University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE REDWOOD 2Z not much., you know, but only in small quantities, like tobacco, for instance. It began when I shortchanged my mother one day, when she sent me to buy something. When she did not notice that I had cheated her, I kept on doing it. When she would send me to the store, I used to help myself to small articles lying around loose. I was told that it was wrong to steal, and, while I tried to overcome it, yet I never could conquer it. ' ' It was when I was attending school, that I stole the bo oks of other pupils, and sold them to the second-hand man. I used to steal cake and fruit out of the lunch boxes, and mix them up, just out of pure cussedness. It was also when I was going to school that I stole the little bank of our neighbor ' s child. That got me into a peck of trouble, but my grandmother, v ho was living with us, made everything all right. For con- tinuing my stealing at school, I was finally expelled and sent to the reform- atory for two years. The Colonel was all attention, listen- ing to the lad ' s story with a faraway look on his face that seemed to betoken troubles of his own in the dim past. As Charlie stopped, he jerked himself up with an effort and urged him to con- tinue. You must not blame my mother, Colonel, Charlie continued, she was not at fault. She did the best in her power for me. As long as I can re- member she had to work, and grandma, who was growing feebler all the time, took care of me in her absence till I grew up. Thus you see, I never really had a mother like other boys. It made me sort of careless, too. I never could stand the other boys teasing me because I did not know my own father. Mother used to tell me he went away before I was born. I thought she meant that he was dead, for whenever she spoke of him, it was with such a sad expression on her face. Then grandma died, and mother said I was big enough to help her a lit- tle. So I went to work, giving her my wages, but my tendency to steal always lost me my job. As a last resort, after coming back from reform school, I en- listed in the army, because mother said that father, some time prior to his mar- riage, had been an army man. I stayed in the army, trying to overcome myself, but though succeeding to some degree, yet at times the temptation to steal would be too great for me to resist. It was at one of these times that you caught me. Honest, Colonel, I ' m not a regular robber, but I simply cannot re- sist at times. My will power has be- come so Aveak that I actually fear my- self. ' ' I was in the habit of sending moth- er most of my pay, which was one thing I could do, so that left me rather broke most of the time. About a year after joining the army I received a letter from mother, telling me that the doc- tors held no hope for her recovery from a fatal sickness she had contracted. I obtained a furlough and stayed with

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21 THE REDWOOD times I received the impression that he was in trouble of some sort, for when alone, or when he thought no one was near, he would give way to fits of de- spondency. He seemed to be struggling with himself to overcome a weakness that had taken possession of his will. Charlie, myself, and three of the other boys were stationed with Colonel Martin, the commander of our regi- ment. He had his tent pitched on a high plateau whence we could watch the surrounding country for signals from the guards. Colonel Martin was a close observer of human nature and had a great habit of studying the men under him. The result was that many a poor weak-minded individual was helped along the road of sorrow with cheering words rather than censure. Naturally every person in the company loved the Colonel. This evening something happened be- tween the Colonel and Charlie, none of us about knew exactly what, but I saw the happy face on Charlie when he came out of the tent, and of course I was in- quisitive to know the reason. He told me the following story exactly as it happened. It seems that as the Colonel was sit- ting in the open flap of his tent going over some reports, his attention was at- tracted by a stealthy movement on Charlie ' s part. Imagine his surprise when he saw Charlie actually putting his hand in the pocket of another sol- dier. Just as Charlie was about to take the object out of the soldier ' s pocket, something compelled him to look up. As he did so, he discovered Colonel Martin watching him. Hastily withdrawing his hand, he turned away. I heard the Colonel come over and say to Charlie, Come to my tent. I want to talk with you. ' ' Charlie tremblingly followed him and entered the tent. Now, Charlie, said the Colonel, as they came into the tent, ' ' why did you put your hand into that soldier ' s pock- et? Tell me, lad, you know I am your friend. ' ' Charlie remained silent. Nothing could induce him to say anything about it. Is this the first time you have ever tried to take anything, or do you make a practice of this thieving? Still no answer from Charlie. Come now, lad, urged the Colonel, you know I want to help you. Why did you do it? Colonel, you want to help me? queried Charlie, amazed. Please, Col- onel, don ' t fool with me. Nobody yet has wanted to help me, and I cannot see how you would want to. Come now, Arden, tell me how all this has come about. I have been watching you ever since you came un- der my command, and I am sure you are not the fault of it. It must be from some other reason altogether. ' ' Seeing that the Colonel really wished to help him, Charlie broke down, and told the Colonel the sad story of his battle against the innate feeling that was forcing him to steal against his will. ' ' I have stolen all my life, ' ' he began,

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24 THE REDWOOD her until slie died. Poor mother! As she was dying, she told me the truth about my father. This is what she told me. ' Father was accused by his employers of mak- ing off with a large sum of money, but he was saved from prison by a wealthy sister who made good the shortage. She, like mother, never believed him guilty. The nature of father ' s employment made it necessary for him to bring home large sums of money belonging to the firm. Mother, in those days, was fond of a gay time, and as father did not have any too much money to give her, she had recourse to her mother, my grandmother, who gave her plenty. Father never knew where she obtained the money, and, naturally, when he found money belonging to the company, missing from his pockets, suspected her of taking it. He could not, however, bring himself to believe in my mother ' s guilt, and falsified his reports. One night ' — why, Avhat ' s the matter, Col- onel? Nothing, protested the Colonel, I ' m alright, I was just feeling a little bit faint for a minute. This heat today was something fierce. But, go on, I ' m anxious to hear who did take the money. ' ' Well, as I was saying, one night mother was awakened by a slight noise in her room. Pretending to be still asleep she stealthily opened her eyes and saw a dark figure by the side of the bed. As the figure went out of the room she recognized it as that of her mother ' s. Later when father was ac- cused of embezzling the company ' s money, she understood that her own mother was the thief and that her hus - band had falsified his reports believing that she herself was the thief. She could not bring herself to betray her mother to her hus])and, for fear of his anger. He, on his part, suspecting her, but not openly telling her of his suspicions, was nevertheless struck dumb Avhen she, shielding her mother, acknowledged the theft, and proved it to him by means of her fine clothes. He left the house, telling her never to use his name again. So grandma and mother were alone till I came. So now you see. Colonel, it is not all my fault. ' ' With a look of abject despair at Col- onel Martin, Charlie was about to beg to be sent to the army prison that he might once more try to overcome his temptation, but something he saw in the face of the Colonel made the words die on his lips unsaid. Slowly, the Colonel passed one hand across his eyes as if to brush away unpleasant memories, then looking Charlie full in the face, said in a voice that vibrated with emotion, I am, from what you have just told me, the father you have never known. I did for a while think your mother guilty of the theft, knowing as I did of the beautiful clothes she had which I was unable to give her, but the more I have thought it over all these lonely years, the more have I become con- vinced that she was innocent. I now see my mistake. Your mother ' s sweet character was not one which would have stooped to such a petty trick to