Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-11-18

said, bitterly. Il,
( Lexplained the risk ! would run
txupposina any ope took a notion t.
tcoupt tlIe money, but ne, wnuldi moi
tadnit that there was any possibility
tof the thing happening, and [ knew
'fthere was none myself. He knew
-FOUR business so well that he was
liable to meet my objections at ever,
point, and finally. between his zip
braidings for my selfshness and the
tskill with which he planned out how
to cover itlup until heard from him,
| consented. ] made him promise
land swear that he would remit the
amount at once, and then went tc
the bank and go. him the money; but
he insisted it was five hundred he
wanted, and made me increase it tc
that amount. Then we said good
five" and with a caution not to lose
IA moment'in sending back The money,
II let. him, ',.'''t -
| I trieri u feel easy about the trans.
faction but, | gould not, and the next
iday When l took my place behind the
counter I was more uneasy still. |
! vas so nervous that I could not make
my cash come out right until after
Ian hours work. The next day was
even worse, and each succeeding one
tstill harder to bear.
As the time came when | might
lexpect to hear from Fred, | became
feverish with anxiety. Day after
lday passed and received no letter
telegraphed again and again, but
no reply was given me. | wrote him
as earnestly and bcseeehingly as man
could. write, but he took no heed of
my letters. Ibegan to feel that he
intended, to let me be sacrificed and
became almost frantic. yl-l1 ~.
I The days passed on until early in
February. Irwrorc- one more letter
to Manchester telling him | had until
the morning Of the 10Th to replace
the meney, aud begging him not TO
fail me- Without much serious
thought of what was saying ! adj
ded this :~'q7jJ $50 xlmU 80 ,
Ourlast mail is on tho four o'clocli
train should your letter and remit +
tanee fail to reach me on that train,
Saturday, the 18th, at the fartherest,
| | shallno be alive to face the dis
grace Of my exposure, and you will
be my murderer" ".rrrtcs1J -.
After sending of this went TO the
city and offered my piano for sale but
my manner must have frightened the
merchants they would not make me
an oder, | tried to have our presI-
dent, Mr.. Sny ler, lend me the money
but he said Jackson would not allow
| it. asked some of my friends to
lend me the amount, but they laugh
ingly sent me to the bank. l was q
mad man, and | am surprised that |
was able to transact business rs well
as Ibid. on Ar;u..I a.s p.
Al last the. 1Ith camefaronpd the
mornings mail brought me nothing {;
the uoon's mail Was equally bad, and
when the last mail was opened still
held blank. had been hoping 4
very little tlll then, went to my
room an! sat down. The question |
had to answer was, "What shall do
now Monday n2%t my accounts
would be cxaminsd and my cash
found five hundred dollar, short.
In Imagination already began to
see Jackson counting the money and
gloating over his discovery. 1t would
not be II question OF charity with him
but one Of justice. | would have to
suffer the full penalty Of the law,
perhaps be for years III prison, AMI
after prison what? Nothing; there
i, no hereafter tor the man who has
once worn the prison snit There u
an era of Christian Unions and Be
nevolent Enterprises; but they all
>talt out with the distinct under
standing that woman who has once
fallen can never rise, and the man
who has seen the inside Of prison
door : forever a criminal and to be
labeled dangerous" | might run
away, but where should | go? Tc
some city where / should have to
steal or starye? Better so 10 prison
at once. picked up a paper and
the first item that my eyes rested on
was suicide That started my
mind of Oh a diflereat track. Why
hot end a life that would be nothing
but misery? Why not?
| accepted the suggestion as by nc
means bad one, and | scanned the
pros and con. with perfect coolness,
NY life WIS my own had neither
mptl.er, wife nor child depending on
me for support. There was no one
living u whom my life or death
would bring either joy or sadness
My life wa my own. And 1t wa
such an easy thing to do, to stop the
hearts beating. A slight pressure
and should be--where1 No one
could know, but better possible sb
livion than the jeers and scoifs OF my
acquaintances. Death? Why. 1t be
gan to look plea-mt.
But had right to take my owl
life? That question kept rising be
fore me and would not be quietcd.-
Had |? Had not? My life VA
given to me to do what ! choose witt
lit: to make it much or to make it lit
tie. Why had | not Just Is muci
right to say II it should DC a short Oh
long one!
| went out into the air but my
mind was made up-I would not liv'
to face the disgrace. Ny steps le'
4 ~. II