The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-02-26
A MENTAL CRIME.
A Jealous Girl Commits Murder
In Her Heart.

Sitting here tonight. the posscssor
Of great wealth, respected and envicd
BY the neighboring people, | am yet
more wretchcd than any convict be-
hind prison bars.
For carr, 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 II would relieve
the fearful burden on my soul il suspi-
cion did point its finger at me; and so
tonight have resolved 10 write out
the whole story just as il occurred; to
paint myself in all the hidcous colors
Of the murderer that am.
After am dead, let people read the
story and bestow upon my memory
the scorn il deserves.
was but twelve years old. and he
was fifteen, when my mother married
his father, and / wns taken to the
Pines-to this very old mansion where
! am now sitting reside: his father.
my stcpfather. 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 cx-
tensive tour, returning 10 the Pines in
June, and then ! was brought home.
How well / remember that SUM
mcr evening! The ground were all
a5lazc with roses as drove up TO the
stately old mansion. Colonel Monroe.
my mother and Sinclair Monroe. my
siepfathcr's son, stood on the veranda
70 welcome me.
After greeting my mother. she led
me 70 Colonel Monroe.
This Is your new papa. dear Az
nes, she said. whom hope you will
love very much: and this Is Sinclair,
Your new brother"
Sinclair bowed with 4 strangely pol
ish.d air for 80 young boy. Thought,
and smiled. i noticed that his face was
very handsome and proud and almost
cold until he smiled. Then II was radi-
ant rs the June day itself Colonel
Monroe took my hand and leaned
down and scrutinized my face.
Bless my stars!" he cried out in
hearty voice, ''what beauty we have
here! A perfect gypsy queen! Come.
Sinclair, should think you would like
the chance TO kiss such cheek n
that.''
Sinclair blushed slightly. and came
forward and shook hands with me then.
put nc did not kiss me. A we stood
there facing each other. Colonel Mon
roe placed hand on either head. "A
handsome couple. Sybyl." he said. adj
dressing my mother. - handsome
couple, surely. think We will have 10
plan TO keep them always with MS /
should like TO see them man and wife,
some day."
And 50, indeed, would IT, my
mother answered, smiling. .but II Is
early 70 think Of that. Colonel. Let
ume do its own work. Then she led
me away TO my room.
from that time began 10 think %
myself as Sinclair Monroc's wife. We
speak idle words in the presence Of
children, and forget them. but the
s"cd takes root in the young mind and
silently grows into harvest for good
or evil.
was 70 remain at the Pines and re-
.cive my education from private
,rachcrs. Sinclair was only home for
NJ vacation, and in September he re-
eurncd % college. We were playmatcs
anu comrades all through the long
fright summer. We used to ride two
n''le ponies which his father had pre-
sehtcd Us with soon after my arrival.
~ one day Sinclair showed me the
oroau acres Of his estate the one which
WOULD DC his when he attained his ma
ior'ty II shall build splendid house
'nere' ne said, pointing 70 noble
.nlncncc which overlooked the city,
as' below Us. "a house larger. oh. ten
zines larger than the Pines, and shall
ave uarc In tAx .....,....... .,..1 ~. - 49,.