The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-07-31
THE FIRST CRIME

| There was hustle in the little sleeping room
| of yo~nss Ella lame, lodging about OF tights
constant trampIing of fat, good iiatured serv
ing maids, fitting of curious, smiling little
| girls, and disarranging of drapery and furni-
ture not very often occurring in this quiet anG
tasteful corner.
| An arch looking miss of twelve, was stand
| ing before basket, selecting the choicest flow
ers On the bed lay light heecy dress o.
white. Immediately opposite fire place sal
a girl of seventeen in half undless. Immedi-
ately behind the chair Of the young lady stooc
fair looking matron. There was smile up
on the mothers lip, pleased, gratitied smile
and yet half Swallowed over by strange anxi'
ETY. that she strove to conceal from her happy
children.
At last the young girl was arrayed, each
braid in its place. and the wealth of purple
buds falling behind her ear, her simple dress
floating about her slight figure, like an airy
! cloud, every fold arranged by a mothers care
| full fingers, her white kid gloves drawn upon
| her hands, and fan, bouquet, and kerchiet ell
| in readiness. The large warm shawl had been
carefully laid on her shoulders, the mothers
kiss was on her cheek, and Don't stay late,
DEAR in her ear; she had nodded good bye to
all, but when on the bottom stair she paused,
| i am sorry to go without you, mamma
I am sorry that you must, my dear. But |
|
1T will be pleasant, l have no doubt. Bul
mamma, am afraid you are not quite we'll,
or perhaps, she whispered, you have some
thing to trouble you. If so, should very
much liketo stay with you
No, dear, am quite well, and'--Mrs
Lane did not say happy, for the falsehood died
on her lips, but she smiled SO cheerily, and hel
eve looked so clear and bright as it met witt
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 expires
sion of anxious solicitude occupied its place. -
She paused beneath the hall lamp, and pulling
a scrap of paper from her bosom, read: DO
not 90 oct tonight, dear mother must sec
Won. He will not come in before eleven
will be with you by ten Il was written in (
hurried irregular hand, and was without sigma
ture but it needed none.
NV poor, poor boy = murmuYed the now al
most weeping mother, as she crushed the pa
lper in her hand, and laid it back upon he
heart It may be wrong to deceive him so
but how can mother refuse to see the son sh'
has carried in her arms and nursed upon he
bosom? Poor Robert'
Aye. poor Robert, indeed the only son o
one of the proudest and wealthiest citizen
of New York, and yet without shelter for hi
head
MIR. Lane had lived a bachelor until the ag
of forty-two, when he married a beautiful cir
of eighteen-the mother whom we have alread,
introduced to our readers. She was gentle ant
complying, hence the rigid ste?nness of hi
character seldom had an opportunity to exhib
it itself But the iron was all there, though
hurried for time in the flowers which low
; bad nursed into bloom above it. The eldest 0
their children was boy-a frank, handsome
F,1l 20 ,bo
descend to lead him by love, but exhibitin,
even in infancy an indomitable will that caus
ed the young mother many anxious forebod
lings, But as the boy grew towards manhoo
a new and deeper cause for anxiety began t
appear To Robert gaiety were added othe
Qualities that made him fascinating compar
ion; his society was constantly sought, first b
the families in which his parents were on term
} of intimacy, and then by others, till Mrs
Lane began to tremble lest among her son
associates might be found some Of exceptiona
0 BILE character. By degrees he spent fewe
evenings at home, went out with her less frC
uuenty, and accounted for his absence les
satisfactorily. Then she spoke to him on th
n subject, and received MS assurance that all we
well-that she need not be troubled about h
falling into bad company; but she was troub
led.
There was at evening wild sparkle in tt
y boys eye and an unusual glow upon his chez
z that told of unhealthy excitement, but in ii
t morning it was all gone, and his gaiety, som
:. times his cheerfulness, fed with it. Mrs, Lar
!, was anxious, but she confined her anxiety
E, her own bosom, not even whispering it to b
'e husband lest he should ridicule it on one han
or on the other exercise q severity which shou
lead 10 a collision. But matters grew wor
= and worse constantly. Robert was now ST
dom at home till late at night, and then
, came home heated and furried, and hasten
away to bed as though his mothers loving e
was u monitor he could not meet She soug
opportunities to warn him, but he feared a
evaded them. and so several more wee
passed on-weeks of more Importance tn
n many lifetime. Finally Mrs. Lane becal
seriously alarmed end consulted her husbal