Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-05-16
THE AWAKENING OF
SlLRS MARsToR.

grey eyes. tnln, ciuSeiy-SOihpreSSeu
lips. and severe aspect.
His neighbors in Bardsleyy said he
never smiled. Certainly, he smiled
very seldom and laughed evenly less
frequently. No frivolity of any kind
had he ever allowed to creep into his
life. His nature did not reuire relaxa-
ton. Music, dancing, play-going.
cricket. football golf, skittles-he
scorned them ALL Life was too serious
for such follies.
In one characteristic he took the
greatest pride. Never in his reeollec-
ton had he willingly broken his word.
Perfectly straightforward in all his
dealings, scrupulously honest, he had
marked out for himself a line of con-
duct from which he never diyefged,
and he expected his family TO walk
along the same rigid chalkmark with
steps as unfaltering as his own.
The severe home discipline CALLED
his only son terribly. When a lad Is
forbidden any amusement more excit-
ing than an occasional lecture at the
assembly rooms, II would be strange
IL he did not rebel. Tom Marston re-
yolted, and the consequences We're seri-
Gus.
He visited the theater Some busy
body saw him and told his father
Silas Marston did not storm. desper-
ately angry though he was. That was
not his way.
'Theaters are catchpits.'' he said
IF you go again | will turn you out
of doors"
Tom knew-none better-that his
father would most assurely DO as he
said, and for nearly twelve months he
avoided the banned building on Bards-
ley Green. But one morning comrade
jeered at him and dared him TO 90.
That night he broke Silas Marston's
law for the second time, and again
he was found out. on his return his
father met him at the door
You have been TO the theater," he
said. in the calm. cold, equable voice
which he habitunlly used. whether
angry or pleased. What money have
your
his purse and counted its contents
with nervous fingers.
"Sey-seven-and-ninep father"
he faltered. Silas Marston placed two
soyercigns In the boys shaking hand
Take these and co." he said. II
disown you"
He opened the door Next moment
the motherless boy was in the street
without a home.
IL Silas Marston were in any way
disturbed by his sons absence, he gave
| no outward sign of Ii. He went to
his business just as regularly as be-
fore. and was as constant In his at
tendance at church. To all inquiries
which We're many, his answer was the
sameq:
HE disobeyed me, and | sent him
away"
What had become of the lad he did
not know. He had kept his word, and
the satisfaction thus derived was
strong enough to silence his conscience
lat least, so it appeared.
III.
Seven months had passed. Ii was
the last day of the Leeds Winter as
sizes. Silas Marston had been sum.
mOned on the jury. The last case on
the calendar was one of forgery. The
clerk called out the name Of Joseph
Taylor" and the jailer brought up his
prisoner, lad OF seventeen. poorly
clad, and apparently half-starved. He
trembled as he stepped to the front
OF the dock, and his face. as he glanced
furtively about. was deathly pale.
Suddenly, as his gaze rested on the
jury box, he staggered. clutched al
the dock ratings and chung conyul.
sfvely, while his face alternately paled
and crimsoned. So he remained, with
his eyes cast down.
HAD curious spectator been watch
ing Silas MarstOn closely he might
have seen that juryman's cold eyes
dilate, and his mouth part slightly
while an ashen pallor overspread his
features. But those signs of agitation
were only momentary. Recovering
himself in an instant, Silas folded hi.
arms and, leaning back, stared at ths
boy with stony eyes that revealed nc
interest whatever. Doubtless 1t was
a great victory.
Counsel for the prosecution opened
the case against the wretched lad
The accused, he said, had been in the
employment of Messrs Clifford and
Rice as errand boy; It was also his
duty to sweep up the counting house
A forged check for Els. I'm favor of Mr.
barley, with whom the firm had deal
ings, had been presented at Clifford &
Rice's bankers and cashed. When II
was discovered that several forms
were missing from check book, sus
pieion fell upon the prisoner, who had
access to the drawer where the book
was kept, and had been seen in the
company of notorious criminal-nOt
In custody. He was accused and
searched, when three blank forms
next in sequence to that which had
been cashed. were found upon him
The body of the check had not beer
filled up by the accused. nor did hs
present 1t, but he was charged witt
forging Messrs. Clifford & Rice's sig
nature and the endorsement both OF
which were excellent limitations and
must have been copied from genuine
signatures.
The boy was asked to plead. Ht
stammered something unintelligibls
and burst into tears The gentleman
who had been requested by the court
to defend him rose hastily and pleaded
mot guilty" on his behalf.
Silas Marston frowned.
tits waste Of time" he muttered Il
his neighbor on the left, the foreman
Of the Jury.