The Russellville Democrat., 1877-04-05

meet again. When you read the con fession I am about to mako, you will think yourselves well rid of one who ac- cepted your hospitality and then turned traitor.
 {" Yes, am poor, despicable wretch. You, my benefacter, remember that last evening asked you to help me in some money matters, which you said you could not do, and you know l had asked you several times before, and you had declined; but yesterday night you said you had given me my final answer. l then grew desperate (though to your face fair enough), and determined to steal the money from you, if could get it in no ether way.
 Early in the evening-before our conversation in your study-you may remember that your daughter (who, by the way, never seemed to like or trust mel was seated at her bureau, looking at some jewelly. An idea seized me that if could only get possession of these jewels-for some of them were very cost ly-I could sell them at a price which would not only pay my debts, hut would leave me enough beside to enable me to clear out of the country.
 Yeur daughter, in having locked her bureau, did not take her key, but left it in the lock; therefore, so far the way was paved for me.
 "I did my best to conquer these temp tations, but alas we are but too weak creatures, and I at length succumbed, and resolved to turn (oh! my friends; pass over the word as soon as possible) thief Sc at quarter past one this morning l descended to the drawing room, opened the bureau, and was about to take the jewels, when, hearing the handle of the door move, went to see the cause, and imagine my feelings at seeing your daughter before me. I soon perceived, however, by the fixed look in her eyes that she was asleep. She began to talk disjointly of having left the key in the lock of her bureau. Iwent to my overcoat, which was in the room, and got key-that of the front door which 1 had taken from you study, and forced it into her hand. She believed herself to be the possessor of what she wanted, and, turning round, left the room.
 For some moments stood where she had left me, looking after her as if I my self were in dream. When had seen her standing before me, with face as pure and innocent as her mind, uncon- scious of all evil or danger, seemed to realize for the first time what a mean and guilty wretch was.
 Contrition seized me recoiled with horror from, the thought et the action I had been about to commit, and thanked heavenit was net teo late to resist the temptation. After lapse of a Jew mo- ments I went up ts her room to possess myself of the key I had put into her hand, which found on her dressing ta- ble. I then went back to your study, put it back in its place; wrote the pres ent letter, opened the window and shut. ters, and bade farewell to the house where I had spent so many happy hours.
 And now that you know what I have done, try and forget my ingratitude if you can.
 Ever yours lovingly, my dear friends,
 EUGENE MENTION.
 So ended the letter. Poor man! I inquired of my father if nothing could be done to trace him, and get him to re- turn. He replied he would de what he could. We succeeded in tracing him to New York, and there the clue was lost. We tried every means which occurred to us for discovering his whereabouts, and inserted advertisements in the New York and Canadian papers, begging him to let us know at least that he was alive and we'll i; but all our endeavors were in vain-we never heard of him again.
 We often think of him with pity and regrets, for, whatever were his faults, there must have been some goad in a man who was capable of feeling such profound and sincere cOntrition for a guilty intention.-Hustrated Weekly.