The Portland daily press., 1867-12-07

INTO the wrong hands, and the whole plan OF
,er flight was discovered by her BROTHER
There is reason to believe he forgot the ten
erness due his sister in his resentment at
What he termed her obstinate disobedience
md duplicity toward him. Forgetful that
,ast harshness had justly forfeited her conf
lence, and that he had no good reason to of
er for refusal to sanction her hearts choice,
he aimed to conquer, assbefore, ,by ;sviolent
measures. Once more the fair girl was con-
1emned to the solitude of her own apart
nent; her sole companion. beiDga the1I 1enale
slave who had always attended her. ms III
Justice reused the spirit OF Elizaoeln. IN tnl
West had become religion; her duty to him
was fall IN he paramount, and she was firm
as ojonant where principle was concerned.
aar recoLItion was taken. The negress, in
the confidence her young mistress, .wass the
basrer of letters between her and the devoted
friends of West who had first concerted the
plan ofherigoing to.hfm. 40
Those friends were Francis afterward
Judge Hopkinson, Benjamin Franklin, land
William White, afterward Bishop of Pennsyl |
yania. The particulars of Mrs Shewelrs es-
cape were communicated by the Bishop him
selfto a granddaughter of Mr.. Shewell, a lady |
of acknowledged literary ability, and distin- |
guished in the society of the town where she |
resides. She..was named after her aunt, Mrs, |
West. If. Geeb fEE3Mfi 4iea5'tfIi1
1t was not long before the friends had ma
turei plan, which they communicated to |
Elizabeth Shewen, She approved it, and
promised her cooperation.
1t was past midnight, and vessel at the
dock was in readiness TO set sail for England
in less than an hour. The preparations hao
been completed before dusk, and passages en-
gagged for the elder West and lady who was
to be brought on board late that night AT
that period the custom of retiring to rest
early prevailed. The deep silence that reign
ed through the city was unbroken by voice or
footstep, and the lights had long been extin-
guished in Mr.. Shewell's mansion, as four or
five men wrapped in cloaks passed cautiously
along the street opposite, crossed directly In
front of the house, and stopped, looking up as
If they expected signal from one of the up
per windows. All was quiet and dark; the
faint light of the street lamps scarcely serving
to dissipate the gloom in which it was scarce
lypossible to recognize each others features.
They had waited but few minutes when
a window above was softly raised and the out
line of figure might be dimly discerned
bending from it, as if seeking to discover who
stood below. One of the party threw up q
rope, which was caught. A rope ladder was
drawn up, and after the lapse of short time
was again lowered, Those below pulled at it
foreibly to ascertain that it was securely fas-
tended, and then one assembled to the apart
ment into which the window opened, and
gave his assistance in fastening the ladder
more firmly. d ef-}'.tl lafs'
1t was now the moment for summoning all
her energies, and Elizabeth stepped upon the
ladder aided by her companion, the negress
having been dismissed at the usual hour for
retiring, for her mistress was too generous to
involve her in difficulty BY making her par
~ to her elopement. The descent was ac-
complished in safety, and the trembling girl
was received in the arms of those who await
ed her, so overcome with fear that she was
near fainting, and unable to articulate reply
to the anxious inquiries Of her friends. One
terror possessed her-the dread that her
brother would be awakened by the noise, and
intercept them before her escape could be ac-
complished. She made eager signals that
they should be gone, and, supported by one
of the party, walked forward as rapidly as pos
sible. Her strength might not have held out
for long walk, weakened as she was by
alarm and anxiety ;but carriage was in wait
ing at the corner of the next street. Before
they reached this the noise of hurried foot
steps startled them, and the party fastened
with their prize into the shadow of narrow
alley. The beating of the poor girls heart
might heve been heard as they stood thus con-
cealed, and her apprehensions almost darken-
ed into despair as the irregular footsteps ap-
preached. It was only some late wanderers
returning home, after IA long revel, unwonted
in that city of orderly habits. When the
sound of footsteps ceased the maiden was
borne rather than led along by her friends to
the carriage and placed securely within it,
One by one they followed her, and the car
riage was driven fast to the wharf where the
vessel lay in readiness to weigh anchor 1
The elder West, the father of Benjamin, re- !
