The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1851-07-25


fore eleventh will be with yo,i al ien.r
Itwas written in hurried irregular
hand, and without signature ;ibut Il needed
none. .9f8sFA aa} yi ii9itli3 ileq8be.
"My poor, poor boy!" murmnrmed The
nowalmost weeping moiher, ,ass!,e crdsl Q d
the paper in her hand and laid il back
upon her heart. cit may be wrong TO
deceive HIM SO; but how can the mother
refuse 10 see the son she has carried in
her arms, and nursed upon her bosom!--
Poor Roberi!'' 4a M 5iaiiaf .iH
Aye, poor Robert, indeed the only son
or ore Of the proudest and weallihest cili-
IONS Of New York, and yet without a
shelter for bis, head! sEN gs3lHp9 /. ID
Mr.. Lane had lived bachelor untilihe
age offorty.two, when he married q beau
|tiful girl ofseventeen, the mother whom
we have already introduced to our rea-
ders. She was gentle and complying;
hence, the rigid sterness ofhis character,
which SO many years ofloneliness had by
no means tended TO soften, seldom had an
opportunity 10 exhibit itself. But the iron
was ali there, though buried for time in
the flowers which love had cnurscd into
bloom above it. The eldest oftheir child
rem was a boy; frank, hoartsome, mer-
ry fellows lamb to those who would
condescend TO lead him by love, but ex-
bibiling even in infancy, an indomnitable
win, ,hat occasioned the young mother
many an anxions loreboding. But as lie
boy grew towards manhood, a new and
deeper cause anxiety began 10 appear.
To Roberts gaiety were added other
qualities that made him fascinating
companion; his society was constantly
sought, first by famlhes in which his par.
ents we're on terms of intimacy, and then
by others, and still by others, till Mrs.
Line began to tremble les, among her
sons associates might be foundsom OF
excepiionable character. BY degrees he
spent fewer evenings a. home, went out
with her less frequently. and accounted
for his absence less satisfactorily. Then
she spoke to him on the subject. and re-
Iceived his assurance that all was we'll, that
she need not be troubled about his falling
into bad company. W 800
[ But she was troubled. pla 8 ~
There was wild sparkle in the boys
eye, and an unnatural glow upon his
cheek, that told of unhealthy excitement,
at evening; but in the morning il was all
gone, aud his gayety, sometimes his
cieerf1lness, fed with Il. Oh! what
sickness Of the heart can compare with
that indefnable fear, that foreshadowing
Of evil, which will sometimes creep in
between our trust and our love; while
we dare not show to the object OF il,
much less to others, anything but smil-
ing lip and serene brow. Mrs. Lane
was anxious, but she confined her anxiety
to her own bosom; not even whispering
| il to her husband, lest he should ridicule
fit on one hand, or, on the other, exercise
severity which should lead 10 COLI
sion. But matters grew worse constant.
Nv; Robert was now seldom home ill
late at night, and then he came heated
and ;fluiried, and lastened away TO bed,
as though his mothers living eyes we're
monitor he could not meet. She
sought opportunities TO warn him, as she
had formerly done, but he understood
and eyaded them; and SO several weeks
passed by weeks Of more importance
than lifetime. Finally Mrs. Lane be-
came seriously alarmed and consulted
her husband. i &h'l 'i3ft8e ~
al have business with you tonight,
Robert" said Mr.. Lane, pointedly, ,as the
boy was going out after dinner, sand viii
see you in the library at nine O'Clock, ~
ST. have-an engagement, sir. Il
some other hour-"as5 Z s''5a- 'dHlg
| "No other hour will do. You have nj
engagement that will be allowed TO inter
fare withthose make for you" m a'
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 trembling in her eye
He turned hastily away and hurried along
! The hall, but before he reached the stree,
door, her hand was upon his arm. and
! she whispered in his ear, t'Meet you
'Efather at nine, as he has bidden you, Ro
lber,; and do not-for my sake, for you
mothers sake. dear Robert-do not say
anything to exasperate him." 'ae hg
"Do not fear, moiher," lie answered
in subdued lone; then, as the doc
closed behind him, he muttefed, "h'
will be exasperated enough with it'll
saying, if his business is what j suspect
4 What fool / have been--mad--- mad
III wish bad told him at tirst, withou
waiting TO be driven 10 it; but now-well
Ii viii, make one more attempl-desperatt
1 II must be--and then, il the worst comes
he will only punish me-that ! can beal
patiently, for | deserve il; but It wotllt
lkill my poor mother-oh! he must no
4 tell her"
i Mrs.. Lane started nervously at every
lring Of the door.bell That evening: and
when at nine she heard i, she could moi
forbsar stepping into the hall 10 see who
was admitted. Ii was her husband; and