The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-03-29

NV one was no less HuflfineH ANnh ~ tNN
uneSpociul appearance of Edward, whose der
pasture fnr France neither Of us had Tor .
moment doubted, but which was nov proved
by bis actual presence a. be nothing nofe
than an impOsture, ] feared, for no good end
The situation Ia which had found my uncle
had very nearly removed all my doubts a. n
lis designs mAgnihed suspicious into Ger
families, and dreaded night Aler night that
should'be murdered Ia my bed. The Der.
yousness produced by sloepl"sa nights and
days Of anxious fears increased the horrors
of my situation 10 such degree, that J al
length wrote "A letter 10 a Mr. Jeniies, an old
aud faithful friend Of my fathers, and per
f,,ctly acquainted with al bis Affairs, praying
him, for Gods sako, io relieve ms fruul my
present toFFiblu rituation and communicating
vithoat T,-s.rv- the naitire ss'sl s--s,sssls 81
my suspicion, This letter ] kept see. Il aud
directed Tor two or three days always about
my peFson, for discovery would have been
| ruinous, in expectation Of an opportunity
which might be safely trusted, OF having Il
placed an the post.olco; as neither Emily
nor were permitted to pass boyond tho pre-
cincts of the ,lemense itself which wis sur
rounded by high walls formed OF dry stone,
the difficulty OF procuring such aH 0pPUrtu
nifty was greatly enhanced.
Al this time Emily had short conyersa-
inc instantly Afler some Indifferent matter
he asked her whether she aI.d we're upon
good terms, and whether | was unreserved
in my disposition. She answered in the az
hrmatiyo; aud he then inquired whether ]
had been much surprised 10 lind him ia my
ichamber on the Other day. Sho answered
that had been both surprised and amused,
"And what did she think Of George Wilson's
appearance ?" "wbo ?" she inquired. "Oh'
the architect" he said, ''who Is 20 contract
for repairs Of the house ho Is accounted a
handsome fellow" "Shc could mol sec his
face" said Emily, "and she was in such u
hurry to escape that sho scarcely observed
him." Sir Arthur appeared satisfied, aud
the conversation ended
4 This slight conversation repeated accurate
ly 10 me by Emily, had the effect Of confirm
ing, ifindoed anything was required 10 do 80,
all that hd before believed as 20 Edward,
actual presence; and naturally became, IL
possible, more anxious than ever 10 dispatch
the letter 10 Mr. Joifries. An opportunity al
length occurred. As Emily and were
walking ono day near the gate Of the demense
lad from the village happened to be passing
down the avenue from the house the spo
.,wAs secluded. and as this person was not con
nected BY service with those whose observa
ton dreaded, committed the letter 90 hi,
hffllHKtNlAh nkllNN AlAhA nt hUOulN
put IL, without delay. into the receiver Of the
town postofice at the Same time added a
suitable gratuity, and the man having made
many protestations Of punctuality. was soon
nut Of sight He was hardly gone when
began TO doubt my discretion in having trust.
ed him; hut ] had no better df safer mean,
4 of dispatchlng the letter, aud WAS not war
ranted in suspecting him OF such wan,on dis.
honesty as disposition 10 tamper with it
but | could not be quite satisfied OF its safety
until had received an answer, which could
not arrive for n few days. Before did, how
ever, an event occurred which little sur
priscd me. ! was sitting in my bedroom
early in the day,reading myself when hear
a knock at the door,
said Ig-afstl i,s,s4t.le- -sas,iarai
the room. "Will you excuse me 2" said he
l-I sought you in the parlor,and thence have
come here. i desired 10 say n,word 10 Won
trust that YOU have hitherto found my con.
duct to you such as that of guardian TO
wards his ward should be-" ! dared not with
hold my assent "And," he continued al
trust that you have not found me harsh OF
unjust, aud that you have perceived my deai
niece. thai l have sQnghl 10 make this nnal
place as agreeable 70 you as may be z" / as
sentcd again; and he put his hand in his pock
ct, whence he drew folded paper, aud dash
ing IL upon the table with startling emphasis
he added, did yoT write that letter 2" Tn,
sudden and fearful alteration of his voice
manner, ana face, but more than all, the un
expected production of my letter To Mr. JcfIe
rics, which, at once recognized. so conlound
ed aud terrified me. that felt almost chnk
ing | could not utter a word "Did yor
write that letter Z" he repeated, with slow
and intense emphasis. "You did, liar ant
hypocrite. You dared TO write that foul ant
inf ih.l l,uI ,,l L.. l..
will universally b6ticve you mad, ir | cho5ss,
TO call for an inquiry. | can make Won ap
pear 50. The suspicious expressed in thi,
letter are the hallucinations aud alarms of 1
moping lunatic. / have defeated your frs
attempt, madam; and by the holy God, ifyou
ever make another, chains, dark ness and tn,
keepers whip shall be your portion" With
these astounding words he lcit the room, lcav,
ing me almost iainting
was now almost reduced to despair; my
last cast had failed bad no course lell but
that OF escaping secretly from the castle, and
placing myself under the protection Of the
nearest magistrate | felt If this wero not
done, and speedily, that should be murder
cd. No one, from mere description can have
an idea OF unmitigated horror OF my situation;
a helpless weak, inexperienced Rirl, placed
under the power, aud wholly at the mercy of
evil men, aud feeling that had il not in my
power TO escape for one moment from the in
fluences under which was doomed to fall ;
with consciousness, too, that il violence, if
murder were designed, no human being would
oe near 10 aid me- my dying shT1ub would
be lost in void space.
had seen Edward but once during his Wis
it, and as did not meet him again, began
to think that he must have taken his depart
ure conviction which was to certain de-
gree satisfactory, as / regarded his absence
as indicating the removal Of immediate dan
gor. Emily also arrived circuitouslya at the
same conclusion,and not without good grounds
for she managed indirectly to learn that Ed
wards black horse had actually been for
day aud part Of a night in the castle stables,
just at the time Of the brothers supposed
visit The horse had gone and she argued,
the rider must have departed with il.
This point being so far settled, felt little
less uncomfortable when being one day A.
lone in my bedroom, ] happened to look out
. from the window, aud to my unutterable hor-
II l.