Litchfield enquirer., 1845-02-13

on the othet, exercise severity which should lead
to collision But matters grew worse and worse
constantly Robert was now seldom home till late
a. night, and then he came heated and furried and
fastened away to bed, as though his mothers Low.
sought opportunities to warn him, as she bad for
merly done, but he understood and evaded, them !;
andso several weeks passed by--weeks of more i'm
portance, than many Lifetime. Finally Mrs.
Lane became seriously alarmed and consulted her
husband. s,.f f.,.e,-eT a5.... +; fss 9
81 have business with, you tonight, Robert, .
said Mr. Lane, pointedy. as the boy was going out
after dinner, and will see yOu in the library at
ell have-an engagement, sir. If some other
S"No other hour will do. You have no engage:
menf thatwill be allowed to interfere with those
make for you.'' .a.t,gg frslsf .s,,.T gt1r
Fl Robert was about 10 answer, perhaps angrily,
when he caught glimpse Of his mother Her
face was Of an ashy hue and large tear was trem.
bling in her eye. He turned hastily away and hur-
red along the ball but before he reached the street
door, her hand was upon his arm. and she whis-
pered in his ear, Meet your father at nine as he
has hidden you, Robert; and do not-for my sake,
for your mothers sake. dear Robertdon not say any
thing to exasperate him."
Z" Do not fear, MOTHER" he answered IN a subdu-
ed tone; then, as the door closed behind him, he
muttered, 'he will be exasperated enough with lit
tie saying, if his business is what suspect. What
a fool I have been-mad--mad! IwIsh / had fold
him at FIRST, without waiting to be driven to it but
now--well, 1 will make one more attempt-despe-
rate it must be-and then, if the worst comes, he
will only punish nse-that bear patiently, for
deserve it; but it would kill my poor mother
oh he must not tell her." y5gI baa fasasgs
Mrs Lane started neryously at every ring of the
door bell that evening and when at nine she heard
it. she could not forbear stepping into the hall to-
see who was admitted.- 1t was her husband. and,
only waiting to inquire of the girl il Mr.. Robert
bad yet come in, he passed on to the library. Mrs
Lane found it more difficult than ever to sustain
conversation became distracted, nervous; and
when, at last, her few evening visiters departed,
she was 90 manifestly relieved that Ella inquired,
in surprise il any thing had been said or done to
annoy Der. II was past ten, and Robert had not
yet appeared. Finally the bell was pulled violent
ly, and she FASTENED to the door herself. With
lvd lip and blood-shot eye, her son stepped to the
threshold and starting at the sight of her, he hur-
ried away 10 the library without giving her another
glance. How slowly passed the moments to the
waiting mother! How she longed to catch but a
tone Of those voices, both loved, that she might
know whether they sounded in confidence or anger !!
What Roberts course had been she could not guess
but she knew that he would be required to give a
strict account Of himself, and she dreaded the effect
of her husbands we'll severity. A few min
utes passed (they seemed an age to her) and then
she heard the door Of the library thrown open; and
moment after, quick. light step sounded upon
the stairs. 1t was Roberts. ia
.'Youare not going out again. my son ," she in
quired ,f..8 i7 49, EF1MbG
"Father will tell you why go, dear mother"
said the boy. pansng and pressing her hand aifec-
tionately. 4" i must not wait to answer questions
now" He passed on till he reached the door.
then turning back, svhispered, '.be at Mrs. Hin
lime q ss sEsSn 81 Utter an exclamation
Of surprise. he had disappeared up the street.
But poor Mrs. Lane was soon made acquainted
with the truth. Mr.. Lane was somewhat vexed
with himself for not perceiving his son's tendency
10 error before; and like many another. he seemed
resolved to make up in decision what he had lost
in blindness. II was this which bad occasoned
bis sharpness when he made the appointment and
he considered his dignity compromised when nine
o'clock passed and his son seemed resolved on act
ing in open disobedience to his command. Il
An hours Eliminating on the subject did not tend
to soften his feelings; and when, at last the cul-
prit appeared, he was in mood for any thing but
mercy. He demanded peremptorily full confess
sion and Robert gave it. He did not color, soft
en-, nor extenuate but boldly-too boldly, per-
haps-declaring that he scorned falsehood, he told
the whole.--He had fallen into gay society, then
into vicious; and he was not the one to occupy a
minor position any where. Wit and wine seduced
him, aud in an evil hour hesat down to the ga
ming table. He had played at FIRST for trivial
stake, then more deeply, and tonight, in the hope
of retrieving his bad fortune, he had plunged in al
most past extrication. AT any time Mr., Lane
would have been shocked-now he was exaspera-
ted, and spoke bitterly. At FIRST Robert did not
tort for he had come in resolved confession and
reformation; but finally anger got the better Of re-
pentence, and he answered a. a son. and particu-
larly an erring son should not. Then few more
words ensued, unreasonable on both sides. Mr..
Lane asserted that debts so contracted were dis
honest ones, and should not be paid and Robert
declared that they should be paid, it he gained his
lifetime to win the money till. finally, the old
mans rage became uncontrollable. 1t was in obe-
dience to his fathers command that Robert Left his
home that night, with the order never to cross the
| threshold again samgai IL LgA.
For two or three weeks Mrs. Lane, now and
then Of an evening, met her son at the houses Of
her friends, and then he disappeared almost entire
". While she could meet him, and speak q few
words even in gay party. and perceive that he re-
garded her with as much affection ever, she con-
tinued strong in the hope Of final reformation and
cancellation but when evening after evening, she
carried hoping heart abroad, and dragged home a
disappointed one, imagination busted itself with
thousand horrors. Her first born, her only son.
the darling Of her young heart, her pride in the
FIRST years Of welded life, he whom she had loved
so fondly, and cherished so tenderly-to what vice
what suffering might not he be exposed !! Then she
had no confident, no friend to sympathize with OF
encourage her. Since the first disclosure she had
never mentioned Roberts name to her husband,
and Ella only knew that some angry words had es-
tranged ner father and brother for a time-she was
enviably ignorant Of Roberts guilt and danger.
The evening on which our story commences Mrs,
Lane had intended to spend abroad with her daugh-
ter, but bad been prevented BY the receipt Of the
note Abova mentioned. Robert had never been
home since be was commanded to leave it and,
though anxious about the cause and result, she
could not but be rejoced at the thought Of seeing
him again in her own private sitting ROOM She