Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-11-10
for the Aol1e Girele.
THE STORY OF A SHRUG.

The principal character in this story
is now a man of honor and position.
The integrity with which he conducts
his business is the admiration of his
competitors.
"Such honesty as you display must
surely be tbe result of some great ex'
perience," suggested a friend to him
one day.
The answer is given by the writer
almost exactly in the merchants
words.
"When I was in college had a very
intimate friend. We belonged to the
same societies, we ate at the same Ia
BILE, we played the same games and
competed for the same prizes. During
the sophomore year, series of thefts
caused an uncomfortable state of feel
ing in the college. AS usual among
students in such cases, suspicion fol-
lowed first one and then another, as
much by caprice as reason. Even my
friend did not escape. But such ru-
mors, as seem too foolish to notice,
were easily laughed away.
"Our competition for the sophomore
Latin prize commenced about that
time"
"'I'm going to beat you on this,
challenged my friend, good naturedly.
"You aren't big enough 1 retorted
in the same sporting spirit.
ave both studied very hard, and the
class watched for the result with in
terest. At last the day of the exami-
nation came. 1 was thoroughly pre-.
pared and confident. So was my
friend. In few days the result was
given out. He had won the prize.
"'No WONDER said a classmate,
whispering to me, they saw him crib.
"Nonsense.'
ayes, they did. Everybody knows
about it. Besides, they say he knows
where Thompson's watch is
"That vague, irresistible they
which has helped circulate more Sian
ders than perhaps any other word in
the English tongue, for the first time
shattered my confidence. l believed
this explanation of his victory over
me, and l became exceedingly bitter.
From that day gave my friend the
cold shoulder.
at was not long before another
theft stirred the college to indignation.
This time a pocket-book disappeared.
That evening the president of the COL
lege summoned me to his house. He
explained to me that as the Intimate
friend of the person suspected, l could
help the investigation. At any other
time | should have resented the charge
implied against my classmate, but the
era of my better feeling had gone by.
By this time, too, the angry excite
ment in the college had Infected my
own brain. believed in the fellows
guilt because I wanted to; not be
cause there was the slightest evidence
10 support the belief
"'Have you any grounds for pre-.
suming that your friend is innocent p
asked the president, gravely."
II knew that my testimony could
have saved my old mate. Bnt for an
swer I shrugged my shoulders, and
kept silence. That shrug condemned
him, and wrecked his career. The
next day, the poor boy was expelled,
with the stigma of improved crime
indellibly stamped upon his life.
"In my senior years the janitor con-
tessed to all the thefts. Then it was
remembered that, after all, no one
saw my friend cheat at the examina-
ton. The first finger of mistrust,
pointed at him perhaps in jealous
whim, perhaps by an accident Of sheer
| lreck lessness, had made him 'speck-
| led bird But it was too late to atone
for our base behavior. No reparation
was then possible. Branded and dis,
couraged, he had drifted lower and
lower until he became little better than
a vagrant.
ga few years after this, read in a
paper that person by his name was
living wounded in q hospital in New
York. 1 took the next train there,
and in few days my old friend died
in my arms. He had forgiven us all.
But could 1 ever forgive myself that
shrug-that silent lie? 1t had brought
him to a dishonored grave. I am
haunted every day of my life by my
poor friend. I shall see his wasted
kindly face propped up in that white
hospital cot until the day ofmy death"
The Household.