The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-01-28

"The father went laeE laid his han
on the boys head aaa payed. he W,
r credulous-fathers are so He was pei
: suaded his friend had bee deceived. Fl
retired to rest and fellaslep. He awol
. suddenly, 10 the middle d the night, an
felt q here quote his wois) I felt, sal
he, las if voice had aw9ened me, say
Rise and Searchl I rossat once, struc
alight and went to my s1's room. Th
door waslocked. I knoded once, twic,
thrice-no answer. I das not call aIou
lest l should rouse the advants. I wer
down the stairs; I opened the back dool
II passed to the abfe;lmg horse wa
there, not my aas,s Ny hors
lnsighed; it was soldfIIe m5feif eifI-zzElTyJ' cfE
charger at Mt. Saint lean. I stole back
III crept into the shasow Of tbe wall b
my SON s door and exthguished the light
| l felt as if / were tha myself.
"Brother, interrupted myImother un
lder her breath, speak IN yourown words
not in this wretched fathers, knoy
mot why, but it wouldshock ne less.
| The Captain noddet
"Before daybreak ny friend heard th
back door open gently;a foot assembled tn
stairs key grated b the door of tn
room close at hand4th father glide,
through the dark intothat chamber, un
seen, behind his son.
aHe heard the clinl of the tinder-box
a light spread over thl room, but he hat
time to place himself behind the window
curtain which was dose at hand. Tn,
figure before him stod moment. or sc
motion,ess, and turmd to the right, tc
the left, its visage covired with the black
est, hideous mask which is worn at car.
niya.s. Slowly the mask was removed
could that be his son? the son efia brave
man2 It was pale AMI CHASTITY with cow
ardly fear; the base crops stood on the
brow; the eye was hggard and blood
shot. He looked as scoward looks wher
death stands before him.
'sThe youth walked, or rather skulked
to the secretarie, unlocked it, opened {
drawer, placed within it the contents o.
his pockets and his frightfal mask; tho
father approached softly, looked over hi
shoulders, and saw in the drawer ths
pocket book, embroidered with his friend'l
name. Meanwhile the aon took out hil
pistols, unlocked then cautiously and wal
about to secrete them when his father ar
rested his arm. tRobber, the use O
these is yet to come
a"The sons knees smote together; al
exclamation for mercy burst from hi
bps, but Mhsp rscoverins the mere shocl
Of his bastard nerves terc< red it va
not the grip Of some bifen 5kaf the 'laA
but a fathers hand that bad elatched hi
arm, the vile audacity that knows fea
only from a bodily cause, none from aw
of shame, returned to him.
"Tush! sir, !" said he; "waste not tim
in reproaches, for / fear the gend' 'arm
are ON my track. 1t is well that you are
here; you can swear that / have spent tn
night at home. Unhand me, old man,
and he pointed to the garments wet ant
drabbled with the mud Of the roads. Ht
had scarcely spoken when the walls
shook; there was the heavy clatter o
hoofs ringing on the pavement without
"They come cried the son. of do
tard! Save your son from the galleysP
"The galleysl the gallsysT said tht
father. staggering back; I'is it true-ht
said the galleys!''
"There was loud knocking at th
gate. The gend'arms surrounded th
house. open in the 'name of the law
No answer came, no door was opened
Some of the gend arms rode to the rea
of We house in which was the stable yard
From the window of the son's-room tn
sudden blaze of torches and the shadow,
forms Of the man. hunters could be seer
He heard the clatter of their arms as the
swung themselves from theirlhorses. Fl
heard voice cry, Yes, this is the rob
ber's grey horse-see, it still reeks wit
sweat" And behind, and in front--a
either door-again came the knocking
and again the shout, open, in the nam
of the lawl'
"Then lights began to gleam from case
ments of the neighboring houses; the
the space filed rapidly with many curiou
wonderers startled from their sleep; th
world was astir, and the crowd cam
around to learn what crime or shame ha
entered the old soldiers home.
"Suddenly, within, there MAS heard th
report of firearms mixste Or so aftel
wards the door was opened and the ol
soldier appeared.
"Enter," he said to the gend d'arm
"what would your"
awe seek robber who is within you
walls
81 know it; mount and find him.
will lead the way"
"He ascended the stairs and threw ope
his sons room; the officers of justis
poured in, and on the floor lay the rol
ber's corpse.
"They looked at each other in amaz
ment. Take what is left you,' said Il
father. Take the dead man rescued fre
the galleys; take the living man oD who
hands rests the dead mans blood
81 was present at my friends tris
The facts had become known beforehan
he stood there with his gray hair al
mutilated limbs, and the cross of the
gion Of honor on his breast; and VIII
be had told his tale, he ended with the
words: I have saved the son, whom
had reared for France, from doom th
spared the life to brand it with disgrac
Is this crime? | give you my life in e.
change for my sons disgrace Does n
country need victim? have lived 8
my country's glory, and | can die co
tented to satisfy its laws; sure, that If u
did blame, you would not despise; su
that the very hands that give my po,
old body to the headsman, will scatt