Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-10-14
6be CARLETON CASE
By Ellery II. Clark.
By EIlery II. Clark.
Copyright 1910, the Bobb.-Merrlu Coo

fessor's glance, though within him his
mind, mutinous, rebelled. But doesn't
friendship COUNT" he said at last.
Doesn't loyalty so for anything? Can
a man play the traitor, as you would
have him do. and not be branded false
for all eternity?'
h professors gaze. severe and
calm, for an instant f~altered
Arthur" he said, you don't helieye
that-not q word of it. You're trying
to make good soldiers enlist in A had
cause. Friendship, loyalty; yes, they
are fine things; scarce anything finer,
perhaps: but where the true allegiance
of these fine things b~elong-that it Is
the truth that transcends all else--that.
Arthur, o know, in your innermost
heart. as we'll as T.
Vaughan sat silent. with clouded
brow. And then, as the pause length
Iened. he made another effort still.
But. professor, even If the individual
amounts to little, isn't there the further
question of the other matter OF which
/ have spolken-the question of an hon-
ored family name. That, at least, pro-
%fessor, is no small thing, To bring a
stain upon it without the most abso-
lutte necessity for so doing, doesn't it
seem, in a way, like seeking to debase
the currency? A anne grsced by gen
erations of those who have borne 1t
worthily. passes always current for
patriotism. integrity, honesty; the name
becomes of itself a force for the public
good. And. now, suddenly debase that
~name-smirch and mar it--and you
have struck a blow at tho very founda-
ton Of things; you shake the confidence
of the people at large in something
which they had come to regard as one
of the unquestioned bulwarks of the
city and the State. Isn't that some-
thing to be well considered? Should
not the man see to 1t that in Fighting
or trying to right a wrong for which
he is not responsible he does not go
too far, and. instead of reparation, leave
behind him in its place a scar-a blot
that even time cannot erase. Isn't that
the solution, sir? Should not the man
keep still2"
For a time the old man sat silent,
Weighing Vaushan's words well, before
he at length made answer. THAT is an
argument, Arthur he replied, "a
plausible argument; yet hardly, |
should say. sound. Debasing the cur
rency is an excellent figure, yet there Is
a currency as much higher thar that
of family names as gold outvalues cop
per. And to seek TO keep the copper
inviolate while at the sarne time forced
to debase the real c~urrency-the stand
ard gold-would that pc the path
of wisdom? Names, you say; great
names; but they seem such a
small thing in the wide uni
verse itself; a name; q great name; a
generation of great names; all but the
tiniest dust notes shimmering across
the sunbeam which gives them all the
lustre they may claim. Is h dust
speck of reputation worth saving If it's
rescue means the shutting out of the
sunbeam-Truth?"
In his turn Vaughan sat silent. seek
ing vainly for observation-disclosures
ments-that would not come. At length
he rose. his hands clenched, the strug-
gle going on within him showing in
every line of his sensitive face. II
don't know; ! don't know" he cried,
IT have 10 think it out myself. But I
thank you, professor. for your kind
ness; l hope I haven't tired you and,
taking the old mans hand in farewell,
he made his way hurriedly out of the
room.