The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-05-12

apply" L said. ~ Wonld much raGnel
give you a greater discount on my own
promisory note-in fact, any discount
you choose 10 demand"
"And that's the very reason, my dear
fellow" said Jackson, 81 will not do it,
unless I have a good name at the back.
On that condition I have no objection to
make it a year, so as to allow you sufi-
Gent time to look about you and pay
the money comfortably. Now, think
we'll if there is any person to whom you
could apply. You are very thick with
the junior partner in your firm, why not
get himsto put his nam to it? At any
rate you can but ask BIN, and the thing
may be done tomorrow. Now take my
advice and tHy the experiment"
l left Jackson, hardly knowing what
to do. True, I was On very friendly
terms with the junior partner, son of the
senior partner, and l believe he bore me
great good will. Still it was a very dan.
gerous experiment to try. for if he should
refuse and inquire into my accounts he
would find me a defaulter to the amount
of 81, 500.
And here l n ust hurry over the par
ticulars of the crime / committed, so
painful are they to think OF. Suffice it
to say, instead of obtaining his signature
I was guilty Of forging it. My renewed
note was accepted, but it would be i'm
possible to describe the terrible state of
my mind. The only method l had of
relieving MYSELF from the penalty Of my
crime would be by perpetrating others;
and this, l felt convinced, would only be
to prolong for a short time the misery l
was in. A feeling of recklessness then
came on, and l resolved to let things take
their course. Just before the Office was
about to close, one day, Jackson entered
and told one OF the junior clerks he
wished to speak with the senior partner.
Although he remained in my room
during the time the youth went with the
message, he took not the slightest notice
of me, but, with perfect command of
c~ountenance, looked about him till his
eye fell upon him, when he showed no
more appearance of recognition than if
had beena total stranger. He was soon
after ushered into the senior partners
office, and I, closing my desk, put Oh my
hat, and, in a state Of terrorist would be
impossible to describe, returned home.
The state of my mind that night would
BATTLE all description. I tried to sleep, in
the danger I was in. All was useless; and
l turned over in my mind innumerable
schemes of the vaguest description by
which to save myself. When l think over
them now, and can estimate their utter
worthlessness and absurdity, I al easily
understand I was in the condition OF the
drowning nan who catches at a straw.
The next morning, entirely forgetting
only to close my eyes for a short time to
my breakfast, in a fit of recklessness I
dressed and went to the Office. Shortly
after my arrival, the senior partner en-
tered, and in passing through the Office
he looked steadily at me for some mo-
ments and then went on. A few minutes
later q messenger came to me and told
me The senior partner wished to speak
with me. At that moment a powerful,
respectfully attired, communicating
man entered the Office, bearing a letter
fer the firm. He glanced at me as I went
out Of the room, and I shuddered as l
looked at him, for l felt persuaded he
a detective officer. On entering the |
senior partners office, he raised his eyes
from the desk, and looked steadily at me.
1 was surprised to find there was no
sternness nor Indignation in his counte.
nance.
81" he said, in a kind tone, "you
do not look at all we'll this morning. Is
there anything the matter with your"
l caught at the idea, and said l had
not felt well for the last few days.
ri thought not" he said, "and only
sent for you to say, if it were the case,
you had better return home and take a
day or two's rest. You will then be bet
ter, and we cal do very well without you
for that time"
A reception SO different from what !
had expected, made such an impression
me that the tears came into my eyes,
and l felt halfinclined to confess the
whole truth. The senior partner, how
ever. putting out his hand, and shaking
mine warmly, said:
"Now go home, and keep up your
and you will do very WE'LL"
At that moment one of the clerks en-
tered the room, and I left it and pro-
homewards, the man whom | had
imagined to be q detective being no
there. Fol-, what purpose Jackson
the office the evening before I
know not. Certainly it was not con.
nected with my business.
1t will be too painful for me to go
into the matter. I plunged
and deeper into crime. l at
to conjure up a reckless frame
Of mind. and in the daytime to consid-