The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-06-21

Inc emotion, that nothing but high sense
Of public duty had brought him hitller from
his dying sons bedside. He also told the
court that Arthurs inability to cleur hin
friend had really been the first cause OF his
illness, from which he was not expected to
recover.
The jury consulted together long time;
and Mt last, brought in verdict Of
"GUuTy;" but recommended him to mercy,
OH grounds which might fairly have been al
legged in favor of his Innocence but, IL guilty,
rather aggravated his crime
Then on officer Of the court inquired. In O
sort OF chant or recitativo, whether the pris.
oner had anything to say why judgment
should not be uiven in accordance with the
verdict.
1t IL easy to divcst words Of their meaning
by false intonation: and prisoners in general
For why? the chant conveys no idea to their
ears, and they would rs soon think OF reply
ing to the notes of u cuckoo.
But the Reverend Robert Penfold was in u
keen agony that sharpened NIL his senses; he
cnught the sense Of the words in spite to the
speaker, and chung wildly to tho straw that
MunotOn0us machine held out My lord!
my lord" he cried. on tell you the real rca-
son why young Warlaw liz not here.
The judge put ur his hand with gesture
that enforced silence: prisoner" said he.
III cannot go back to facts; the jury have
dealt with them. Judgement can be arrested
only on grounds OF law. On these you ran
You must he silent, md submit to your sen
trnCe.' He then. without IL pause, proceed.
I'd to point out the lleinons character of the
oflense. but admitted there WINS ono mitigat-
ing circumstance: aud. in conclusion. he con-
deMned the culprit to five years penal servi-
tude.
At this the poor wretch uttered a cry of
t1Ot FIJI ali
dock convulsivcy.
Now prisoner rarely speaks to II judge
without revolving him by bud law. or bad
logic, or hot words. but this wild cry was
innocent Of all these, and went straight from
the heart in the dock to the heart on the judg-
ment seat. And so his lordship's voice
trrlnbicd for u moment. AMI then became
trim again. but solemn aud humane. But
sni,l liz, my experience tells me this IN your
first crime, and may possibly be- your last. l
shall therefore Use my infunce TINT you may
not he assnciated with more hardened Grim
inals. but may be sent out of this country to
another, where you may begin life afresh.
tul stain. Give me hopes Of You: begin your
repentance where now you stand, by blamng
yourself, and no other man. No man con-
strained you to utter n forged note. ind to
receive the money: it was found in your pos.
session. For such an net there cnn be no de-
fenss in law, morality. or religion"
These words Overpowpred the culprit. He
burst out crying with great violence.
But it did not last long. He became
strangely composed all Of sudden; and said,
God forgive all concerned in ths-but one
but one"
He then bowed respectfully. md like IA
gentleman, to the Judge aud the jury, and
walked out of the dock with the air oil II man
who had parted with emotion, and would
mn roll, In In
The counsel tor the Crown required hat
the forged document should be impounJed.
IL WIS about to make the same dclnnrT
said the prisoner counsel.
The Judge snul'bed them both. and -
was u matter of course.
Robert PenfOld spent n year in b
rate confinement and then.
cure him of its nllutary effect (if any). Was
sent on hoard the hulk Vengeance" I, I'd
wits heried with the greatest miscrcauts in
creation. They did not reduce him to their
level. hut they injured his mind; and before
half his sentence had expired, he sailed for n
penal colony, IL man with II hot coal in his
ing little. believing little. fearing little, and
hut ing much
lie took with him the prayer-book his
mot Their had given him when he was ordained
deacon. But lie seldom read beyond the fly
leaf; there the poor lady had written ut
large her mothers heart, and her pious soul
Inspiring heavenward for her darling son.
sometimes run to with moist eyes; for he was
sure Of his mothers love, but almost doubted
the justice of his God.
CHAPTER III.
