The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1861-11-09
THE FIRST CRIME.
M JOHN ROSS DIX.

+ There was hustle in the little sleeping
room of young Ella Lane. lodging about
| of lights, a constant trsmring of fat, good
natared serving maids, fitting of cufious
smiling little girls, and disairangibg OF
dTapefy and furniture not often occurring
in this quiet and tasteful corner. a21ass
1 "A n arch looking miss of twelve was staad
ling before basket selecting the choicest
4 flowers. On the bed lay light, fieecy
ldressf of white. Immediately opposite a
small fireplace sat girl of seventeen in
half undfess. Immediately behind the chair
of the young lady stood fair, mild looking
matFon. There was a smile upon the moth
ler's lip, a pleased, grati6ed smile, and yet
4 half Swallowed over by strange anxiety
that she strove to conceal from her happy
children. es@a,fa 1o aa.ra.. saI 3s7T
AT last the young girl was arrayed, each
braid in its right place, and the wreath OF
purple buds falling behind her ear, her
figure likeaah airy cloud, every fold arfaSg-
ed by a mothers careful hands, and fan,
boquet and kerchief all in readiness. The
large warm shawl had been carefully laid on
her shoulders, the mothers kiss was on her
cheek, and a"Dou't stay late, DEAR" was
in her ear. She nodded good.by to them
Jail, but when on the bottom of the stairs she
4 paused.2i soils - sTa Est-l1ss
i IL am sorry to go without you. NAM
ma. %. .ai ld' - a...1 s.Eq z-st
4 II am sorry that you must. dear. But l
hope you will find livery pleasant"
1t will be pleasant, no doubt. But
mamma, l am afraid you are not quite well,
Tor perhaps you have something TO trouble
lyon; ifso. 1 should like very much to stay
with you" aaU
mo, dear, am quite well, and Mrs
Lane did not say happy, for the falsehood
died on her lips. but she smiled SO cheeriIy,
and her eye looked so clear and bright as it
met her daughters, that Ella took it for a
negative as she spraug into the carriage.
/ When Mrs. Lane turned from the door.
the smile had entirely disappeared, and an
Repression of. anxious solicitude took its
place. She paused beneath the hall lamp,
and pulling a scrap of paper from her bos-
ON, she read: r
do moi go out o-night, dear mother;
must see you. He will not come in before
Ieleven-I will be with you by ten.''
1t was written in a hurried, irregular
band, and without signature; but it needed
none. .#5 ....... ...
Ny poor, poor boyl" murmured the
now almost weeping mother, as she crush
ed the paper in her hand and laid it back
upon her heart. Il may be wrong to deceive
him 80, but how can a mother refuse to see
the son she has carried in her arms and
nursed upon her bosom? Poor hobert!''
| Ay. poor Robert, indeed, the only son OF
one of the proudest and wealthiest citizens
tof New York, and yet without shelter for
his head. ala.- do eE rt r.s
5 Mr.. Lane had liyec. bachelor until the
lo.r 8 q L
uiul girl of eighteen-the mother, whom We
have already introduced to our readers.
She was gentle and complying hence the
rigid sterDness 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
tnursed into bloom above it, The eldest of
their children was boy-a frank, heart
some, merry fellow-a lamb to those who
would condescend to lead him by love, but
exhibiting even in infancy an indomitsble
will that caused the young mother many an
anxious foreboding. But, as the boy grew
towards manhood, new and deeper cause
for anxiety began to appear. To Roberts
gayety were added qualities that made him
a fascinating companion; his society was
constantly sought, first by families in which
his parents were on intimate terms, and then
by others, and still others, till Mrs. Lane
began to tremble, lest among her sons as
soclates might be found some of excep-
tional character. By degrees he spentfewer
of his evenings at home, went out less fire.
quently, and accounted for his absence less
satisfactorily. Then she spoke to him on
the subject, and received the assurance that
all was well-that she need not be troubled
about his falling into bad company; but. she
was troubled.
There was at evening wild sparkle in
the boys eye and an unnatural glow upon
his cheek that told of unhealthy exciteme mt,
but IN the morning it was all gone, and his
gayety, sometimes his cheerfulness, had fled
with 1t. Mrs. Lane was anxious, but she
confined Eer anxiety to her own bosom, not
even whispering it to her husband, lest be
should ridlcule 1t on the one hand, or on
the other exercise a severity that should
lead to collision. But matters grew worse
! and worse constantly. She sought oppor-
tunities to warn him, but he evaded them,
and so several weeks of more importance
than many lifetime passed by. Finally
Mrs. Lane became seriously alarmed, and
consulted her husband
g Il have business with you tonight
Robert" said Mr.. Lane, as the boy was
going out after dinner. ''and will see you
; in the library at nine O'clock
''I-1-have-an engagement, sir. Il
some other hour
"No other hour win do. You have no
, engagement that viii be allowed to interfere
with those l make for you
? Robert was about 10 answer, perhaps an
tgrily, when be caught glimpse of his
mother. Her face was of an ashy hue. and
a tear was trembling in her eye. He turned
hastily away, aud was hurrying along the
hall, but, before he had reached the street
door. her hand was on his arm. and she
whispered:
| Meet your father at nine. as he has bid
:. den you, Robert. and do not, for my sake
for ycur mothers sake. Robert-don't say
anything TO eAasperate him.
"Do not fear. MOTHER he answered in
subdued tone; then, as the door closed
: behind him, he muttered. HE will be ex-