The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-02-27

has not robbed me! He cannot be SO
base. But if he has %
How stern and hard instantly be.
came the countenance of the mer-
chant. eff he has, woe be to him!
will track his steps with quick-footed
Justice; the ungrateful wretchl"
1t was. alas quite as bad as the mer-
chant had suspected. James Craig, a
young man In his twentieth year,
whose character hitherto had stood
above suspicion, in an evil hour had
yielded to temptation, and become the
base robher of his employer. But
scarcely was the deed done beyond the
possibility of avoiding exposure, ere
the dishonest deed was bitterly repent
ed. His first act, after appropriating
$4,000, instead of depositing the sum
in the bank, was to leave the city in
the earliest train of cars for the South.
In Baltimore he took lodgings in an
fobscure tavern, where he hid himself
away from observation. hoping to re.
main concealed until the first search
for him should be over. Here, in
| great humiliation and distress of mind,
he awaited the progress of events,
bitterly repenting his folly and crime.
o, what would he not have given for
restored integrity The price of virtue
and good name was his; but the sum
of $4,000, which q little while before,
had doomed up with such golden at
traction, now seemed of no value what
ever, compared with the rich treasure
he had parted with in order to secure
it.
On the second day after Craig's ar
rival in Baltimore, as he sat irresolute
and respondent in his room, the door
thereof was thrown suddenly open, and
Mr.. Ellington stood before him, with
sternly knit brows, and eyes that
seemed as if they would pierce him
through and through. Instantly the
wretched young man turned pale as
death, and he was for some moments
50 paralyzed the he could not neither
move nor speak.
"dumphl So I've found you, have
II" said Mr.. Ellington, as he closed
the door. There was cruel menace
in the tones of his voice, that left
small room for hope in the mind OF
the guilty one who cowed before him.
"And now, what have you to say for
yourself?
"5peaki he added more impera.
lively; "what have you to say for
yourself?"
"Nothing," replied the young man.
"Where is my money!" said MIR.
Elkinton.
Craig drew from his pocket thick
roll of bank bills, and handing them
to Mr.. Ellington, replied:
"1here it is; I have not used dol
lar. God in heaven knows how Bit
terly ] have repented of this dreadful
crimer'
The merchant was taken rather by
surprise at this unexpected restitu-
tion. Still, his purpose to hand the
offender over to justice remained firm.
He had pondered the matter closely
had even weighed the strong appeals
mode by certain collateral considera-
tions; but his rigid motto-"Let
justice be done, though the heavens
should fall i"-had decided his course
OF action, and even now police
officer awaited his summons below.
"James," said Mr.. Ellington stern
ly, "you have crossed the Rubicon of
crime, and your enemy, reiribution,
must be met. The law wisely ordains
punishment for theft. You have stolen
my property, and as good citizen it
becomes my duty to give you up to
the ministers OF the law, which I shall
do. A police officer is in the house;
you will pass from here into his hands.
Unhappy young man! how have you
marred your whole future life. What
insanity was upon your
80, Mr.. Ellington, exclaimed
Craig, sinking upon one knee, and
lifting his face to that of the mer-
chant, edo not sacrifice me for one
false step, the first I have taken"
81 do not sacrifice you, James,"
said Mr.. Ellington. The act is your
own. You have committed crime,
and it is my duty, as l have said, to
hand you over to those who punish
crime. I feel for you deeply; but I
cannot give place to weakness. Justice
must be done, though the heavens
should fall. If each one, against whom
crime is committed, suffer the often
der, when inI his power, to escape,
every social safeguard is removed.
No, no, James, painful as the act will
be, I must give you up to justice"
And Mr.. Ellington turned to leave
the room. But, as he did so, the
wretched young man started forward,
and seizing his hand, said imploring-
ly:
II have q poor widowed mother,
sir; il her son is disgraced her heart
will be broken"
"You should have thought of that
before, James. 1t is too late now"
"Do not say this ., sir, do not say
this I am not so bad as you think. If
I could be overcome in temptation
while surrounded with safeguards, how
will be able to stand when all these
are removed? o, sir, claim justice
for myself, justice for my unhappy
mother. Do not utterly ruin the
widows only son!"
sJustice! justice !" said Mr.. Fixing
ton, in half bewildered manner, as
he turned toward the young man.
"You talk of justice !"
evil it be just to destroy young