The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-01-16

\>Nkp< urn voice and
nv ~ steady eye.
<-nA9 a =, "Crime is often
1 s% SM committed under the
~" pressure of grc,.t
temptation. In q moment OF weak.
ness, the unhappy subject OF
evil allurcment falls" said the
person with whom the gentleman
was in conversation. "There are
collateral! considerations in every case,
which may not be disregardel with
out wrong to the individual. And we
may assume it es al unloubted truth,
that in doing wrong to an individual,
We wrong the body OF which that IN
dividU0l Is a member"
"Thero is a great deal OF false
philanthropy, rs we'll as false judg-
mcat, excused by this argument based
on exceptions to general rules" said
Mr.. lexington, with an air Of SELF
satisfaction. ''For my part, believe
that more harm is done in the END by
admitting the exceptions, than cou|ll
possibly arise from an invariably
stringent application Of the rule. The
man who steals knows that he is violat-
ing lew OF both God and his fellow.
The statute OF his country says that
for such an evil act he must suffer the
penalty of Imprisonment. Let, then,
the penalty b. made SO sure that
escape becomes next to moral i'm
possibility. Let every one who be-
comes cognizant of an act of stealing
give the offender to speedy justice.
For my part, painful as the necessity
might be, l should not stand between
justice and ny own son, were he to
become an offender. The stern old
Roman father has left an example Of
answering Justice that Christians
would do we'll to initiate"
"Ihe time may come when YOU will
think little differently" said the
friend; "when collateral influences
will have sufficient weight to intcrpose
an exception to your stringent general
rule"
"Wo'il sce," returned Mr.. Elking-
ton, confidently, as the two men Sc
paratea. ;, IT,: IT,. -.
A few days after the conversation
took place, Mr.. ELLINGTON, who was
merchant, WIS rathe. surprised to re-.
ceive notification that he had over
drawn his bank account moro than
two thousand dollars.
"Altogether mistake" he said TO
himself, Us he opened his desk IN
order to take thereirom his bank
book. But, the bank book was not in
the usual place. After tumbling over
some papers hurriedly, to see il it
wero not concealed beneath them.
he turned to one Of his clerks and
said:
"Where is James?"
"He hasn't been in the store this
morning, sir.
"Why? Is he sick?"
II cannot tell, sir. He made no
complaint Of indispositlou on leaving
the store last evening""
1t was on the lip of Mr.. Ellington
to say, in doubtful toae Of voice:
"Ihere is something wrong" but
checking tho uttsranoe thereof, be
took his hat and left the store, A
little while aftsrward he presented
himself at the counter of the bank
where he kept his deposits, and asked
the bookkeeper to oblige him by turn.
ing to his account.
81 see no credit here for two thou.
sand dollars, deposited yesterday"
said Mr.. Ellington.
"Did you make such deposit?"
asked the bookkeeper.
Il certainly did; or. at least, in.
tended TO make IT..
The blotter Of the receiving teller
was referred to, but no credit Of the
SUM mentioned was found thereon.
"What does your bank book say?"
inquired the teller,
II can't find it," said Mr.. Fixing.
ton, in some confusion and perplexity
Of manner. "lt has been OVERLAND ID
or upon my desk. But I know the
deposit was made"
"The bsnk book will settle the mat
ter at once" remarked the teller.
III don't like the look of this at ALL,
said Mr.. ELLINGTON to himself, as no
went hurricaly back to his store.
James absent; the bank book not to
be found; and no memorandum of a
two thousand dollar deposit mado yes.
terday standing to my credit. What
can it mean? Truly, that young man