The Springdale news., 1889-08-23
THE KLEPTOMANIAC.
A Tale of Temptation Which Bears
 a Moral

Carroll had asked me to invite his hetrothed to Locust Grove. and having made Carrolls wishes my law during the twentyeight years of his life. al once wrote to Miss Agnes Lapice, and gave her a cordial invitation to visit me.
 She accepted in a graceful, pretty note that preposscssed ne in her favor, and at the time appointed drove to the station and met her when the train arrived As she was the only passenger who got off the cars at N, l had no trouble about finding her, and greeted her affcctionately
 She was very, very pretty; pure blonde, with a face like one of Ra- phacFs cherubim, almost babyish in its round outlines, wondering blue eyes, and short, golden curls. She was very small, with helpless, childlikc ways, and wondered greatly at Carroll choice.
 For Carroll. my grandson, orphaned in infancy, had grown to manhood un- der my care and was a man grave and rather sedate, of stern rectitude, de- voted to his profession that of law yer and the last man in the world should have expected to fall a victim to baby face and childlike manner And yet he loved Agnes Lapice with the first true, strong love of his heart and saw only perfection in her caress- ing ways.
 In less than a week I ceased to won. der at what had first thought Car rolls infatuation. Agnes Lapice was, without exception, the most lovablt person l ever met in my long life of varied experience. She was nineteen years old, and had been most carefully educated, and behind her baby face had a well-stoclIed brain. Her singing was simply perfect for an amateur, and she played well, though her fingers were seldom on the piano keys except to accompany her sweet, pure voice.
 One of her great charms was the tender defcrence she paid to my age without seeming even to consider me too old for a confidante and cOmpan. ion. We saw Carroll only from Satur day afternoon till Monday morning. as Locust Grove was too far from the city for daily trips. But. although Agnes talked often of her bctrothed, of the preparations for her approaching wed ding, she never seemed weary or dull in our quiet life. She read well, and we passed hours with our favoritc au- thors; she sang for me; She worked mC a gorgeous sofa cushion and we walked and drove out together.
 But, through all the charm of hel manner, the innocent, caressing way. habitual to her, there was an cxprcs sion in her violet eyes that pcrplexcG me. It VAS got sufioiontiy defined tc be i,s-a.. like shadow of fear Sll0Dcflef. passing away like a summer cloud across the sunshine.
 Often she would lock her little hand: together, till the pressure looked as il it must pain her, while in her eyes would como hungry look, as if she were controlling some violent emotion by great effort.
 She had been at Locust Grove about three weeks, when began to be troub led about the extra servant I had hired to wait upon my visitor. She was young girl from N. who haG been highly recommended to me by one of my own servants, and she was willing and respectful; but 1 doubted her honesty.
 Having had the same servants about me for years women of tried princi ple-I had become careless about locks and keys and seldom used them; but little trifles of value began to disap pear most marvelously after Hannah came A gold pencil-case with dia mond head that had belonged to my husband, was the first thing that missed: then followed a card-case 0 silver; small trinkets disappeared, and l was thinking Hannah must be sen away. when one morning, going unex pectcdly to my room, l saw, through the open door, reflection in my long mirror Unseen myself, l watched Agnes Lapice as she softly opened my box of jewels. took out a pair of dia mond earrings and put them upon thu bureau. In her eyes was the look o fear, now positive, defined terror; and her tiny hands worked convulsively as she held them over the trinkets Suddenly she snatched them, secretet them in her pocket, turned, and saw me.
 With cry that was terrible to hear it was so full of despair, she literally threw herself at my feet, moaning as if in pain. I stood erect looking al her. am an old woman, and the new names for lady-like stealing were un. known to me. Agnes Lapice, grovel- ing at my feet, was simply thief, who had robbed me, and allowed an innocent servant to be suspected for she knew my resolution regarding Hannah. Presently she looked up.
 You will not tell CarrollP" she said, imploringly. Then, seeing, suppose, my utter disgust in my face, she cried
 II can not help it. You may blanc me as you will. l can not resist the inclination to steal. 1 do try, but when I see small articles I must take them. do not want them; will give you all have taken back again, but shall probably steal them again wher see an opportunity. l must do it"
 Thcn 1 took her from the ground and looked into her eyes, trying tc read the insanity was sure was upon her. She lay in my arms like child sobbing pitifully, repeating her asser- tioa of inability to resist the desire to