Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-07-13
CONSCIENTIOUS MIR. WOODROW.

without having once appIleu the rod OF
correction ~ his little Step-son, George
Ross. The difficulty lay in finding ex-
cuse for 4 beginning; for with all
Georges life and love of fun, the watch
full step-paternal eye had so far failed
to ind decent preteNt for whipping
him.
One morning he went out, leaving, as
j 1t happened, a tive-dollar note ON the
; library table. Little George was in the
room busy with the lessons set him to
be learned by Mr.. Woodrow return.
! This happened Sooner-at least Georgia
| thought so-than usual; and feeling that
he could finish his studies better else
where than under Mr.. Woodrow dis
concerning eye, he gathered up his books
and started out.
"Come back!' called Mr. Woodrow,
in sterner tone than he had ever used
before.
George obeyed.
WHO was in this room in my alb
Sence?"
Il was, sir" George answered, timid-
ly.
ANY one elSe?'r.
IN no = let me see-yes think
Uncle Jeffrey was, but l didn't take
much notice.
"George'-Mr Woodrow spoke slow
/ ly, with his eyes fixed intently on the
boy 81 left a bank-note on that table.
1t is m Ssing; do you know what has
become of it -
There was that in the oueStioners
manner which, more than lis words,
made the hot blood fly to Georges face.
He felt inStinctively that he was the OBJ
ject of a foul suspicion. Steadying his
quivering lips. he said, in voice as firm
and distinct rs Mr.. Woodrow's own:
Il do not
81 will hear your lessons now" said
Mr.. Woodrow, with ominous calmness.
He reached out his hand for Georcie's
books, and from the cerg frSt he opened
dropped the missing Rotct
Georges face turned white. His
knees shook, and, for moment it
seemed as if he would sink through the
floor Then, in pitiful wall, came the
words:
"mdeed!-indeed!-I do not know
how it got therer'
Mr. Woodrow smiled incredulously,
but his voice sounded almost affect :onate
as he said:
"We'll postpone the lessons for to-
day, Georgia. My first duty is to punish
vou.'
"But am no theft did not steal
i'll do not know how it got in my
book? pleaded Georgia, wildly and
paSsionately.
"Oh! acknowledgements he cried,
| running TO his mother as she entered;
''he says stole his money He is going
to beat me!-save me!-saye mel tell
him it IS not true"'
81 would gladly have spared you this
painful scene. Mary" said Mr.. Wood
row, in tone tenderly pathetic; "but
when you have heard me, l am sure you
will approve what propose doing"
Mr.. Woodrow proceeded to state the
facts. When he had finished, the case
looked astonshingly clear almost as
clear as that against Benjamin when
they found the golden cup in his sacks
mouth.
There would be more excuse Tor
leniency,h Mr.. Woodrow added, If no
| acknowledged his guilt. But while he
brazens it out, your own Judgment must
| tell you there is but one course to take
to save the boy from ruin
"Oh! George! Georgia. appealed
his mother. 'confess your fault! Your
faith er will then"
MY father!' the boy Indignantly
broke in-"my father would never have
believed l was thief Oh! mother,
surely y0u do not!'
For an instant her mothers heart
wavered. George had always been a
truthful boy; and in the face of all the
| facts, there was something in the eyes,
turned beseechingly to hers, that she
could h. ,,Jl Hn1 IL
of innocence. But glance from her
husband changed the current of her
thoughts. and again she urge George
TO confess.
Not another word of pleading or of
protest passed his lips He stood in
| sullen silence.
$50, Mary, and leave him to me-
| said Mr.. Woodrow, with mild suavity;
"you know / shall perform my duty
conscientiously."
The mother turned away reluctantly,
and Mr.. Woodrow and his step-son were
alone.
We have no wish to dwell on what
| followed. Selling George by the arm,
the strong man dealt brutal blow after
brutal blow with his heavy riding whip.
The boys flesh writhed ard quivered
nor one cry was uttered
Il shall repeat this every day till
you confess" said Mr.. Woodrow, sink
ing into chair exhausted. go now"
Next morn ng Georgia failed TO APP
pear at breakfast. On visiting his room,
which was on the ground floor, the
window was found open and the room
deserted. The most diligent search
and inquiry failed to discover any
traces of the boy. But the next post
from neighbor.ng seaport town
brought q letter to his mother, ev-
identity meant to assure her Of his safe
~. 1t had been posted on the eve of
his sailing as cabin boy, on vessel,
which he named, bound on distant
voyage.
The mystery of the bank-note was
thus cleared up: Jeffrey Raeburn, Mrs.
Ross brother, was on visit at his sis
ter's the day suspicion fell on George,
but had left before Mr.. Woodrow's re-
turn While he was in the library,
gust of WIND through an open window
blew the note of the table, and he
picked it up and laid it in book and
went away, forgetting to mention the
circumstance.
oil C1iiII bht cIhAOg nav
burn came to help in the search for
George. The poor mother wept bit
terly, but laid no blame to her con-
scientious husband, who, she was sure.
had meant everything for Georges
good. As for jeffrey Raeburn, he felt
a tingling in bis fingers that would
have been greatly relieved by wearing
out on Eliab's sanity hide what re-
manned of his own horsewhip.
Weary months and then years passed,
but brought no tidings Of the ship on
which little George sailed. She was
finally given up for lost with all on
board.
Mr.. Ross. Georges father, had died
leaving a handsome property to which /
George was heir, subject to his mother
rights as widow. When he was lost al
sea. she succeeded to his entire interest,"
and not long after. being in declining
health, she made viii leaving an 70
her ..beloyed husband. Eiiab WOOD
row.
Three years after her second marri-
ace. Mrs. Woodrow died. leaving an
infant daughter and her said beloved.
husband, with fine estate to console
the latter grief.
More years passed, and Florence
Woodrow grew into tall and comely
maiden. Her father planned for her