ceived them on the wharf, and welcomed his
future daughter. The weeping girl was taken
on board, and conducted to the cabin. In 81
lent sympathy with her feelings natural in
situation so new and embarassing--th friends
stood around her The ships crew were busy
on deck, and In nalf an hour all was ready to
set SAIL The signal was given for the depart
ure of those who had escorted the fair pas
senger; they took kind leave of her, speak
ing words of encouragement and hope that
the future might be all sunshine to one so
trustful and loving. A slight hustle overhead,
noise OF cheering, and the vessel was in mo-
ton. The danger of discovery was over!
The voyage was tedious one, the vessel
being delayed by storms and contrary winds.
She ant hored safely at length III the harbor
of Liverpool. Many people were on the
wharf, and there was no little commotion
for the arrival OF ship was not so COM
mon thing as now-and the people were
eager TO hear the news from the colonies, be-
tween which and the mother country discon-
tents had already arisen to an alarming
height.
Amidst the scene of confusion, the shout
ing and running to and fro, one young man
through the crowd to the edge of the pier.
He was one of the first to spring on board |
the vessel as she touched the wharf. 1t was |
the painter West. His father, whom he had |
not seen for eight years, had perceived him, |
and, with an exclamation ofioy, started for |
ward to greet him. The son, unable to speak,
waved him aside with his hand, gasping the |
name Of "Elizabetha" while the eagerness of |
his pale face expressed the questioning more |
earnestly than language could have done.
The old Quaker pointed toward the cabin. |
The young man rushed thither, aud in a mo-
ment the long-diyided lovers were locked in |
each others arms. f..... -.-. b., 1
The elder West had followed his son, and |
saw the embrace in which both forgot their |
long years of cruel separation. Again and |
again the young artist drew back to gaze on
his beloved, and clasped her again to his full |
heart. III 55ssRS .SaskksskS
"Hast thou no welcome, Benjamin, for thy
old fatherP" at length asked the old man, who
b ad stood quietly for some minutes, smiling
at the joy he witnessed.
THAT have, fathern cried the son; and
a warm greeting was given to the venerable
parent, who needed no apology for having
been at first neglected. The happy party
proceeded the same day to London.
On the I'd Of September, 1765, the wedding
was solemnized in the church of st. Martins
in-the- Fields. The lovely young bride felt
that she had done right IN sacrificing some
natural scruples to bestow her hand on him
to whom her faith was pledged The years
that had flown since their parting had added
grace to her girlish beauty with
touching interest never impaired till sorrow
has chastened the gay spirit of youth. As she
stood at the altar, the meek light of truth up-
on her brow-her eyes beaming with the gen
tie and loving expression habitual to them
all who saw her thought so beautiful bride
had never stood In that sacred place.
In London DR.. Drummond, Archbishop oil
ork, was the special patron of West. Bv1
him he was presented to the King as a young
American of extraordinary genius George
LII. received him with much kindness. and
Introduced him to the Queen, with whom
Mrs. West, "the beautiful American. as she
vas called at court soon became a favorite.
She was frequently sent for to her Maiesty's
private apartments; and the charm of her
,entle loneliness, of her winning manners. and
Ter cultivated mind, thus acknowledged Inv
oyalty, was owned through the circles of the
,roudest aristocracy in the world Yet this
admiration and the smiles of fortune
ould not spoil so pure and childIiBe spirit.
Her letters written to friends at home-still
n the possession of the family--breathe only
f the kindness Of all she met and i'm particu-
ar of "gracious Queen Charlotte" ~
The story of Vests career is familiar to ey-
~ v1rfIl In L. 4 ~