Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-04-09
.Impossible,'' said the host

how the robber may have been tempt
ed, and who knsws what relations
he may have = honest men, whom
his crime would degrade forever
Good heavens! if detected, it is the
galleys!'
".And what then?-the robber
knew what he braved.'
But did his father know it?' cried
the guest af
ga light broke upon my unhappy
comrade in arms; he caught his
friend by his hand. You turned
pale at my sons sight-where did
ven ever see him before? Speak
Last night on the road to Paris
The mask slipped aside. Call back
| my evidenced ~ A..
".You are mistaken said my
friend, calmly, 4 saw nay son in his
bed and blessed him before I went
to my own
"'I will believe you,' said my
guest, and never shall my hasty sus-
picion pass my lips; but call the ev-
idence' Hs ss-F
"The guest returned to Paris be-
fore dusk. The father cenversed
with the son on the subject of his
studies: he followed him to his room,
waited till he was in bed, and was
then about to retire, when the youth
said, Father, you have forgotten
your blessing f.,
''The father went back, laid his
hand on the boys head and prayed.
He was rednlous--fathers are sO;--
He was persuaded his friend had
been deceived. He retired to rest
and fell asleep. He awoke suddenly,
in the middle of the night, and felt
(I here quote his words)--I felt
said he, 'as if voice had awakened
me, saying, Rise and Search! /
rose at once, struck light and went
to my sons room. The door was
locked. knocked once, twice, thrice
ne answer / dared not call aloud
lest should rouse the servants. 1
went down the stairs; l opened the
back door; l passed to the stable;
my horse was there, not my sons
horse. My horse neighed; it was
old like myself-my old charger at
Mt. Saint Jean! / stole back; l crept
into the shadow Of the wall by my
SON. door and extinguished the light.
felt as if I were a thief myself
'sBrother," interrupted my mother
under her breath, "speak in your
own words, not in this wretched faith
er's. / know not why, but it would
shock me less"
The captain nodded.
''Before daybreak, my friend heard
the back door vpen gently; foot
ascended the stairs-a key grated in
the door of the room close at hand
the father glided through the dark
into that chamber unseen behind his
son.
"He heard the clink of the tinder
box; light spread over the room,
but he had time to place himself be-
hind the window curtain, which was
close at hand. The figure before
him stood a moment or so motion
less, and seemed to listen, for it
turned to the right, to the left, its
vlsage covered with the blacklist,
hideous mask which is worn at car
nivals Slowly the mask was re
moved; could that be his son? the
son of brave manP 1t was pale
and CHASTITY with cOwardly fear; the
base drops stood on the brow; the
eye was haggard and blood shot
He looked as coward looks when
death stands before him.
"The youth walked, or rather
skulked to the secretarle, unlocked it,
opened drawer, placed within it
the contents of his pockets and his
frightful mask; the father approached
softly, looked over his shoulders,
and saw in the drawer the pocket
book, embroidered with his friends
name. Meanwhile the son took out
his pistols, uncocked them cautious
ly and was about to secrete them
when his father arrested his arm
.Robber, the use of these is yet to
come '-g. H~I s--.
"The sons knees smote together;
an exclamation COR mercy burst from
his lips; but when recovering the
mere shock of his bastard nerves, he
perceived it was not the grip of
some hireling of the law, but faith
er's hand that had clutched his arm,
the vile audacity thstknows fear only
from bodily cause, none from awe
Of shame, returned to him. 81
"Tush! sir" said he; "waste no
time in reproaches, for / fear the
gems d. arms are on my track. 1t is
well that you are here; you can swear
that l have spent the night at home.
Unhsnd me, old man." and he point
ed to the garments wet and drab-
bled with the mud of the roads. He
had scarcely spoken when the walls
shook; there was the heavy elatter
OF hoofs ringing on the pavement
without. -.
"They come" cried the son. "Off,
dotard! Save your sen from the gal
leys!"
"sThe galleys, the galleys~ said
the father, staggering back; 1T is
true-he said the galleysr'
"There was loud knocking at the
gate. The gen d. arms surrounded
the house. open in the namel of
the law No answer came, no door
was opened, Some Of the gems
d. arms rode to the rear Of the house
in which was the stable yard. From
the window of the son the sudden
blaze Of torches and the shadowy
forms of the man-hunters could be
seen. He heard the clatter of their
arms as they swung themselves
from their horses. He heard voice
cry, "Yes, this is the robbers grey
horse--see, it reeks with swest"--1
And hebin6 and in front-at either