Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-09-17
TIE KLEPTOMANIAC.

Carroll had asked rue to invite his betroth |
ed 10 Locust Grove, and having made Car
rolls wishes my law during the twenty -eight |
years Of his life, at once wrote to Miss Ag
nes Lapice, and gave her a cordial invitation
70 visit me.
She accepted in graceful, pretty note that
prepossessed mo In her favor, and at tho time
appointed drove to tho station and met her
when the train arrived As she was the only
passenger who got OF the cars at N,
had no trouble about finding her and greet
I'd her aifectionately.
She was very, very pretty. pure blonde,
with face like one OF Rapnae's cherubim,
almost babyish in its round outlines, wonder
ing blue eyes, and short, golden curlS She
was very small, with helpless, childlike ways,
and wondered greatly at CAROLS choice.
For Carroll, my grandson, orphaned in in.
fancy, had grown to manhood under my
care, and was a man grave and rather sedate,
OF stern roctitude, devoted to his profession,
that OF lawyer, 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 per
fection in her caressing ways.
In less IMAM a WceK ceased TO wonder at
| what | had irst thought CAROLS infatua
| ton. Agnes Lapice was without exception,
the most iovabls person / ever met in my
long life Of varied experience. She was 10
| years old, and had been most carefully sdu-
Gated, and behind her baby face had we'll
stocked brain. Her singing was simply per
feet for an amateur, aud she played well,
though her fingers were seldom on the piano
keys except To accompany her sweet, pure
voice.
One Of her g3eat charms was the tender
difference she pdid 20 my age, without seem
ing oven to consider me too old for conf.
dante and companion We saw Carroll only
from Saturday afternoon till Monday morn.
ing, MS Locust Grove WAS TOO far from the
city for daily trips. But, although Agnes
talked often OF hsr betrothed, of the prepare
tions for her approaching wedding, she never
seemed weary or duh in our quiet life. She
read we'd, and We passed hours With our IA
vorits authors, sho sang for me, shs worked
me gorgeous cora cushion, and w walked
and drove out together.
But, through all the charm Of her manner,
the innocent, eareSsins ways habttual to her,
there was an expression in her vioIet eyes
that porplsxed me. 1t WAS not sufficiently
defined to be fear-naore like a shadow OF
fear-and 1t was brief, passing away like a
summer cloud across the sunshine.
Often she would lock her little hands to
getber' an me prsr~uip looked az il it must
pain hsr, while in her eyes world come
hungry looA, ma II shc wsre controlling some
Violent emotion BY great effort.
She had bean ut L,oeuse Grove about three
wesks when began TO be troubled about the
extra ssrvant had &ired 30 wait upon my
visitor. Sh@ was q young girl from N,
who had beaA highly recommended 10 me by
one Of my own servants, and she was willing
and respectful; bat ] doubted her honesty
Having had the same servants about me
for years women OF tried principle, had bo-
come carslass about locks and keys Add sci
dorn used them; but little triies Of value be-
gan % disappear most maFvel0usly after
Hannah came A gold pencil case with dia-
nond bead, that had belonged to my hus
band, wns the first thing that nisssd; then
followed a Gard case of silver, small trinkets
disappearud and ! was thinking Hannah
nlnst DO sent away, when one morning, going
unexpectedly to my room, | saw, through the
opsn door, a reelection in my long mirror
I Unseen myself, | watched Agnes Lapiee a:
, she softly opened my box of jewels, took out
. pair Of diamond earrings and put then
upon the bureau la her eyes was the lool
J OF fear, now positive, defined terror; and hei
tiny hands worked convulsively as she helc
I them over the trinkets Suddenly she snatchet
them, secreted them in her pocket, turned
and saw--me,
Vita 8 cry that was terrible TO hear, i
was 50 full Of despair. she literally threw
herself al my feet, moaning as If 10 pain.
stood erect looking at her. / am an old wo
man, and the new names for ladylike steal
a ing wore unknown to me Agnes Lapice
/ grovelinE at my feet, was simply thief Win
had robtsd me aud allowed an innocent ser
want 10 BE- suspected, for she knew my resc
luton regarding Hannah. Presently sd
looked up.
''You win not tell CarrollF' she said, i'm
S p4oringly. Then seeing. suppose, my ute
, disgust IN my face she cried:
II cannot help it You may blame me a
2 you viii cannot resist the inclination t
I steal do try, but when | sec small article
| mtrt taks them. do not want them;
viii give you beck again all | have taker
e but shall probably steal them again when
see an opportunity must do it,
n Then ! took her from the ground an
looked into her eyes, trying to read the il
I, sanity was sure was upon her She lay /
Z my aTins like a child, sobbing pitifully, n
le peating her assertion Of inability to resist III
q. doSire to steal, till, against my own reasoI
in spite Of my rechtude and common sens
found myself petting and plying her /;
If she were tho victim Of a fever.
But ! would not promise TO keep seer,
IL what had discovered. Though was VIZ
over to a most profound pity, | shrank froi
the idea Of CAROLS wife being a thiof.
1t was = strange coincidence that on Il
very same evening, Carroll, coming hon
I'd for his weekly visit, while we we're chattin
~ in the drawing room, said, gravely;
II had a very painful case presented
re- me this morning One Of our leadipg me
,ir chanfs wanted me 70 defend his daughte
II. who is The victim Of keptornania-n
] felt Agues, who sat near me, shiyer ar
=, slip helr ice cold hand into mine.
e 'Perhaps, grandma continued Caro-
~ you DO not know that kleptomania Is u
- new name for fashionable theft. We are Of
fashioned folks here. and have always cslls
er thief a thief. Il Is monstroiis," he said, b
be eyes flashing, ito defend Stealing because Il
an thief Is In high social position"
But" l said. they plead 'he template
a isirrosist. le"
\, $50 .nes qrs tAi~r plead sr-r0sirg
a we're 10 walk into = Uaus and isel Gu vi