Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-04-21

1t means that 1 nave PAID my half
with interest,"" said Thornton.
"And where did you get the money >"
cried, amazed.
"Speculating in stocks" was the cool
reply. why don't you? l suppose
Wilson, Carter & Co. would lend you
enough to begin with. At any rate you
can borrow it of them, even if they don't
/ lend it,"
With these words Thornton turned
and abruptly walked away. l suppose
he meant to do me service by this infer
nal suggestion, but he might better have
thrust a dagger into my heart. can
not tell how | brooded that night over
what he said. or how next day trem-
bingly acted upon it, employingayoung
broker, TO whom Thornton had intro
duced me, to invest the purloined funds.
| had some delusive successes, but
the day the note came due | pos
sessed not cent to meet my share of it,
and was 81 800 behind in my accounts
with my employers. Mastering up all
my courage / called on Jackson, told
him / had not been so fortunate as nv
friend Thornton, and ventured to propose
that he accept my note for s. 900 in set
Element of my present obligation.
81 will do so readily" said he, "upon
one condition, and that is, that you have
good name at the back of it,
" Yet hardly know to whom | could
apply" | said. II wonld much rather
give you 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 have good name at the back.
On that condition have no objection to
make it year, so as to allow you suffi-
cient 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 him to put his name to it? At any
rate you can but ask him, and the thing
may be done tomorrow. Now take my
advice and try the experiment"
left Jackson, hardly knowing what
to do. True, l 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 defaulter to the amount
Of s., 800.
And here l must hurry over the par
ticulas of the crime / committed, 90
painful are they to think Of Suffice it
to say, instead of obtaining his signature
1 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 had Of
relieving myself from the penalty of my
crime would be by perpetrating others;
and this, / felt convinced, would only be
to prolong for short time the misery
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
countenance, looked about him till his
eye fell upon him, when he showed no
more appearance of recognition than if l
had been total stranger. He was soon
after ushered into the senior partners
office, and !, closing my desk, put on my
hat, and, in q state OF terror it would be
impossible to describe, returned home.
The state of my mind that night would
BATTLE all description. 1 tried to sleep, in
the danger was in. All was useless; and
l turned over in my mind innumerable
schemes of the vaguest description by
which to save myself. When think over
them now, and can estimate their utter
worthlessness and absurdity, can easily
understand l was in the condition OF the
drowning man who catches at straw.
The next morning, entirely forgetting
only to close my eyes for a short time to
my breakfast, in a fit of recklessness l
dressed and went to the office. Shortly
after my arrival. the senior partner en-
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