The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1868-01-23

for his host.
"My friend" said he, cap Won
do me a favor? Go to the mag.
istrate and recall the evidence
| have given
"Impossible.' SAID the host.
What croche'v is this 2
The guest shuddered. 'Peste,
said he, 4 DON'T wish in my old
age to9oe hard on others. Who
knows now the robber may
lave been tempted, and who
Knows what relatinns he may
p.ave-honest men, whom his
crime would degrade forever
Good heavensl if detected, it
is the galleys.'
"And what then s-th rob.
Der knew what he brayed.'
"But did his father know it?'
cried the guest. .I.l
"a light broke upon my un
happy comrade in arms; he
caught his friend by the hand.
You turned pale at my sons
sight. Where did you ever see
him befores'
"'Last night on the road to
Paris. The mask slipped OIL.
Call back my evidence
"'You are Mistaken said my
friend, calmly, 4 saw my SON
in his bed, and blessed him be-
fore L went to myown.'
81 will believe you said my
guest, ,'and never shall my hasty
suspicion escape my lips; but
call the evidence
"The guest returned TO Paris
before dusk. The father con.
versed with the son on the sub
ject 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,
'Faller, you have forgotten
your blessing
"The father went back; laid
his hand on his sons head and
prayed. He was credulous-
fathers are so. lie was per
suaded his friend had been de.
ceived. He retired TO rest and
fell asleep. He awoke sud.
denly in the middle OF the
night, and felt-I here quote
his own words-I felt said he,
'as if q voice had awakened
me, saying, Rise and Search
| arose at once and went to
my sons room. The door was
locked. knocked once, twice,
lhrice-no answer. | dare not
call aloud lest | should rouse
the servants. weht down
the stairs; | opened the back
door, | passed to the stable;
my horse was there, not my
sons horse. My horse neigh.
ed; it was old like myself-my
old charger at Mt. Saint Jeanl
| stole back; | crept into the
shadow of the wall by my sons
door and extinguished the
light. felt as if | were a thief
myself"
"Brother," interrupted my
mother under breath, "speak
in your own words, not in this
wretched fathers. | know not
why, but it would shock me
less"
The captain nodded.
Before daybreak, my friend
heard the back door open gent
ly; foot ascended the stairs
II key grated in the door of
the room close at hand-the
father glided through the dark
into that chamber unseen be-
hind his son.
He heard the cllnk of the
tinder box; a light spread
over the room, but he had time
to place himself behind the
window curtain which was
close at hand. The figure be-
fore him stood a moment or so
molionless, and turned to The
right, to the left, its visage
covered with the hlackest, hid.
eous mask which is worn at
carnivals. Slowly the mask
was removed; could that be
his sons the son of a brave
man? 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 a coward
looks when death stands lie
fore him.
"The youth walked, or rather
skulked TO the secretarie, un-
locked it, opened a drawer,
placed within it the contents
of his pockets and his fright.
full mask; the father approach
ed softly, looked over his
shoulders,an saw in the drawer
The book, embroidered
with his friends name. Mean.
while the son took out his pis