The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-03-03
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, I am yet
more wretched than any convict be-
hind prison bars. t.
For carry in my breast the knowl-
edge of an awful crime. Ffra
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 1t occurred; to
paint myself in all the hideous colors
of the murderer that I 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
am now sitting-to reside; his father,
my stepfather, Colonel Monroe, had
never seen me until l came there to
live.
l had been at boarding-school when
he met, courted and married my
mother. They went upon quite an ex-
tensive tour, returning to the Pines in
June, and then / was brought home.
How well l remember that sum-
mer evening! The ground were all
ablaze with roses as l drove up to the
stately old mansion. Colonel Monroe.
my mother and Sinclair Monroe, my
stepfather's son, stood on the veranda
to welcome me.
After greeting my mother, she he'd
me to Colonel Monroe. ...
"This is your new papa, dear Ag-
nes," she said, whom l hope you will
love very much; and this is Sinclair,
your new brother"
Sinclair bowed with strangely pol
ished air for so young boy, Thought,
and smiled. / noticed that his face was
very handsome and proud and almost
cold until he smiled. Then it was radi-
ant as the June day itself. Colonel
Monroe took my hand and leaned
down and scrutinized my face.
"Bless my stars'' he cried out in a
hearty voice, "what beauty we have
here! A perfect gypsy queen! Come,
Sinclair, l 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. ad-
dressing my mother. "a handsome
couple, surely. think we win have ia
plan to keep them always with US.
should like to see them man and wife,
some day."
"And so, indeed, would l." my
mother answered, smiling, "but it is
early to think of that, Colonel. Lei
time do it's own work." Then she led
me away to my room.
From that time 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 in the young mind and
silently grows into harvest for good
or evil. lEIEIgi
Twas to remain at the Pines and re.
ceive my education from private
teachers. Sinclair was only home fol
his vacation. and in September he re-
turned 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-
sented us with soon after my arrival,
and one day Sinclair show ed me the
broad acres of his estate-the one which
would be his when he attained his ma
iority. II shall build splendid house
there" he said, pointing to a noble
eminence which overlooked the city,
lust below us, "a house larger, oh, ten
times larger than the Pines. and l shall
live there in the summer and go to TIT