Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-01

against all of Singleton 5 proud tradi-
tions. He snt there with his arms qui
etly folded.
Lawyer Secphar was noted for his fe
spcious onslanghts upon wrongdoing in
any shape. The line of argument he
employed on this occasion for probing
the college mystery to its core was the
value of testimony.
The fiimsy sentiment that honor de-.
manded the sheltering of "A culprit he
pierced through and through with barb
I'd arrows Of scorn and denunc ,ation.
The first duty devolving upon every stu
dent there, who was but citizen ~
embryo was his duty to his state. Tn
obligation 10 deliver up the guilty par
", To be whipped Of justice no matter
how near or dear the culprit might bc
personally, was held up for grave II
sideratiOn.
Pushing his IRON gray locks impa-
tiently back. that he might the better
sweep that row Of youthful npturned
faces, the old lawyer exhorted them
with Impressive solemnity Ia perform
their duty ON this occasion, even
though it demanded the iron resolution
of Brutus
The sound Of stertorous breathing
from the front form caught Mrs Fitz-
williams alert attention. She telegraph
ed Mrs Maginnis with her fan:
Look at him.
Mrs. Maginnis looked at Strong Mar
tin. His aspect Of composed attention
had been tumultuously broken up He
had turned sidewise ON the bench. and
the fixed gaze which he had at fret
planted on Lawyer Seephar's face wa,
now rowing restlessly among the tops OF
the cedars that tapped the window
frames with their dark fingers. From
an ivory whiteness, that had lent fine
touch Of intellectually to his features,
his complexion had turned to a crimson
bordering on purplish. Occasional move
ments Of a long, nervous hand to his
necktie suggested physical discomfort IN
that region. His bai;.serchi went Of
ten to his brow. Mr. Maginnis tele-
graphed Mrs. Fitzwillian-s with her
eyes:
Ibid you ever see guilt more plainly
revealed"
But Lawyer Seephar's ringing voice
imperatively demanded undivided at
tention:
'In conclusion, Young gentlemen, |
have this Ia say: / make no apology for
addressing You on the law Of testimony.
You know well what directed my choice
Of subjects this morning. A crime has
been committed, and some Of You know
BY whom. II the knowledge could be-
traced home To You, you would, by the
law of your state, be liable to imprison-
ment for failure to testify. As it Is, |
leave it To your own consciences. That
you cannot elude. And il it succeeds in
convincing you that it is your duty as
men Of honor to shield one guilty nan
and permit suspicion to rest Oh II score
or two Of innocent ones, all have 10
say is that it is miserable, paltry, ly-
ing conscience that will stand you in
poor stead when you leave the shelter
ing arms of your alma mater and go out
to all inevitable hand to hand struggle
with the power of evil lying in wait for
you in the world
The like OF it had never been seen or
heard i'm the old red brick church before
The June zephyrs, astray from the field 5
of ripening corn, fioated in at the opel.
windows and lifted the old mans loEI
hair from his heated brow. then wan
dered off to play at hide and seek in the
artificial flowers Of u girls hat. The
mocking birds were singing the very
fullest throated sonatas out there IN
their cedar branch swings. With folded
arms the college boys gazed unmoved at
the old man eloquent
Side by side Adrien Strong and
Strong Martin sat OH the front form.
Adrien, aristocrat from the smallest
wave of his light tawny hair to the tips
Of his faultless boots; Strong, broad
tnocrtsCs sokkVStNN VI "
fine piece of sculpture rather than a
crude, struggling lad, bitterly consciors
already that he was to run his race
heavily handicapped.
Adrien's clear, frank eyes never lett
the lawyers face once. In point Of fact,
not one Of the students had followed
the harangue with more pointed inter
est and unbroken composure. He never
once unlocked his placidly folded arms.
On either side the pink nails Of his well
kept hancs were restfully planted
against the blue serge sleeves Of his
coat. Occasionally, with light toss Of
his head he threw back q wind blown
wisp Of fair Lair.
When Strong Martin had shifted his
position, L. had trri,cd his back r:r-
TALLY ON Adrien. They never once look
ed at or spoke to each other.
As through a yelling fog he saw the
lawyer finally step backward to table
and lift glLss Of water to his lis. The
great speech was at an end Tha plain
tive band up IN the choir loft strr.,,s in
10 Nearer Ny God, TO Thee" There
was o ruitle Of women's garments and
= ,,.cvor,,o,,k ~ tl,a cvsou,d f.,uurd tho