Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-14
A CONFESSION.

Most men would hesitate at telling
such story Of themselves. But | am
convinced that il will afford a suggestion
of mercy toward such as do fall, and
some may be turned away from tempta-
ton by its recital.
had been an under clerk in large
establishment for many years. Natural
ly economical, my savings had attained
to such respectable sum that ventured
upon married life, quite as much as 4
refuge from the monotony of my mex
pensive style of living as in obedience to
the ysarnings of nature whic a man is
either very foolish or very bad not TO
heed in due season. Like most men,
however. whose adventures Of this kind
are no, followed by the comfort and ease
which depend upon money for their pos
session. in the course Of time | came to
repen, the undertaking; for | was in
debt. and my family had increased, while
my income had not kept pace with my
expenses. My wife lacked the courage
to practice the proper self-denial which
would be consequent upon a :etrenchmen'
of our expenses. was daily annoyed
by duns. | had borrowed money in
very quarter. And a walk in the pub
lie street was literally denied to me by
the fear of encountering some one to
whom was in debt for house expenses.
Returning home one night, jaded by a
lis,les. stroll through the town, | found
the Junior member Of the firm awaiting
me. The firm had received intelligence
after business hours, of q transction en-
tered into on their account, which Sc
cured the Immediate transmission TO an
isolated inland town Of several thousand
dollars. together with certain papers
and statements necessary to conclude the
affair. |, was too important matter
to be intrusted to the insecurity and un-
certainty Of the mail. Upon consul,a-
ton of the members of the firm, | had
been selected to perform the necessary
two days journey. l accepted the mis-
sion with alacri,y, for the reason, among
others, that it would be such recreation
as would divert my thoughts for time
from the perplexi,ies of my miserable
condition.
With the usual foresight Of the firm.
everything necessary for my prompt de-
parture had been pre-ararged. lhe
needful papers and accounts, and the IN
dispensable money required TO finch the
transaction. were placed in my hancs IN
an envelope addressed to the gentleman
who had acted as agent of the concern In
the matter. A letter ofintroduction was
also inclosed.
l remember well the bright September
morning on which | started on horse
back and alone on my journey OF which
| accomplished half the first day, arrlv-
ing at a farm house, whose occupants
unhesitatingly granted my petition for a
share for the mig ht of its humble hospital
ity.
The weather had grown colder as the
evening came on, ard by the time l had
reached the house ] experienced sensi-
ble chill. | had wi tn me flask OF liquor,
and was furnished at bed time, at my re-
quest, with sr all quantity of hot wa
ter, with which to compound a sort OF
punch, as an antidote with which to
ward off the ce,ld l apprehended having
taken.
had removed the package Of money
from my pocket and laid it on the table
witt view of putting it under my Pii-
low before going TO bed. As it lay on
the table the address was uppermost; on
the left hand upper corner was memo
randum, "s5, 900 inclosed.' was
standing with my back to the door.
Succeeding a few moments OF entire 81
lence, herd a sep behind me, and l al
most thought, breath upon my face
Turning suddenly around, l beheld my
host with the hot water ! had called for
in a tumbler in his hand. He was quite
beside me, and his eyes rested, or l IAN
cied they rested on the package on tnt
table. l must confess was sensibly
startled by this incident. My concern
was not diminished by observing that
he had removed his boots from his feet
and was then starding in his stocking
feet. My first i'm pulse was to take tn'
water out of his ha nd. Not being quit
ready to use it, l put the package o
money on the top on it as being the most },
convenient way of keeping it hot. l dl.
not turn the superscription downward
as feared it would betray the suspicion
which now positively entertained o
evil intentions on the part of. my enter
tainer, who had quilted the room a
noiselessly as he had entered. imag
ined q grea, many ways in which b