Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-29

He a thief Now he did weep in IN
dignation!
Never, never i
Oh, memory!
He faltercd to say ''never" again, for
there crept into his mind the memory Of
two distinc: acts of dishonesty committed
IN childhood, which he had forgotten for
30 years.
He had played truant from school in
his parents absence and ineanly put the
excuse for it upon his orphan cousin,
helpless ward in his fathers house.
There also arose before him moment
when he had taken quarter of dollar
twice from his employers till to buy his
way into Il circus.
Could those deeds be now called vii
lainy? Pshaw! They were the raw acts
of an uniformed animal, mollusk, a
timid. wistful child. He had put temp
tatiop under his feet long ago and re-
solved never to lie nor evade nor to take
mean advantage, and had lived up to his
second life till frankness and courage
We're as natural to the great surgeon as
to his faithful Elastiff dog.
Yet he was not giving anybody else the
chance to reform. His son was the Off
spring of that earlier ife-not this Sec
ond and better birth Of the upright man
in the slippery lad.
Could he say that his were not the
traits which had descended to his child?
Could he again lay upon a womau's.
an erring wonan's, head all the weak
traits of his boy and reserve to himself
rectitude he had this instant found three
exceptions to?
All at once feeling of pity for the
erring boys or women came into DR..
Pierce Stielson's perception, peepea into
his heart and fingered there.
He began to feel glad that he had
committed two thefts and one dastardly
mean act, else he would be above mag
nanimity. As a blalneless father he
could not forgive his child.
As thief, q thief upon the cross of
pain and woe, he could look over into
the kingdom of thieves and almost think,
Eye poor Robin Hoods of the world, en-
ter into my paradise"
AS a recreant cousin to his older play
mate, he now could forgive Peter, who
denied his master like perjurer till re-
proved by the growing of the wanton
bird.
Dishonesty might be congenial, he
reditary, but it was the most general Of
offenses. How had he dared to liken it
to Cain spilling his brothers blood, or
the fell incendiary's destruction Of house,
city or ones country?
Ee. the anatO-nist, the materialist.
who had traced the folds Of the brain,
the exact workshops of motion, memory,
speech, love, ecstasy, felony-was he to
drive his son away for an act he would
forgive his dog?
The weaker the son, the greater should
be the fathers love.
The gnawing torture of the doctors
heart seemed to feel the sedative COM
fort of this counsel, and far beyond his
sons offense he almost felt forgiveness
Cor that one which had dealt him the
fouler blow.
''Oh, man! Oh, embryo! Oh, fellow
laborers and coveters upon the planet!"
the doctor thought, like prayer. For
give each other! Let me by charity be-
come q god and cast ont every hate!'
His sister entered-a grim woman, dis
appointed in love. She took his head in
her lap and sat upon the floor.
"Pierce. am ashamed Of myself to
have called you thief. You are all I
have left; Arthur has gone"
They sobbed without hope. It was long
before the doctor could even repeat,
"Gone:"
eyes, he admitted it ell. A woman
had fascinated him. To make her pres
ent for Christmas he took OFF that old case
of tools. He says he cannot look you in
the face"
"Why not? Ihave remembered, sister,
when was no better than Arthur"
'Iremember. my brother" spoke Sister
Sue, "when you We're no example to his
mother. nor an example for my lover,
whose follies you would not forgive. If
had my lover back. God knows l would
forgive him! We drove him away. Ar
thur has been as weak. If live life over
again. shall not strain to find everybody
perfect and be the only perfect one, lief.
desolate and alone"
"a woman infatuated Arthur? Why,
that is the commonest case in the world.
| lcllOWS arc LcS I'CllSipkc al
such times. don't think it is so very
bad. I'll give Arthur an allowance and
call him home"
"That was yourmistake before, Pierce
He had no money. You questioned him
too closely"
HE shall have an Allowance large
one. What else do live for."
Brother, listen! That is his key"
'My son! Come, come TO me-" loudly
cried DIR. Stielson.
The son appeared. His handsome face
expressed woe. He stood awhile silent
looking to the floor.
} II have one regret, father" FINAL,
said Arthur. 'You will be unhappy
Like all who are dishonest, suppose,
thought to return my stolen goods be
fore they could be missed"