The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-01-30

for place of Concealmept, until nigh
should again favor the prosecution ofthei
journey. They soon discovered on
adapted TO their purposes, and hither the
removed Alice and the provisions, Whic
latter they set about making preparation
to test. Vrooman then proceeded t.
remove the gag from the mouth of Alice
which had become EXTREMITY painful
merely remarking to her, at the time, tina
she should die in case she attempted t.
escape or raise an alarm.
All then proceeded to partake of tn
food; Alice eating very sparingly, tn
pain of her jaws in fact forbidding her t.
satisfy even her faint appetite. After tn
conclusion of the meal the boatmen threS
themselves upon The ground to seek re
pose, whilst the doctor lighted Il pipe
and drawing small book from his peck
ct, commenced reading.
Alice sat for some time bordering upol
her situation, but at length she felt
drowsiness creeping upon her, Gespit
her eXertions to keep awake, She lean
ed her head against tree, and was sool
wrapped in deep sleep. She slept for ;
long time, despite her uneasy attitude
and in dreams of her bright "islan'
home, she forgot the wrelchedness o.
her situation. She awoke after noon
and found that the doctor was enjoying ;
nap in the shade, and Vrooman and his
associates were holding watch. Just al
the sun disappeared in the west, they al
once more embarked, and were pursuing
their journey, and at sunrise arrived a
Schenectady. Here the doctor escor'
ted Alice to small house, standing ;
short distance from the compact part o
the town, where she was ushered into t
a narrow and dirty room, accompanied by
the doctor, who by his actions appeared
to be on familiar terms with the inmates
and perfectly at his ease.
Within an hour after her arrival, Vroo
man appeared at the door with horses
and Alice was commanded by the doctor
to mount upon pillion behind him. The
party then started off at b.isk trot tow
ards Albany, taking the obscurest lanes
and alleys, and avoiding the most popular
thoroughfarcs.
Several times, as Alice saw individuals
near her, did she resolve to cry for help
but her courage finally faild her, and she
was soon so far beyond the town, that
such procedure would have availed her
nought, and would have aroused the ire
of her keepers.
About noon they arrived at Albany,
and alighted at small inn. But a short
time was allowed for refreshment, when
they were again upon the road, SO a.
droit was the doctor in the management
of affairs, that Alice found it utterly I'M
possible to speak to any one at this halt
ing place, and she proceeded on her way
with heavy heart. The doctor pursued
the remainder of his journey with the ut
most speed, barely stopping for rest and
refreshments, and on the evening of the
third day after departing from Albany,
Alice was securely located in one of the
cells of the asylum.
The morning after the departure of AL
ice, Van Loan caused the report to be
circulated in the neighborhood, that his
niece was dangerously sick of the small
pox, which frightful disease was known
to be raging in some of the settlements o.
the Mohawk valley. A great constenna.
ton attended upon this report. The
mansion was Stunned by every one, ant
a general fear that the pestilence would
spread prevailed every mind. All the pre-
ventives known or supposed to be of use
in staying the contagion, were called in
to requisition among the terrified inhabit'
auts, and as there was no physician in the
immediate neighborhood, every old mat.
ron, who pretended to medical skill, ant
they were not few, was consulted, ant
under their directions medicines were
prepared with which to battle the scourge
In about week after the circulation
of this rumor, the bell at the Station peal
ed forth its solemn knell, and the inhab'
tants were told that the spirit of Alice
Van Loan had Departed. Many and sin
cere were the tears that were shed at hel
untimely death, for she was known tc
many ofthe settlers, and beloved by al
who knew her; for her heart was eve
alive to the wants of the needy, and t.
the woes of the afflicted. Fear of the dis
ease, however, deferred nearly every
one from the funeral, which was appoint
ed, owing to the extreme warmth of thu
weather, to take place on the same day
yet few who had passed through thu
ordeal, volunteered their assistance il
the solemn duty of burying the dead
They found coffin tightly closed up
which after very few ceremonies, wa
borne to the graveyard just outside TIT
settlement, followed by Van Loan, Fred
erick and aunt Josephine, apparently il
deep sorrow for the death of their rela
alive. Here the coffin was deposited il
its final resting place, and the compan
dispersed. Van Loan returned to hi
house, and shutting himself up in his Il
brary with his son, he congratulated him
self on the result of his enterprise, an
then eagerly set himself about preparing
the papers necessary to permit him t
enter into possession of the fortune of hi
niece. This, TO the avaricious Van Loa
was grateful task. He did not doub