West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-03-12
A MENTAL CRIME.
A Jealous Girl Commits Murder
in Her Heart.

Sitting here tonight, the possessor
of great wealth, respected and envied
by the neighboring people, am yet
more wretched than any convict be-
hind prison bars.
For | 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 au-
thor of that terrible tragedy.
Sometimes | think it would relieve
the fearful burden on my soul if suspi-
cion did point its finger at me; and so
tonight have resolved to write out
the whole story just as it occurred; to
paint myself in all the hideous colors
of the murderer that l am.
After | am dead, let people read the
story and bestow upon my memory
the scorn it deserves.
was but twelve years old, and he
was fifteen, when my mother married
his father, and l was taken to the
Pines-to this very old mansion where
i 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 INV
mother. They went upon quite an ex-
tensiye tour, returning TO the Pines in
June, and then j was brought home.
How well l remember that sum-
mer evening! The ground were all
ablaze with roses as I drove up to the
stately old mansion. Colonel Monroe
my mother and Sinclair Monroe, nv
stepfather's son, stood on the veranda
10 welcome me.
After greeting my mother, she led
me to Colonel Monroe.
This Is your new papa, dear Az
mes, she said, whom / hope YOU will
love very much; and this is Sinclair.
your new brother"
Sinclair bowed with strangely pol
lshed ar Tor so young boy, thought,
and smiled. / noticed that his face was
very handsome and proud and almost
cold until he smiled. Then twas radi-
ant as the June day itself. Colonel
Monroe took my hand and leaned
down and scrutinized my face.
Bless my starsl' he cried out i'm
here. perfect gypsy queenl Come.
Sinclair, I should think YOU would like
the chance to kiss such cheek as
that
Sinclair blushed slightly. and came
forward and shook hands with me then.
but he did not kiss me- As we stood
there facing each other, Colonel Mon
roe placed hand on either head. "a
handsome couple, Sybyl, he said. adj
dressing my mother "a handsome
couple, surely. ] think we will have 10
plan TO keep them always with us
should like 20 see them man and wife
some day"
And so, indeed, would l." NV
mother answered, smiling, "but II Is
early 70 think Of that, Colonel Let
time do Is own work 81 Then she led
me away 20 my room
From that time ] began TO think Il
myself a. Sinclair MonrOc's wife. We
speak idle words i'm the presence Of
children, and forget them. but the
seed takes root in the young mind and
silently grows into harvest for good
or evil.
was TO remain at the Pines and re-
ceIFe my education from urivato
teachers Sinclair was only home for
hi- vacation, and in September he re-
turned TO college We were plavmatcq
AMI comrades all through the long
bright summer We used 20 ride two
Ii..e ponies which bis father had ure-
-cnted us with soon after my arrival
and one day Sinclair show I'd me fbe
broad acre, Of bis cstatc-the one which
would be- his when Doc attained bis ma
grlty. - shall build splendid house