The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-02-05
A MENTAL CRIME.
From New York Star.

From New York Star.
Sitting here tonight, the pOssessor of
great wealth, respected and envied by
the n~eighboring people, | am yet more
wretched than any convict behind
prison bars.
For l carry in my breast the knowl-
edge of an awful crime.
| caused the death OF three human
beings; yet no one on the face OF the
earth has ever suspected me as the
author OF that terrible tragedy.
Sometimes / think it would relieve
the fearful burden on my soul if sus-
picion did point it's finger at me; and
SO tonight l have resolved to write
out the whole story just as it occurred;
to paint myself in all the hideous
colors of the murderer that | am.
After l an dead, let people readthe
story and bestow upon my memory
the scorn it deserves.
Twas but twelve years old and he
was fifteen, when my mother married
his father, and | was taken to the
Pines-to this very old mansion where
| am now sitting-tO reside; hisfather,
my stepfather, Colonel Monroe, had
never seen me until | came there to
live.
had been at boarding school when
he met, courted and married my
mother. They went upon an extern
sive tour, returning to the Pines in
June, and then | was brought home.
How we'll | remember that summer
EVENING" The grounds were all ablaze
with roses as l drove upto the stately
old mansion. Colonel Monroe, my
mother, and Sinclair Monroe, my step
fathers son, stood on the veranda to
welcome me.
After greeting my mother, she led
me to Colonel Monroe.
This syourn new papa, dear Agnes"
she said, whom / hope you will love
very much; and this is Sinclair your
new brother"
Sinclair bowed with q strangely
polished air for so young a boy, /
thought, and smiled. / noticed that
his face was very handsome and
proud and almost cold until he smiled.
Then ii was radiant as the June day
Itself. Colonel Monroe took my hand
and leaned down and scrutinized my
face.
BLESS my starsl" be cried out in a
hearty voice, what a beauty we have
here A perfect gypsy queenl Come
Sinclair, / should think you would like
the chance to kiss such a cheek as
that"
Sinclair blushed slightly, and came
fol ward and shook hands with me
then, but he did not kiss. As we
stood there facing each other, Colonel
Monroe placed a hand on either head.
"A handsome couple, Sybyl," he said,
addressing my mother, "a handsome
couple, surely. Think We will haveto
plan to keep them always with us. !
ehenla like TO see them man and wife,
someday."
"And SO, indeed, would " my moth
er answered, smiling, 'fbut it is early
10 think OF that, Colonel. Let time
do its own work. Then she led me
away TO my room.
From that TING / began to think of
myself az Sinclair Monroe's wife. We
speak idle words In the presence Of
children and forget them, but the seed
takes root in the young mind, and ST.
lentlY grows into g haarrTTeS.. for good
or evil.
/ was to remain in the Pines and re-
ceive my education from private
teachers. Sinclair was only home for
his vacation, and in September he re.
earned to college. We were playmates
and comrades all through the long
bright summer. We used to ride two
little ponies which his father had pre-.
scented us with soon after my ARR
val. and one day Sinclair showed ms
the broad aclss of his estate-the one
which would be his when he attained
his majority. Il shall build a splend
id house there" he said," pointing tc
a noble eminence which overlooked
the city, just below us, "a house larger
oh, ten times larger than the Pines
and / shall live there in the summel
and 90 to the city in the winter.
hate the country in winter
AS we rode back / reveled in dream
Of the future, when | should reign
queen over that splendid mansion.
As years passed on the idea strength
ened in my mind. Sinclair and / wa
alwaN ) together when hewas at home
He made me his confidante in all hi
college escapades, and we corresponds
constantly. To be sure, he always &C
dressed me as ISIS" an a~bbreviatio
OF sister, Isuppose; andhenever kisse
me In his life, save when he camehom
or upon his departure. Yet / Away
thought of him as my future HUSBAND
and / planned my life accordingly.
MS mother was q poor widow whe