San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-02-02
NEVER DESPAIR.

merchant, n young man, yerglhg upon
his DIST year, Stood beford) his en-
ployer in ,thel character It u eulprit,
The face of tho merchant betokened
the possession Of a character ia which
what the world calls logged resolution
was the prevailing eiemenr !
Il tell you again." said Ne, IL can
not will not overlook your oiiense."
Believe, line, sir" appealed the
youth, Il had no criminal intention /;
the fault was entirely unprecedented
it was an act of folly, which l shall
never-oh, sir, never repeat"
One of those cold and horrible smiles
which 50 forcibly express incredibly
swept across the merchants face, and
he waved his hand as if he wished the
interview to be terminated.
The young man, whose countenance
lid to this moment had been burning
with shame, now became deadly pale;
he saw his employers determination
was not to DO shaken, and that disgrace
stared him hideously i'll the face. He
made a vain effort no another appeal,
but the words died on his lips, and a
feeling OF despair utterly extinguished
the faint hopes he had entertained OF
being mercifully 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 the feeling, whatever it
might have been, was only transient
one.
"Walter Jackson" said he, in hard,
ringing tones, which instantly reused
the young man from his grief, IL tell
you once again, my mind is made up,
and the sooner you leave my office the
better. | never prosecute in small
cases lifeyyoprs. 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 be-
wildered 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
to the mercy of the passer-by. Pressed
and weighed down by heavy fear, he
went into that noisome place to ramble
like fallen spirit until the hour at
which he usually returned from his la
bors to the home where he was well
coined by mothers smile aud fond
attentions. Hardening himself to play
deceptive part in her presence, he
approached the door with confidence
which his conscience too surely told
him was but audacious assurance. And
when he took his accustomed seat at the |
tea table and responded to her gentle |
inquiries, he did so outwardly I'M
abashed; but within, far from human
eye, he felt the glow of shame's blush
and the torture which the contrast be- |
tween vice and virtue renders more
acute. "a i" 's~@F
His unsuspecting parent noticed no
change in him during the whole OF that
irving evening, and when he retired to
his chamber he received her blessing
with q stoicism which almost amounted |
to cold indifference. But, when he had !
ONLY him elf to deal with, the actor.
forgot his part, aud once more became
the conscience stricken man ui guilt.
Despair, with its narrowing convic ions, /
prostrated the whole of his faculties,
and he moaped i'll the helplessneSs OF
his condition. He threw himself I'M !
dressed on the bed, aud yielded to the
horrors by which he saw himself on all
sides surrounded. r. -. .
he moinetl and he cried, and then he
clenched his fists and beat the air exc
Grated himself. then others and finally
sprang from the bed like Il savage dart
ing upon his prey. His eyes spark, d,
his chest heaved, and his whole attitude
wa that of menace and defiance. F.,
Since 1 cannot so back. thought
he, setting his teeth firmly together, Il
will go forward; and woe be it to"
At this critical moment his glance
fell on picture hanging against the
wall: il was the head of our Savior, and
the gift of his mother. A long, long
look did he take at the mild face which
smiled SO sweetly from its canvas, and
then he burst into tears. They were
the best he had ever shed, for they
opened up to him the fountains of a
new life. and eKtinguished those UNI
holy sparks which despair had kindled
in his bosom. After his powerful emo
ton had in some degree subsidized, he
knelt down by the bedside, and prayed
as only those can who need divine as
sistance. BE arose calm and refreshed
and seated himself at little table to
deliberate on the course he should pur-
sue. Many and various were his
thoughts, but they all partOok Of the
tone Of one grand, An-commsnding sen