Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-06-06
A PRINTERS VENGEANCE.
-, the Founder of the Aldine Press
punished Two Young People.

riad 10 destroy his property, because
u.os mining their fathers business
II copying manuscripts.
while the little twins were throwing
wav the types, the door opened, ana
roiddle-aged man in a long gown
.ood IN the doorway. Expecting TO
rd the room deserted, he started
S,ack in surprise at the sight before
i'm. For what a little aubnrn-haired
III was doing in his printing-room
| fter midnight was more than Aldus-
~ If was the master himself who had
ome mon the scene-could guess.
1aura transfixed with fear at hav-
inc been discovered stood grasping 2
handful of type, and Aldus's sharp
Lyes quickly took in the depredations
hat she had committed. What are
Ion up tor" he said, more in amaze
nent than in anger.
Al this moment Lanciotto, who had
been hanging out of the window, and
ko had not heard the door open and
hut turned end saw the tall gentle
man talking to Laura. With one
bound the boy tore across the room,
finging his arms around his sister.
|Don't you dare touch her!" he cried
10 Aldus. Punish me if yot want to.
but let Laura alone. If roll will let
he take her home in TIC boat, I'll
zone right back, and you can lock me
u. if you wish. I'll stand anything,
but won't have my sister hurt"
VISIONS of being immured in a
Dungeon for life fitted across
.anclotto's mind Aldus, still further
kuz2led stood looking at the two
kweet, aristocratic faces In the four
bright eyes he could read nothing out
fixed. almost heroic resolution.
Ghat no childish prank had brought
these young people at midnight to
ibis lonely place he was assured, but
bow to investigate the matter was
fif'cult Tell me-" he said gently,
WhV YOU are here, and why you have
destroyed my carefully set-up type"
Lanciotto began to speak, but Laura
Interrupted him:
Because we hate the type
You hate it?"
les and the printing-press. We
Fame 10 smash up the press, but we
ouldnt."
so YOU took to dropping the type
INTO the canal. did you? Well, not
ery much harm has been done.
here are plenty more letters, and the
work will be quickly done over again
n the morrow. Yet what put it into
our curly heads to try to iniure me-?
Nhv no You hate the press? p Aldus
FsRed them.
With the courage of despair. Laura
raathlessly poured out the whole
F'ory Of the straits to which they hal
'eon reduced. all on account of his
Fnel invention; and as Aldus listened.
rs OPPRESSION changed to one of rare
mpathv and kindness. Generous to
ldalt, the great distress into which
ne covnists had been thrown since
invention of printing was not I'M
noWn 10 him, and he had doue every
0,hs that lay in his power to help and
l"FH Whenever he could. though. of
N-ss. his purse was limited. Now.
'nra's shrill little voice sobbed
'0e sorrow of her heart, the good
'r.T turned away to hide the
GESTURE in his eyes.
Don't lock Lanciotto up," she
0d when her story was told. 1T
."l fllI our grandfather. I'd fix the
'-- rTht again If YOU would give
some more letters. It's Greek.
Know Greek: grandfather had
'".N MIN when he copied the very
that -ca are doing"
ION know Greek-eh?" Then. as
To prove her proficiency,
translated line or two. he
N Come, come" he said. cit
20 hour for so young a lady to be
,..,. "t the dead languages. No; yon
set mn what you've de-
''" this Is not time for me to give
In type-setting: besides. how
fa! that YOU wouldnt be
.'' my letters in your pocket. or
Fallowing them--such a little
as you are, One O'Clock.
s4 me-. Time you both were IN
haven't got dungeons for each
y" SO ] think I shall have to send
zone; but YOU must be punished
can't have people breaking
NV house with large hammers
d. 4 punish them
- SAID the children. feebly.
a having made them promise
icy would not run away during
s.t nce, Aldus disappeared n
u an instrument for their
'7aHt, and the twins. thei- arms
-. each others neck. sat hubble j
\, in perfect misery You
think that he has gone to
tick to beat us. do Won
s,tf,. inquired Laura. And as
S'Fove TO comfort her. de-