Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1842-04-26


retained the consciousness of the purpose ste had
in view, and this consciousness caused her to wake
just liter midnight. She Instantly but lightly start
ed to her feet, and looked out of the window to learn
from the stars which shone brightly, the hour
Though she could discover in the east no traces of
morning. she resolved at to effect her escape
from the house and wait by the road side for the
stage
Listening some time and finding the whole house
sui, she put on neat calico dress, her cottage hat
and best shoes, and sticking her old green paraso
through the knot OF her bundle she took the broken
knife from beneath her pillow, and approached the
door. After pausng to be sure that all was quiet
below, she felt for the hinges, Qor the room was
lighted only by stars) and after few awkward at
tempts, she succeeded in drawing the first screw
lr few seconds the other followed and the upper
hinge was liberated from the door Inspired bv her
success, TO active exertiUn the fair girl stopped to
draw the three from the lower hinge. careful the
While 10 Keep the door its place. lest it should fall
upon her head, or, worse STILL upon the 1oot and so
betray her by the noise She had drawn one out
and was turning the second, when the knife slipped
from her grasp, and fell at her feet with sharp
startling sound Involuntary she held her breath,
while her heart ceased TO beat Full two minutes
she remained immoveable, listening to learn if The
noise had disturbed any one +; but all was SILENT
Every one slept save herself Again she removed
her work with more caution, and the last screw
slowly yielded TO her knife The next moment with
bounding pulse. she drew it forth from its loosen
ed bed with her fingers. vi
The most difficult part was now to be achieved
The door was made of heavy oak plank, and she
feared that in dsplacing it, she might for want of
strength and light let it fall to the ground She was
however, not girl 10 be checked by possible obsta-
oles Standing up she felt for the bolt which alone
held the door, and as she did so scarcely could she
refrain from smiling at the emphasis with which she
recollected her mother had last turned it to secure
her, as If she had said, GOOD bolt can safely trust
you ~ -f.,r .t .
Fertile in expedients Biddy, on finding the bolt
would easily slide out from the side in which il was
SO strongly :imbedded TO prevent the door from fall
ing upon her when she should move it, drew, with
out noise, her bedstead along, Till a corner of it
pressed against the door, and 0fved as supporter
Having made this cautious preparation, she took
hold of the door by the side on whic Hse hinges had
hung, and exerling all her strength 0sew it bodily
towards her. AS the bolt left its socket, the whole
weight of the door was supported an instant upon
her arm, which soon gave out, when it fell heavily
over upon the bed which her sagacity had placed to
receive 1t. dead sound, not very loud, was all
the effect it produced She paused and listened to
see II the noise had awakened any one when find
ing all was still as before, she began indulge the
joyful emotions that filled hpr bosom at the prospect
| of securely eheciing her escape.
| Taking upihcr bundle, and feeling in her bosom
to ascertanfh her liie purse of five shillings was
safe, she knelt down by her bed side, and softly and
piously repeated the Lords prayer" n beautiful
series OF petitions that, poor girl, she much needed
| To put up.at such time. Then with light heart
and lighter step she crossed the PROSTATE door Of her
little prison. Accustomed TO traverse the whole
house in the dark, she found no difficulty in reaching
the narrow angular stairway that led to the large
family room below Softly as a kitten, and with a
steathy- STEP she descended the stairs and opened
the door at its foot and entered the room below All
was still, save the monotonous ticking of the old
clock standing in the iartherest corner and the oc-
casonal sharp chirp of cricket on the hearth where
a faint CLEAN showed the halfbured fire. She lis.
| Tened tn detect any sound from her mothers room,
which was on one side of the family room, or from
her sisters, which was on the other She could
only hear her father snoring. Gaining confidence
she stole across the wide room and laid her hand
dark as 1t was, readily upon the wooden latch She
hesitated ere she raised it, for feeling ofloneliness
and desolaton came suddenly over her She was
leaving the house OF her infancy--the roof of hel
childhood, perhaps forever her father, too, whom
she loved. possibly never to see him more! She
fer desolae, aud her heart swelled with grief at the
cruel fate that should drive her thus Young and I'M
protected from the home which should have beer
the natural asylum of her youth and innocence
and whether was she TO go! Fer ichat was she II
exchange her present lot! Was she going to hap
pier one
Such were the thoughts that passed through he
mind as she stood with the latch half lifted in he
fingers; but this natural emotion was temporary.
| The next moment she raised the latch and crossed
| HS WOil "Oiu uOOI StOHe lllO UP night air. ont
Immediately experienced sensation Of freedom anc
and elasticity of spirits. Her pulse bounded--he
feet scarce touched the ground as she few over
in the direction of the high road, which was half
mile distant. The meadow where sho had first seer
Edward Morris, lay in her course. AS she cam,
to the ste that led from the domestic yard or lawl
into this field, she heard noise behind her. She
bounded in alarm the fence, and at the same in
stant her favorito old house-dog, Bruin, was he
side with fierce bark ~ ..eI
: Down, Brun," she said, in low, auihnritiv
tone as the dog caught her bundle in his gern,
teeth. The noble dog recognized her voice AM
crouched at her feet. "Go home Bruin," she cried
stamping her little foot on the ground. The dol
crouched lower and licked the shoe that enforced
her command.
D "No, you shall not go with me Poor Bruin,
shall not see you for long liGe, fear Who will
now pet you and feed you know you will mis-
poor Biddy for one Go back"
The afieclionate animal still kept his almost sup
plicating posture at her feet. In vain she scodet
in vain she caressed him she ran forward fe,
! yards, he would bound joylully by her side; anc
when she stopped to reprove him, he would crouc
S silently at her feet.
v all then n yo, ill co,,o I,olr :, -,