The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-04-02
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
] THE AWAKENING OF
SILKS MHRsY0N.

read his nature in his face-in the cold,
grey eyes, thin, closely pressed
lips, and severe aspect.
His neighbors in Bardsleyy said he
never smiled. Certainly, lie smiled
very seldom and laughed evenly less
Frequently. Ne 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 lis word
Perfectly straightforward in all his
dealings, scrupulously honest, he had
marked out for himself line Of con-
duct from which he never diverged,
and he expected his family to walk
along the same rigid chalk-msrk 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, it would be strange
if he did not rebel Tom Marston re-
volted, and the consequences, We're seri-
GUS 2a-
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 eatchpits," he said.
IF you go again L will turn you: out
of DOORS"
Iom kneW-none better-that his
rather would most assurely do as he,
SAID, and for nearly twelve months he
avoided the banned building on Bards-
ley Green. But one morning a comrade
leered at him and dared him to go.
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,,' lie
said, in the calm, cold, equable voice
which he habitunlly used, whether
angry or pleased. ''What money have
you:" =. s'
In fear and trembling, Tom produced
his purse and counted it's; contents
with nervous fingers. .....s
n-and-ninepence, father"
he faltered. Silas Marston placed two
soyereigns in the boys shaking hand.
Take these and co." he said. "I
disoWn you
He opened the door. Next moment
the motherless boy was in the street
without a home. ..-
1t Sllas Marston were in any way
disturbed by his sons absence, he gave
no outward sign Of it. 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 I sent him
away f. .-(-,.,~
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
at least, so it appeared.
.- H.
Seven months had passed. It was
the last day of the Leeds Winter as
sizes. Sllas 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 ssJoseph
Taylor" and the jailer brought I'D his
prisoner, a lad Of seventeen, poorly
clad, and apparently alf-starved. He
trembled as he stepped to the front
OF the dock. and his face, as he glanced
turtlyely about, was deathly pale
suddenly. as his gaze rested on the
jury box, he staggered, clutched at
the dock ratings and chung conyn1-
sively, while his face alternately paled
and crimsoned. So he remained with
his eyes cast down. a.. i
Had 2 (111.iOI1S Snaoto to,. 1>o,,, w., 49,
ing Silas Marston closely he might
have seen that juryman's cold ewes
dilate, and his mouth part SLIGHTLY.
While an ashen pallor oyersp1ead his
features. But those signs of agitation
were only momentary. Recovering
himself in an instant, Silas folded his
arms and, leaning back, stared at the
boy with stony eyes that revealed no
interest whatever. Doubtless it 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 GRAND boy; it was. also his
duty to sweep up the counting-house.
A forged check for Els, in favor Of Mr..
barley, with whom the firm had deal
ings, had been presented at Clifford &
Rice's bankers and cashed When it
was discovered that several forms
were missing from check book, sus-
picion fell upon the prisoner, who had
access to the drawer where the book
was kept, and had been seen in the
company Of a 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 been
filled up by the accused, nor did he
present it, but he was charged with
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. He
stammered something unintelliglble
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.
It's waste Of time," he muttered to
his neighbor on the left, the foreman