Litchfield enquirer., 1845-02-13

| Two or three times Robert Lane paused and rea-
soned with himself before he reached his fathers
door and even when his hand was extended to
the bell knob, he hesitAted.
:" must see herat any risk, !" he at last exclain-
ed, pulling lightly upon the cord. ~.
The girl started when she opened the door, but
gave no other token Of recognition. Robert inqui.
red for Mrs. Lane. and following after the girl,
found himself in the back sitting room, remem-
! bered but too, too fondly for his composure AS
soon as the door closed behind him, he cast of his
mufiings, and throwing himself upon little otto
man at his mothers feet, leaned his forehead on
her knees.
rs it any new trouble, Robert ~ she inquired
tenderly, and laying her band gently on his head,
"any new-gtaltF r she whispered, bending her
lips close to his ear, and placing the other arm over
his neck. .,..s. 3. .. : ..,t,
I" Tell your mother, Robert-tell her every thing
--she may help you-she will--oh, Robert you
know she viii love you and cling to you through il
6 raised his head. and now she saw for
the me, the, change that had come over him.
His face was haggard, bis eye sunk and bloodshot
that round rosy cheek, which her lip had loved to
meet, had grown pale and thin, and in place Of
the gay, careless smile, had risen looks Of anxiety
"I shall break your heart. mother" he sale, sor-
rowfnlly, I" and poor little Elias too. Oh it IS
dreadful thing to murder those one loves best, I
never mean to doit-try to believe that, dear moth
er, whatever comes. !" -.s
81 do believe it. Robert" ..s
"Ah! you know only . small part yet; but
could not 60 away without seeing and telling YOU.
knew you would learn il from others, and want
ed to hear you say you could love after all. knew
you would, but wanted to hear you say it,
g I will, Robert, will but surely you have no.
thing worse to fell than know already p
. The boy looked down, his lip quivered, and the
large purple veins upon his forehead worked them
selves into knots, and raised and swelled as though
| ready to burst every moment. s,. i...s
| She passed her hand soothingly over them.
!" Whatever it is, Robert, you are not before a
harsh judge now. Tell t to your mother, my
darling boy perhaps she can assist, advise---she
certainly can ioUe you through all" $50 ~
sob, mother you must not speak so, or can
never tell you. If you talk like this-if you do
not blame me, shall almost wish had gone
away without seeing you. Oh! if / had only lis
tened to you six months ago! but they fatiered
me, and was foolish, was wicked. But thought
Of you all the time. mother-of you and Ella--and
II promised myself every night when went to my
pillow, that would break away from the things
that were entangling me and become all that you
desired. / was not conscious then Of doing any
| thing decidedly wrong; but knew that my COM
panions were not such "a you would approve, and
knew-I could but know-that was too much in
4
| cards; played very cautiously at FIRST, and only
TO do as others did, and then for larger sums, and
again still larger, till finally it became my sole OBJ
ject to recover the money had lost, and thus pre-
vent the necessity Of applying to my father for
more: still lost, and still went on, till finally
the discovery, which believe, dear mother, all in
kindness, you brought about. was made. Perhaps
] was in the wrong. but mother, ii did seem to me
Mss angry Or he would moi have
refused. You tried his patience, Robert, and then,
| l fear you were more bold than conciliatory.''
"I made one more attempt to better my for
tunes that evening. and the time passed before /
was aware of it promised-I told thens--those
scoffers, mother-that it was my last evening
among them; promised myself 50, and repeated
it to ny father (; and would have kept my prom.
| ise-l co,ild. But you know how it turned.
Then was desperate" 5a.gs ~
Mrs. Lane trembled. and passed her arm carress-
ingly about his neck, as though to reassure him.
al met you several times after that. Robert, and
you did not seem 10 very unhappy" "s& Ii
and got it." Az :. a5 ID.
| How, Robert |"
| Not honestly" ,
| The boys voice was low and husky; and his
hand, as it closed over his mothers, while his
forehead, which again rested on her knees, was Of
a deathlike chillness.
/ A iaintness came over her, horrid feeling went
/ curdling round her heart, and she felt as though
her breath was going away from her. But the cold
hand was freezing about hers. the throbbing FORE
head rested her knees, and every sob, it burst
forth uncontrolledly, fell like a crushing weight
] upon her bosom. It was the mothers plying
heart that subduing its own emotions, enabled her
again to articulate, though in low Whisper
| g Hotc, Robert !" M 60. ste .g3
"By forgery. No matter for the particulars-
could not tell them now, and you could not hear.
Tomorrow all will be discovered, and must es-
e. - t-a
have not endured No punishment men can in
Hict will ever be half so heavy. deserve it.
/ though-all, and ten thousand times more. But
never meant it should come to this, mother; be-
lieve me, never did. meant to pay il before
now, and thought could. have won some
money. but not half-scarce 1.-THE Of what
ought to have, so there is nothing left but flight
and disgrace. You do not answer me, mother |
knew should break your heart, knew
Mrs Lane made strong effort, and murmured
brokenly, .. .. s..4 s.4 $50 Z, sa1s 4.ls3f IA
= " To-morrow- Oh !! my poor ru-
ined boy % g ~e es NJ
!" know that after deeds cannot compensate,
mother; but il life Of rectitude, if" Robert
paused suddenly and started to his feet. "I know
!" Hush, my SON. hush % Mrs Lane had time
for NO more before her husband entered the apart
ment. A cloud instantly oyerspread his counte.
nance. ,.,,ss SKA .ss. .s.tf
!" You here, sirrah! What business brings you
to the ho1se you have deserted r A
"I came to see my mother, SIR"
/" Nay" interposed the lady, anticipating the
storm that seemed gathering on her husbands
brow, let the fault be mine. He il my own child.
and must see him--a little while-you cannot
refuse TO leave me little while with my own boy
alt is the last time, them" said Mr.. Lane sternly
:. The last time p echoed Robert. in a tone Of
mocking bitterness. s he. sa,. ~
The last time :" whispered the white lips Of the
mother, az though she had but that moment com.
pretended it; and as the door closed upon the re-