Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-02-05
A MENTAL CRIME.

wretched than any convict behind
prison bars.
For I carry in my breast the knowl-
edge OF an awful crime.
Icaused 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
50 tonight have resolved to write
out the whole story just as it occurred;
to paint myself in all the hideous
eolors of the murderer that am.
After am dead, let people read the
story and bestow upon my memory
the scorn it deserves
Twas but twelve years old and be
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; his father,
my stepfather, Colonel Monroe, had
never seen me until | came there to
live.
| had been at boarding school when
he met, courted and married nv
mother. They went upon an extern
slve tour, returning to the Pines in
June, and then l was brought home.
How well | remember that summer
evening! The grounds were all ab'aZe
with roses rs drove up to the stately
old mansion. Colonel Monroe, nv
mother, and Sinclair Monroe, my step
fathers son, stood on the yeranda to
welcome me.
After greeting my mother, she led
me to Colonel Monroe.
"Ihls is yournew papa, dear Agnes"
she said, "whom hope you will love
very much; and this is Sinclair your
new brother"
Sinclair bowed with strangely
polished air for SO young IL boy, I
thought, and smiled. | noticed that
his face was very handsome and
proud and almost cold unit, he smiled.
Then it was radiant as the June day
itself. Colonel Monroe took my hand
and leaned down and scrutiniZed my
face.
"Bless my stars!' he cried out in q
hearty voice, ''what q beauty we have
here! A perfect gypsy queen! Come
Sinclair, l should think you would like
the chance to kiss such q cheek as
that"
Sinclair blushed slightly, and came
forward 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, IS, handsome
couple, surely. think we will have to
plan to keep them always with us. l
should like to see them man and wife,
some day"
"And SO, indeed, would T." my moth
er answered, smiling, "but it is early
to think OF that, Colonel. Let time
do its own work. Then she led me
away to my room.
From that time I began to think of
myself as Sinclair Monroe's wife. We
speak idle words in the presence of
children and forget them, but the seed
takes root i'll the young mind, and 81
lently grows into a harvest 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-
turned to college. Wewere pIaymates
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 arri-
val, and one day Sinclair chowed me
the broad acres OF his estate-the one
which would be his when he attained
his majority. II shall build q splend~
id house there he said" pointing to
a noble eminence which overlooked
the city, just below us, "a house larger,
oh, ten times larger than the Pines.
and I shall live there in the summer
and 60 to the city in the winter. /
hate the country in winter"
AS we rode backI reveled in dreams
of the future, when l should reign
queen over thatsplendid mansion.
As years passed on the idea strength
alwa. together when hewas at home.
He made me his confdante in all his
college escapades, and wecorresponded
constantly. To be sure, he always adj
dressed me as "Sis," an abbreviation
OF sister, Isuppose; and he never kissed
me IN his life, save when he came home
or upon his departure. Yet always
thought OF him as my future husband,
and planned my life accordingly.
My mother was poor widow when
Colonel Monroe married her. She had
barely means enough to exc out our
expenses, but she was very handsome
and fascinating. She had what people
called "a way with mem" that was
irresistible. She fostered the idea that
! ! was to be Sinclair's wife. One day
she and were driving together about
the estates, and she turned to me and
smiled and said:
How strange it is; ma petite, that
you and wopenniless creatures that
we were q few years ago, will one ,day
possess both these splendid estates
Tor our very own. 1t is like q fairy
story All! say want they will-the
moralists and preachers-a handsome
face and o little tact are the most
priceless gifts a woman can possess.
am SO thankful, dear, that YOU are
{. handsome" H.
was seventeen when she said that.
! and went home and looked at nv.
self carefully in the mirror. Yes | was
handsome; my eyes were large and
I black, my complexion rich and clear.
/ my features perfectly regular.
turned away slniling and satisfied.
Sinclair came home soon afterward
to remain; at least he had finished
his college course, graduating with
I honors.
~ He was very handsome, and my