Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-03-18
HsyEa DEsPai7.

In the private office of London naer- chant, young man, vsrging upon his 2lst year, stood before his employer in the character of culprit. The face of the merchant betokened the possession of character in which what tine worlI calls dogged resolution was the prevail ing element.
 |" l tell you again." said he, "I can- not-wiu net overlook your otfense."
 Believe me, sir, appealed the youth, :" l had no criminal intention the fault was entirely unpremeditated-it was an act of folly, which I shall never-oh, sir, never repeat.
 One of those cold and horrible smiles which so forcibly express incredulity swept across the merchants face, and he waved his hand as if he wished the in- terview to be terminated.
 The young man, whose countenance up to this moment had been burning with shame, now became deadly pale i; he saw his employers determination was not to be shaken, and that disgrace stared him hideously in the face. He made vain effort at another appeal, but the words died on his lips, and a feeling of despair utterly extinguished the faint hopes he had entertained of being mer- cifully dealt with
 My poor mother !" gasped he, hid- ing his face in his hands and sobbing bitterly.
 The merchants hard features slightly relaxed-perhaps he loved his mother dearly; but tue feslinc, whatever is might have been, was only transient one.
 "Walter Jackson, said he, in hard, ringing tones, which instantly reused the young man from his grief, q tell you once again, my mind Is made up, and the sooner you leave my office the better. 1 never prosecute i'll small cases like yours. Begone, and never let me see or hear from you again"
 The delinquent, awed by that iron will, mechanically turned upon his heel and left the office. Stunned and bewil- dered by the catastrophe which had, in one moment, crushed all his young hearts hopes, he moved along the streets like a man drunk, or bending beneath burden which exposed him 10 the mercy of the passer-by. Pressed and weighed down by a heavy fear, he went from that noisome place to ramble like a fallen spirit until the hour at which he usually returned from his la- bors to the home where he was welcomed by mothers smile and fond attentions. Hardening himself to play a deceptive part in her presence, he approached the door with a confidence which his con- science too surely told him was but au- dacious assurance. And when he took his accust omed scat at the tea table and responded to her gentle inquiries, he did so outwardly unabashed; but with in, far from human eye, he felt the glow of shame's blush and the torture which the contrast between vice and virtue renders more acute.
 His unsuspecting parent noticed nc change in him during the whole of that trying evening, and when lie retired tc his chamber he received her blessing with stoicism which almost amounted to cold indifference. But, when he had only himself to deal with, the actor for. got his part, and once more became the conscience stricken man of guilt, Despair, with its narrowing convictions, prostrated the whole of his faculties and he moaned in the helplessness ol his condition. He threw himself nn. horrors by which he saw himself on al sides surrounded.
 He moaned and he cried, and then hC clenched his fists and beat the air-exe crated himself, then others-and fnaliy sprang from the bed like savage dartine upon his prey. His eyes sparkled. his ches | heaved, and his whole attitude was tha of menace and defiance.
 Since l cannot go back" though he, setting his teeth firmly together, C will go forward and wo be it to-" 1 At this critical moment his glance fel on picture hanging against the wall it was the head of our Savior, and tn gift of his mother. A long, long look d1 | he take at the mild face which smiled S ! sweetly from its canvas, and then Il burst into tears. They were the best h had ever shed, for they opened up t him the fountains of new life, and e2 tinguished those unholy sparks whic despair had lxindled in his bosom. Afte his powerful emotion had in some degre subsided, he knelt down by the bedside and prayed as only those can who nee divine assistance. He rose calm and rt freshed, and seated himself at httl table to deliberate on the course h should pursue. Many and various wer his thoughts, but they all partook of tn tone of one grand, all-commanding sent ment and by that he was resolved t be guided. The coinage of his brail was distilled in that best of all alembics the heart and gradually there was aC cumulated within him a gently -fowin rlver of thought, beside which Hop stood waving her green branch, an bidding him i'll honeyed accents, "Nevt despair" {"
 In the morning he rose, after dream less night, vigorous and determined anl hastened to carry out one of the mo- difficult of the three resolutions he ha formed that was to part, perhaps f( ever, with the girl he loved.
 Mary" said he, gazing mournful into her fearful face, "I love you { well, indeed better, at this moment tha ever 1 did-but we must part. Circun stances have occurred which render tn
 painful step necessary.
 S 'Cannot you explain, Walter ?" d.
 manded she, clinging to him.
 "Dear Mary, don task mel cannot
 replied he, painfully. T cannot, il deed-only to my God! Listen," col tinued he solemnly; "to-morrow 1 sha
 be far away from you; and the probabi ] ity is that 1t world be a very long time