The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-01-16
has not robbed me! BE cannot be 50

base. But il he ha: %
How stern and hard instantly be
came the countcnance OF tile mer'
chant. eff he has, woe be to him!
will track his steps with quic1-footed
justice; the ungrateful w:etch!"
1t was, alas quite as bad as the mer.
chant had suspected. James Craig, G
young man in his twentieth year,
whose character hitherto had stood
above suspicion, in un evil hour had
yielded to temptation, and become the
base robter 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 appropriatiug
$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
| obscure tavern, where he hid himself
| away from observation. hoping to re-
main concealed until the first search
fox him sho;;ll be over. Here, in
great humiliation and distress Of mind,
he awaited tho progress OF events,
bitterly renenting his folly and crime.
., what would he not have given for
restored integrity! The price Of virtue
and Il good name was his but the sum
Of $4,000, which little while befGre,
had ]oomed 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 Craigk err
rival in Baltimore, rs he sat irresolute
anil 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 Tor some moments
50 paral yzed the he could not neither
move nor speak.
"Humph! So I've found yoa, have
II" said Mr.. ELLINGTON, as he closed
the door. There was a cruel menace
in the tones OF his voice, that LETT
small room for hope in the mind Of
the guilty one who cowel before him.
''And now, what have you to say for
yourself?
"Speak!' be added more impera.
lively; "ghat have YOU to say for
yoursolf?"
Nothing" replied the young man.
"Whcrc is my money" said Mr..
Elkiuton.
Craig drew from his pocket thick
roll Of bank bills, and handing them
to Mr.. Ellington, replied:
"lhere it is; have not used do'-
lar. God in heaven knows how bit
terly I have repented Of this dreadful!
crimc!"
The merchant was taken rather by
surprise at this unexpected restilu.
ton. Still, his purpose to hand the
offender over to justice remained firm.
He had pondercd the matter closely
had even weighed the strong appeals
mode by certain collateral considcra-
tons; but his rigid MOTTO" Let
justice be done, though the heavens
should fall !"--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 DO met. The lew wisely ordains
punishment for theft. You have stolen
my property, and as C good citizen it
becomes my duty to give you up to
the ministers OF the low, which I shall
do. A police officer is in tho house.
you will pass from here into his hands.
Unhappy young man! how have you
marred your whole future life. What
insanity was upon you?"
80, Mr.. ELLINGTON, exclaimed
Craig, sinking upon one knee, and
lifting his face to that of the mer-
chant, do not sacrifice me for one
false step, the first I have taken"
81 do not sacrifice you, James,"
said Mr.. ELLINGTON. 1.-The act is your
own. You have committed crime,
and it is my duty, as have said, to
hand you over to those who punish
crime. I feel for you deeply; but ]
cannot give place to weakness. Justice
must be done, though the heavens
should fall. If each one, against whom
a crime is committed, suffer the often.
der, when inl 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, sold imploring.
ly:
Il have a poor widowed mother,
sir; if her son is disgraced her heart
will DO broken"
"You should have thought Of that
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