Mr.. Warllaw went down to hls son, and
nnrsed him. lie kept the newspapers from
him, and. on his lever atuting, Ind him con.
veyed by easy stnges to the seuside, and then
sent him abrond.
The young man obeyed in gloomy silence,
lie never asked after Robert Penfold, now;
never mentioned his name. lie seemed
somehow, thankful to be controlled mind
and body.
But before he hnd been abroad n month.
he wrote for leave to return home and throw
himself into business. There was. for once, II
nervous impatienre in hin letters. and his f,l
Their, who pittied him deeply, and was more
than ever inclined to reward and indulge him,
yielded rapidly enough; and, ON his arrival,
signed the partnership deed. and. PoIonins.
like, gave him much good counsel; then re.
tired to his country sent.
At first lie used to run up every three days,
and examine the day hook and ledger. and
advise his junior; but these visits soon be.
came fewer, and at lust he did little more
than correspond occasionally,
Arthur Wardlaw held the reins. and easily
paid his Oxford debts out Of the assets Of tho
firm. Noticing happy in his mind, he threw
himself into commerce with fuveriAh zeal, and
very soon extended the operations of the
house.
One of his first acts of authority WIS to
send for Michael l'enfold into his room.
Now poor old Michael, ever since his son y
misfortune, as he called il. had crept to his
desk like culprit, expecting every day to he
discharged When lie received this summons
he gave sigh and went slowly to the young
merchant.
Arthur Wardlaw looked up at his en- r,lnce,
then looked down again, and said coldlv,
"Mr. Penfold, you have been n faithful SER
500 year, and you will keep the ledger"
The old man wits dun bioundered Mt first
and then began to give vent to his surprise
and gratitude: but Warllaw cut him short,
utmost fierccly. There there. there" said
he, without raising his eyes, "let me hear no
more about it, and. above all. never speak
to me of that cursed business. 1t was no
fnult of yours nor mine either. There-go-
! want no thanks. DO YOU hear? leave me,
Mr.: Penfold, you please"
The old man bowed low and retired, won.
dering much ut his employers goodness, and
u little ut his irritability.
Wardlaw juniors whole soul was given to
business night and day. aud lie soon became
known for Il very ambitious and rising mer-
chnnt But, by and by. ambition had to en-
counter rival III his heart. He fell in love;
deeply in love. and with worthy object.
The young lady was the daughter of II
distinguished officer, whose merits were uni
versnlly recognized, but not rewadei in pro-
portion. Wurdlnw' y suit was favoruby re-
ccived by the father and the daughter grndu-
ally yielded to I'M attachment. the warmth,
sincerity, aud sing. OF which were mani
fest; the paii would have been married, but
for the circumstance that her father (partly
through War,llaw's influence. by the bye)
had obtained IL lucrative post abroad which
it suited his means to accept, at all events
for time. lie was u widower, and his
daughter could not let him go alone.
This temporary separation, il it post
pnnel y marriage, led naturally to solemn
engagement; md Arthur Wnrdlnw enjoyed
the happiness of writing and receiving af.
fectionate letters by every foreign post
Love, worthily hes, owed. shed its balm up.
on his heart, and, under its soft but power.
tul charm, he grew tranquil and complacent,
and his character and temper seemed to i'm
prove. Such virtue is there in O pure attacl-
ment.
Meanwhile the extent of his operations
alarmed old Pentold; but he soon reasoned
that worthy down with overpowering con.
illusions and superior smiles.
Hehnd been three years the ruling spirit of
Wardlaw and Son, when some curious events
LOOK Ihuce IN unother hemisphere, anu IN
these events, which We are now to relate,
Arthur War,llaw was more nearly interested
than may appear ut first sight.
Robert Penfoid, in due course, applied to
icutenant- General Rolleston for ticket OF
leave. That fhnctionary thought the appli-
rntion premature, the crime being 80 grave
He complained thnt the system had become
too lax, and for his m,rt he seldom give II
ticket of leave until some suitable occupa-
ton was provided for the applicant. will