The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-11-14
THE FIRST CRIME.
BY JOHN ROSS DIX.

constant CIanplnR VI Ias, goo0'HatuTe0 oeitin
maids, fitting of curious, smiling little girls
and disGrranging of furniture not often occur
ring in this quiet and tasteful corner.
An arch looking miss of twelve was standing
before a basket, selecting the choicest flowers
On the bed lay light, heecy dress of white. I'm
mediately opposite small fireplace, sat gin
of seventeen yeats in half undress Immediate
ly behind the chair of the young lady, stood
| fair, mild looking matron. There was a sml
upon the mothers lip. pleased, gratifed smile
and yet half-shadowed over by strange ankle
| ty that she stroVe to conceal from her happ.
children.
| AT last the young girl was arrayed. eac
braid in its place, land the wreath of purple bud
falling behind her ear, her simple dress floating
about her slight figure like an airy cloud ever,
fold arranged by mothers careful hands ant
fan, boQuet and kerchef all in readiness. The
large warm shawl had been carefully laid on he
| shoulders, the mothers kiss was on her cheek
and don't stay late, DEAR was in her ear
She nodded good bye to them all, but when OF
the bottom of the stairs, she paused.
/ am sorry to 90 without you, mamma.
i am sorry that you must, dear but hop
you will find it very pleasant
1t will be pleasant no doubt But mamma
1 am afraid you are not quite well, or perhaps
you have something to trouble you; if SO,
should like very much to stay with you
No dear, / am quite well and Mrs. Lane
did not say happy, for the half uttered falsehooC
died on her lips, but she smiled so cheertully
An her eye looked so clear and bright as it me
her daughters, that Ella took it for negative
as she sprang into the carriage
When Mrs. Lane turned from the door, the
smile had entirely disappeared, and an express
sion of anxious solicitude took it's place. She
paused beneath the hall lamp, and pulling
scrap of paper from her bosom, she read:
do not go out tonight, dear mother. mus
see you lie will not be in before eleven-l vii
be with you by ten
1t was written in hurried, irregular hand
and without signature but it needed none.
My poor, poor boy y murmured the now al
most weeping mother, as she crushed the paper
in her hand and laid it back upon her heart
may be wrong to deceive him SO, but how
can a mother refuse to see the son she has car
ried in her arms and nursed upon her bosom
Poor Robertn
Ay, poor Robert, indeed, the only son of one
of the proudest and weathiest citizens of New
York, and yet without shelter for his head
Mr.. Lane had lived bachelor until the age
of forty-two, when he married beautiful girl
of eighteen-the mother, whom we have al
ready introduced to our readers, She was gen.
tie and complying, hence the ngid sternness OF
his character seldom had an opportunity TO
show itself. But the iron was all there, though
buried for time in the flowers which love had
for time nursed into bloom above it. The
eldest Of their children was bOy-a frank,
heartsome, merry fellow--a lamb to those who
would condescend to lead him by love, but ex-
hibiting even in infancy an indomitable will
that caused the young mother many an anxious
foreboding. But, as the boy grew towards man
hood, a new and deeper cause for anxiety began
to appear. To Roberts gayety were added
qualities that made him fascinating compn-
ion his society was constantly sought, first by
families with which his parents were or inti-
mate terms, and then by others, and still 9TH
ers, till Mrs. Lane began to tIemble lest, g
her sons associates, might be found some Of ex-
ceptional character. By degrees, he spent few
err Of his evenings at home, went out more fre-
Quenty and accounted Tor his absence less sat
isfactorily Than she spoke to him on the sub
ject and received the assurance that all was well
that she need not be troubled about his fall
ing into bad company; but she was troubled.
There was in the evening a wild sparkle in
the boys eye and an unnatural glow upon his
cheek that told of unhealthy excitement butin
the morning it was all gone and his gayety and
sometimes his cheerfulness fed with it. Mrs
Lane was anxious, but she confined her anxiety
to her cwn bosom, not even whispering it to
her husband, lest he should ridicule it on the
one hand, Or On the other, exercise a severity
that should lead to a collision. But matters
grew worse and worse, constantly. She sought
opportunities to warn him, but he evaded them,
and 50 several weeks of more importance than
many lifetime passed away. Finally Mrs.
Lane became seriously alarmed, and consulted
her husband.
| have business with you tonight, Robert,
said Mr.. Lane as the boy was going cut after
dinner; and will see you in the library at nine
ocock.'
I-I-haye-an engagement, sir. If some
other hour
NO other hour will do. You have no en-
gagement that will be allowed to interpose with
those l make Tor you
Robert was about to answer,perhaps angrily
when lie caught glimpse OF his mother. Her
face was OF an ashy hue and tear was trem-
bling in her eye. He turned hastily away and
was hurrying along the hall, but before he had
reached the street-door, her hand was on bis arm
and she whispered:
Meet your father at nine, as he has hidden
you, Robert. and do not, for mg sake-for your
mothers sake, Robert-don't say anything to
exasperate him.
DO not fear, mother lie answered in sub
dued tone 4; then as the door closed behind him,
he muttered, He will be exasperated enough
with little saying, if his business is what sus-
poet. What fool l have been-mad--ma !
wish had told him of it at first without be
ing driven TO it through waiting; but now-I
will make one more attempt-desperate it must
be, and then, if the worst comes, he will only
punish me. That I can bear patiently Tor de-
serve it, but it would kill my mother--this he
must not tell her.
Mrs. Lane started nervously at every ring OF
the door-bell that evening. And whtn, at nine,
she heard it, she could not forbear stepping in
to the hall, to see who was admitted. 1t was
her husband, and, only waiting TO inquire of the
girl if Robert had yet come in, be passed on to
the library.
Mrs. Lana found it more difficult than ever
to sustain conversation; she became distracted,
nervous, and when her few evening visitors de-
parted, she was SO manifestly relieved that Ell
la inquired in surprise if anything had been said
or done to annoy her. 1t was past ten and he
had not appeared. Finally the bell was pulled
violently, and she fastened to the door herself.
With livid lip and bloodshot eye, her son step
ped to the Threshold, and starting at the sight
of her, he hurried away to the library without
giving her another glance. How slowly the
moments passed to the waiting mother!
How she longed to catch note of those vol
ces both so loved, that she might know wheth-
er they sounded in confidence or in anger !
What Roberts course had been she could not
guess, but she knew that he would be required
to give strict account of himself, and she
dreaded the effect of her husbands well-known
severity. few minutes passed (they seemed
an age to her) and she heard the door of the IL
brary thrown open, and moment after quick
light step sounded on the stars-it was Rob
erts.
You are not going out again, my son?' in
quired she.
Father will tell you why CO. dear moth
err said the boy, pausing and pressing her hand
atfectionately. l must not wait to answer ques
tons now He passed on till he reached the
door, then turning back, whispered, Be at
Mrs. Humans tomorrow evening, mother, and
before she had time to ask question or utter
IN exclamation of surprise, he had disappeared
in the street
But poor Mrs. Lane was soon made acquaint-
ed with the facts. Mr. Lane was somewhat vex-
ed with himself for not perc ewing his sons ten
dency to error before, and like many others, he
seemed to be resolved to make up in decision
what he hn n lost bv hI;pdpas- uos thit