Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-06
THE KLEPTOMANIAC.


10 visit me.
She accepted in . graceful, pretty note thAt
prcpossessed me in her favor, and Il the siine
appointed drove 70 the station and met her
whso the train arrived Az she wAs the only
passenger who got of the cars 1t N,
bad no trouble about finding her. ard greet
I'd her affectionAtsly.
She was very, very pretty; pure blonde,
sith face like one Of Raphaelis 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 Carrolfs choice.
For Carroll, my grandson, orphaned In in
fancy, had grown ~ manhood under my
care, and WAS = man grave and rather sedate.
Of stern rectitude, devoted 70 his profession,
that Of q lawyer. and the last man In the
world should have expected to fall q victim
yet be loved Agnes LApice with the first true,
strong love Of his heart, and saw only per
lection In her caressing ways
In less than week ceased 70 wonder at
what l had first thought CAROLS infatua
ton Agnes Lapice was, without exception,
the most lovable person l ever met In my
long life Of varied experience. She was 10
Year, old, and had been most carefully elu
Gated, and behind her baby face had a well
stocked brain Her singing was simply per
feet for 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
Difference she paid to my age, without seeli-
ing even to consider me too old for u conti
dante and companion. We saw Carroll only
from Saturday afternoon till Monday morn
ing, a Locust Grove was too far from the
city for daily trips. But, although Agnes
talked often Of her betrothed, Of the prepare
tons for her approaching welding, sine never
seemed weary or dull in our quiet life. She
read well, and we pissed hours with our ia
vorite authors, she sang for me, she worked
me . gorgeous sofa cushion. and We walked
and drove out together.
But, through all the charm Of her manner,
the innocent. caressing ways habitual to her,
there was an expression in her violet eyes
that perplexed me. 1t was not sufficiently
defined to be fear-more like shadow Of
fear-and it was brief, passing away like
summer cloud across the sunshine
Often she would lock her little hands IT,
gether till the pressure looked rs II it must
pain her. while in her eyes would come
hungry look, as il she were controlling SOME
NloIeut eHlOtioI ny TeHt euoft
She had been at Locust Grove about three
weeks when began to be troubled about the
extra servant had hired to wait upon my
visitor. She WAS a young girl from ",
who had been highly recommended 10 NE by
one of my own servants, and she was willing
and respectful; but l doubted her honesty.
Having had the same servants about me
for years, women Of tried principle, had be-
come careless about locks and keys aud sci
dom used them but little trifles Of value be-
gan to disappear most marvelously after
Hannah came. A gold pencil with dia-
mond head, that had belonged to my hus-
band, was the first thing that missed then
followed card case OF silver, small trinkets
disappeared and I was thinking Hannah
must be sent away, when one morning. going
Unexpectedly to my room, | saw, through the
open door. "a reflection in NY long mirror.
Unseen myself | watched Agnes 1apice as
she softly opened my box OF jewels, took ont
q pair Of diamond earrings and put them
upon the bureau In her eyes was the look
Of fear, now positive, defined terror, and her
tiny hands worked convulsively as she held
them over the trinkets. Suddenly she snatched
them, secreted them in her pocket, turned
and saw-me,
With a cry that was terrible TO hear, 1t
was SO full Of despair, she literally threw
herself at my feet, moaning as if In pain ]
stood erect looking at her. ! am an old wo
man, and the new names for ladyke steal
ing were unknown to me. Agnes Lapice,
groveling at my feet, was simply thief who
had robbed me, and allowed an innocent SER
want to be suspected, for she knew my reso
luton regarding Hannah Presently she
looked up
e.Il r., ali, ~ ,I,... 4
ploringly Then seeing, l suppose. my utter
disgust in my face, she cried:
II cannot help II. You may blame me as
you will. | cannot resist the inclination to
steal do try, but when see small articles
must take them. do not want them;
will give you back again all have taken,
but shall probably steal them again whes
see an opportunity must do it,
Then took her from the ground and
looked into her eyes, trying to read the in
sanity was sure was upon her. She lay in
my arms like child, sobbing pitifully, re-
peating her assertion Of inability to resist the
desire to steal. ill., against my own reason.
in spite Of my rectitude and common sense,
found myself petting and plying her as
II she were the victim Of fever
But l would not promise to keep secret
what had discovered Though was won
over to a most profound pity, shrank from
the idea Of CAROLS wife being thief.
1t was a strange coincidence that on the
very same evening, Carroll, coming home
for his weekly visit, while We were chatting
In the drawing room, said. gravely;
Il had a very painful case presented to
me this morning One Of our leading mer-
chants wanted me to defend his daughter.
who Is the victim Of kleptomania
~ IL
slip her Ice cold hand into mine.
Perhaps grandma" continued Carroll,
"you do not know that kleptomania Is the
new name for fashionable theft We are old
fashioned folks here, and have always called
a thief thief. II is monstrous," he said. his
eyes flashing, ito defend stealing because the
thief is in high social position"
But" ! said, they plead the temptation
isirreeistible."
80 may any thief plead. Surprising
were to walk into a bank and feel an IRE.
sistible desire to run away with few thou
sand dollars worth Of bank notes Do you
imagine judge or jury would acquit mef'
But" urged again, "f you had dear
friend victim to this disease-if It Is dis
ease-would you judge her 80 sternlyr
II would | could far sooner forgive Q
poor, starving wretch who took my purse
when driven by want to crime, than could
Q thief. who, needing nothing, robbed me,
and called the robbery kleptomania
but II 1t were . lady, delicate and r.
fined, you would not send her to stare the
prison Of common felons."
81 would, if she had fitted herself for their
society by sharing their crime Indeed, l
should Judge such a case far more severely,
for there Is shadow Of excuse for t. 4
poor girl, ignorant and starving, would have
far more leniency at my hands than lady
who could 80 lower herself"
Hooked at Agnes She was pale ~ death,
and in her eyes was a steady. mournful look
had never before seen there.
Carroll" she said, IF you had a dear
friend who was afflicted with kleptomania,
how would you advise her 70 overcome the
temptation
Something in the voice Of bis betrothed
moved Carroll deeply. for hs replied. with
strange solemnity:
As all other temptations must be over
come, by constant struggle and ferve0t
prayer"
thought the time had come for these two
to fully understand the painful position, and
made some excuse TO leave the room
Not until heard Carroll go upstairs to his
own apartment would re-enter the drawing
room Agnes was there, deathly p4Ie. but
with certain womanly expression new to
her sweet face
Il have told him." she said: and her voice
sounded hollow and forced He viii not
give me up. but l have resolved to leave you