"But," I remarked, "I want you to take a reasonable view of the matter. You cannot think me so destitute of common humanity as to wish to place any one in such an unpleasant position, much less a young man like yourself, so capable of better things." He appeared to be somewhat impressed by the earnestness with which I spoke, and answered in a softened tone, "I suppose I ought to believe you, but it seems hard to be entrapped in the way I have been." "It may be the best thing that could have happened to you under the circumstances," said I, "and I sincerely hope that it will prove so." I was desirous of making him see that I was actuated in the course I had taken by no motive other than a wish to discharge my duty faithfully, and therefore left him for the time to consider what I had said, confident that a little reflection would calm his ruffled temper, and lead him to a correct view of the case. In this I was not mistaken, and when I urged him to make a confession on the ground of justice to others, and his own interest, he "made a clean breast" of it, and gave in substance the account of his downward course, with which the reader is already familiar. He expressed much regret and penitence, and a mournful satisfaction that his mother was not alive to know of his disgrace. It seems unnecessary to pursue the subject further. The force of the lesson it is calculated to teach would not thus be increased, and the feelings of some might be harrowed up, who should rather receive sympathy and consolation. CHAPTER III. Business Rivalry--Country Gossiping--Museum of Antiquities--New Post Master--Serious Rumors--Anonymous Letters--Package detained--Bar-room Scene--_Ram_ifications of the Law--First Citizens--Rascally Enemies--Lawyer's Office--Gratuitous Backing--Telegraphing--U.S. Marshal arrives--The Charge--The Fatal Quarter--Enemies' Triumph--The Warrant--Singular Effects of Fear--A Faithful Wife--Sad Memories--The Squire's Surprise--All right. The jealousies and rivalry often existing between persons of similar occupations, which supply the truth contained in the old proverb, "Two of a trade can never agree," are fostered and strengthened in small towns to an extent which is not as conspicuous, and perhaps not as frequently observed in larger places. For this general spirit of emulation and strife is greatly aggravated by the interest that almost all the inhabitants of small communities feel in the sayings and doings of their neighbors. This interest is too often manifested by reporting from one to another hasty and ill-considered speeches, which should be suffered to die where they are born; but thus set in motion by careless tongues, for the benefit of itching ears, they roll on like snow-balls, and attain a size and shape hardly recognisable by those who gave them their first impulse.