The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-06-18
ZXXSSXV EE3lTN1AIEEN
THE AWAKENING OF
SIhdS MHPST0N.

| nara man. But Il stranger might nave
| read his nature in his face-in the cold
grey eyes, thin, closely-comprcssed
lips, and severe aspect.
His neighbors in Bardsleyy said he
never smiled. Certainly, he smiled
| very seldom and laughed evenly less
frequently. No friyolity 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-lle
scorned them all. Life vas too serious
for such follies.
In III characteristic he took the
greatest pride. Never in his recollec-
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 divcrgcd.
and be expected his family to walk
along the same rigid chalk-mark with
steps as unfaltering as his own.
The severe home discipline CALLED
his only son terribly. When Il lad is
forbidden any amusement more cNcit-
ing than an occasional lecture at the
assembly rooms, it would be strange
if he did not rebel. Tom Marston re-
VOTED, and the consequences were seri-
ous
He visited the theater. Some busy
body saw him and told his father.
Silas Marston did not STERN, desper-
ately angry though he was. That was
not his way.
'Theaters are catchpits,'' he said.
IF you go again | win turn you ont
of DOORS
Tom knew-n0ne better-that his
father would most a~ssurcly do as he
said, and for nearly twelve months he
avoided the banned building on Bards-
ley Green. But II morning a comrade
Jeered at him and dared him to go.
That night he broke SiIas Marston's
law for the second tine, and again
he was found out. On his return his
father met him at the door.
You have been to the tleator," he
sad, in the calm, cold, equable voice
which he habitually used, whether
angry or pleased. what money have
you?'
In fear and trembling. Tom produced
his purse and counted its contents
with nervous fingers.
Observation-Disclosures, father"
he faltered. Silas Marston placed two
sovereigns in the boys shaking hand.
"Take these and 60" he said. 81
disown YOU
He opened the door. Next moment
the motherless boy was in the street
without Il home.
IT Silas Marston were in any way
disturbed by his sons absence. he gave
no outward sign Of it. He went to
MS business just as regularly as be
fore, II 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 1 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
at least, so it appeared.
Seven months had passed. 1t was
tle laSt day Of the Leeds Winter as
sizes. Silas Nlarston had been sum-
moned on the jury. The last case on
the calendar was II of forgery. The
clerk called out the name of ",Joseph
taylor, ana tile jailer brought up his
prisoner, a lad of seventeen. poorly
clad, and apparently half-starved. He
trelllplcd as he stepped to the front
OF uie dock, and his face, a. he glanced
furtlyely about. was deathly pale.
suddenly. as his gaze rested on the
jury pON, he staggered, clUtched Mt
the dock ratings and chung conrul-
slNely' Whlle his face alternately paled
mn rIIn Sansl g. L. -
his eyes cast down.
HAD a curious spectator been watch
ing Sllas Mafston closely he might
nave seen that iuryman's cold eyes
ulia,e' ana his mouth part slightly,
Whlle an aslen pallor oyerspread his
FEATURES. But those signs CT agitation
were only momentary. Recovering
hilhseil IN an instant, Silas folded his
arms ana, leaning back. stared at ,hc
BOY WIN stony eyes that revealed no
interest Whatever. Doubtless it was
a great victory. ~
ooulsei LOT the prosecution opened
the case against the vrntchnd Iod
The accused, he said, had bacn in fhn
employment of Messrs. Clifford ana
hlce as errand boy: it was also his
duty to sweep up the countinr-horsn
y forged check for SO, in favor If Nh.
Dafley' with whom the firm had deal
Z had been presented at Clifford &.
ltlceS bankers and caShod. When If
was discovered that rcyeral forms
were missing from Il check book. sus-
plclon fell upon the prisoner, who hal
access to the drawer where thp h3ol;
was kept, and had been seen in The
company of Il notorious criminal-not
III custody. lie vas accused and
searched, when three blank forms
next in sequence to that which had
been casled, were found uDon him
The body of the check had not been
lllled up by he accused, nor did hr
present 1t, but he was charged with
forging Messrs. Clifford x Rice's SIG.
nature II the endorsement, both of
which were excellent limitations and
must nave been copied from genuine
signatures.
The boy was asked to plead. He
stammered something unintclliyiblr
and burst into tears. The gentleman
VINO had been requested by the court
TO defend him rose hastily and pleaded
not guilty" on his behalf.
SilaS MarstOn frOwned.
It's waste of time,'' he muttcrod TO
his neighbor on the left. the foreman
of the jury.
Il think it is" reioined the gentle
man; but let the boy have Il chance
Counsel for the prosecution called
witness after witness, whose evidence
made it abundantly clear that the ac-
cused was guilty, but that he had been
the dupe of an older criminal, who had