though she owned the roof that covered them,
she should have Jared but i'll had it not been for
Edgar's helping hand. She was meek, mild
Christian woman loving and tender. She was
proud of her boys manly beauty, but she was far
more proud of his sterling character.
This was Monday evening. On Wednesday
tho street was shocked by the report of heavy
defalcation. A young man-cashier in bank
had fallen suddenly from an honorable position
to shame and disgrace. He had been specula-
ting with funds OF the bank, and had robbed the
instit ution Of fifty thousand dollars. This man
had been Edgars friend. They had been COM
panions for years. Only the day before Edgar
had wished that, when he was married, he could
give to Julia such carriage as this man had
given to his wife.
On this Wednesday evening Edgar called upon
his broker. All looked we'll.
On Saturday morning E1gar read in the news
paper that the land grant to the Ash Valley Rail
road had been defeated in the Legislature He
hurried upon the street, and he heard 1t plainly
spoken-"Ash Valley flat "-"GonG from forty
down to t,1enty.fUe ~ He went to his brokers
and there was no concealing the truth. The