The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1903-06-19

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At first, as the court stood up and
faced each other, there went around
q suppressed litter. which accorded
IL with the greWsome visages of the
strange company. A begowned
sheriff stepped forward and struck
the table with a huge wooden battle
ak, besmeared, apparently, with gore,
and in a hollow voice demanded,
,''Order in the court!''
The tittering subsidized, and the
sheriff handed the police captain q
roll. of paper written in red, and in
the same hollow voice gave his in
structions. =
''Most worthy captain, as sheriff
of the Hazing Court, I deputize you
and your subordinates to arrest and
bring hither, dead or alive, the per-
son mentioned in this document, that
he may be tried by this court on the
charges herein specified
Each one of the police brought his
heels together, stood erect, with a
sweep brought the back of his hand
to his forehead, and all retired ON
the run.
During the half-hour that followed
the court amused themselves by
guessing each others names, for
none but the committee knew them.
Finally, the ell corridor resounded
with the tramp of the returning
squad. Before the door they paused
and gave three raps. The sheriff
stepped to the door and inquired
who were without.
''Most worthy sheriff, your captain
has performed his behest."
"Give the password"
Blood" was the reply.
admit them," said the Judge, Civ
ing three raps, on which the men,
bers of the court arose, their eyes
twinkling behind their CHASTITY
masks.
SHERIFF" Numbered the Judge,
"why is this poor wretch brought be-
fore the honorable court?"
''Your HONOR replied the sheriff,
pointing at the prisoner with his bat
tle-ax, ''this fellow is charged with
the most henious crime on the calen-
dar of offenses possible to a college
man."
"Who prefers charges against this
man? Let him now speak, or else
forever after hold his peace" said
the judge solmenly.
Here the lawyer on the right arose.
"Your honor"
''Most learned barrister."
Il am here to represent that dis
tinguished and illustrious galaxy of
immortals known to the ignoble vul-
gus as the sophomore class OF
Acadia"
This was followed by 1numbled ap-
plause.
''silence!" cried the sheriff.
''-And in their name," continued the
attorney, II charge the prisoner at
the bar with being
A groan ran around behind the
masks.
''With being-your honor, so low
and mean a word my tongue can
hardly France
Again a groan ran around.
"Iour honor, I charge the prisoner
with being telltale and sneak
From the masked company this
charge was followed by a loud wall
ending in wolash howl articulated
in the word, "Blo-o-o-od!" repeated
thrice.
Witnesses were brought forward
to swear that they had seen the pris.
oner going to the presidents house
after nine o'clock at night; others
that they had seen him return after
ten the same night, and this sc
often that it could be construed only
as regular appointment. Other
evidence was brought in to convict
him of listening at the door of sopho
mores.
When the prisoner was put on the
stand, he easily explained these lat
ter charges; but his visits to the
presidents house he refused to ex
plain. The case went to the jury
who Immediately brought in the YER
dict, "Guilty."
If the prisoner had looked fright
ened at this word, no sympathy
would have been given him. He
showed no fear, but on his face there
came detected, heart-broken look
with a sudden filling of the eyes and
quivering Of the lip, which threat
ened to take all relish of fun from
the further proceedings. So the
judge cried, *'Has the prisoner at the
bar anything to say?"
The freshman looked around or
those horrible masks, or rather or
the eyes that peered from behind
them, and in a second regained his
composure.
Fellows" he began, 'I'm MOI
afraid of you. If it was any othe1
charge, I would rather enjoy this
trial-for it is we'll got up-even il
you should give me your full punish
ment. But what hurts me is thai
you should think me capable of the
things you charge me with-s
sneak"
The lump arose in his throat, an6
he could say no more.