The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-04-22

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piteous appeals, which were in all tho
papers, my heart fairly ached for him.
But continued he, addressing my
father-in-law, who had become very
pale, "you ought to remember the cir
cumstances, for IL occurred just at the
time of the great failure in Philadelphia
by which you were so heavy loser"
"Yes, / reeollect the affair."" 70
piled Mr.. Thorne, who appeared 10 be
suffering.
81 never heard, continued the doctor,
"what became of the poor devil, and
yet / should like to know"
"Should youl" said | laughing, then
let me crafty your curiosity. !,
Arthur Wallace, am that peor deyu,
doctor; saved from ruin and despais hY
my bnneiactor here" And then 1sre-
lated all the events Of the last fifteen
years.
The doctor sprang TO his feet and
grasped bis old friends hand.
"Well and generously donel" said I've,
but Mr.. Thorne interrupted him.
81 am not well, he said, family. 81
suffer greatly--let me 60 10 my room
The next day he sent for mo to his
private Office found him looking
pale and hagg,rd.
"Sit down, my dear Arthur" said he,
in low voice, "and listen to me. Fer
long time / have had confession 70
make to you, one that weighs on me 50
heavily that ] must ease my conscience
of It's load. can better bear TO do n
now, that have in measure made
some amends for the trouble one(
caused yon."
"'rhe trouble You caused mel" said I.
''You have been the most generous q
men to me. IL is through your kind
ness | occupy my present position, il !
to you ] owe my happiness, and mon
than all, my honor"
Mr.. Thorne opened bis desk ana
took from it poeketbook.
"Do you remember thisl" said he, "a
he placed it in my hand.
Eyes" replied /, sit is the one
lost; but how"
| could not finish my question. Th'
truth stared me in the face. ] sprane
ID my feet ia dismay.
"Great heayensl' cried, "yo,
found the money"
"Aye! and kept it," he grosned, witl
anguish in his voice. "But, OH do no
condemn without hearing me. Yester
day you heard DR.. Ponnard allude {,
the great losses / had sustained by th,
failure in Philadelphia. ] did not dar,
To make my embarfassments known. a,
that would have hastened my ruin
my ruinl God Knows il was not 70
myself that cared, but Alice, mj
darling child. II was ON the lith
OF December that you lost the money
Oh! shall never forget the d.te. j
was on that day that medilatet
suicide. | was sbert $4,000 70 NEE
my liabilities, maturing OF the 18th
| was overwhelmed wilh despair; th'
air of the office seemed to stifle me ant
| rushed into the street. had hardly
gone ten yards ~hsu my foot struel
something IL was your pocketbook
] opened it aud the sight turned M
giddy and faint. Then commenccs
within my breast one Of those mora
struggles which, even To conquer, j
fsarful, bnt in which, alas niserabll
van4nished. The next day | satisfied al
claiIns upon me. To the world ] wa
George fborne, an honest upright man
TO myself was nothing better than
lnalcfactor. You know tho res,
Through my guilt you passed two week
OF indescribable anguish. hav
siucc endeayored to make reparatiol
Tor this misery ] caused; but / also sui
feled. Moral atonements are th
most cruel, because they arc eternal
have known and yet feel the bitterness
Of expiation. Say, my son, can yo
forgive my crimef
Could / forgivel | looked at th
pallid face, anguished eyes. Wins
were my sufferings of those two tsl
rible weeks compared to the secret pal
and shame this man had borne ic
years. This man, the victim of on
solitary deviation from rectitude, 6
upright in all else, and whose life ha
been ono long atonement. grasps
his hand; tears filled my o. es.
Father" / cried, "Alice's fathe
and mine, all is forgiven, forgotten
DO not owe all the happiness OF m
life to that same lost pocketbookl'