The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-04

without knowing what they wanted.
The one who had spoken first replied
that they had authority to take me with
them, and that it would be better for me
to go quietly, aud not compel them to
use force. Is,epped | back, aud, seizing
the poker, told them that | would use Il
against the first one who laid hand on
me. Then l rang tue bell violently.
To my surprise. the two men stood
still, and made no attempt at escaping (;
and when the people Of tho inn came
up to see whit was the matter, they ap-
peAled to them to help them secure me.
While thus stood at bay, as it were,
door opened at my back, and before 1
could turn round, some one threw a
thick cloth over my head, completely
covering me, and rendering mo perfect
ly powerless to resist. Still l struggled,
but hopelessly, and I was soon over.
powered, gagged and blindiolled then
my arms were pinioned to my side, and
l was led out into the open air, and
pushed into carriage, and driven
rnpidly away. I soon gathered from
tho conversation Of those beside me
that l was being taken TO o mal.house I;
and could not but surmise-what was
the truth that il was NJ the inStigation
Of my brother that / was being taken
there. The whole villainons scheme
was now clear to me. The visit OF the
two doctors-real or sham, knew not |;
the letter written to entiee me from
home, so as to carry me OF easily, and
without making n disturbance. My
cruel, wicked brother, not content with
stealing my love from me, was about to
incarcerte me in private asylum, so
that he, being next heir TO the property,
might freely enjoy it without my having
the means or the power Of exposing him.
After about IN hours drive we stopped; /;
and l was hurried out Of the carriage
into q house, and led, still blindfolled,
up n long stair. When my eyes were
uncovered I found myself in a small
room, scantly furnished, without n car
pet on the bare boards, and lighted by
a small narrow window, barred on the
outside with heavy iron bnls. A small
wooden bedstead at one end, and q
single chair, were the only signs OF hab-
itation visible. It was prison, not o
bel.chamber.
l was at once unbound and ungagged,
and left alone to my own bitter rehec-
tions. Day after day my life was the
same solitary, monOtonous existence
the only exercise got being an hours
walk, III company with a brutal keeper,
who took o malicious pleasure in tllwart-
ing and bullying me. Letters I wrote
in abundance, but none OF them ever
gained reply; nor do believe they
were delivered.
Escape seemed impossible, guarded
and watched as 1 was and 1 began to
lose all heart, and each day became
more hopeless and despairing. Gradu-
ally my health began to fail, and I got
neryons an1 excitable, unable to keep
still through the dny or to sleepat night.
This was what my jnilors were waiting
for to finish their hellish purpose. 1
was forced TO take medicine every day,
andsleeping.draughts at night, contain
ing mnrphia, until my poor brain began
to wander, and for q few weeks l was
raving mad. Then they relaxed their
tsrtures they had gained their end.
As recovered my reason my facul-
ties seemed to be Slarpened, and I be-
gan to plan means for escaping. I pre-.
tended to be subdued aud tImid, and
by this means got greater liberty. But
[ could not devise any plan for getting
outside the hated walls and, had it not
been for a tritling accident, I might
have bean still a prisoner. I
was so quiet, md my keepers believed
me- to be so tractahle and harmless, that
when | was taken for my daily walk it
was not thought necessary to conano my
arms in q straight waistcoat, and was
sometimes taken for rambles outside
the asylum grounds.
One day my keeper, who was very
fond Of trout.fshing, wished to have an
hour or two's fishing in a stream n few
miles distant OF course his piscato.
rial pursuits Ind to bO carried on with
great caution, and without the knowl-
edge OF his master and I was always
bonnd over to secresy. Iwas always
well pleased when n fishing.day vas pro-
posed, rs these were the only pleasant
days I had and hoped that some day
or other | might by their means get al
opportunity Of escaping.
On the morning in question We got to
tile stream, after calling at a friends
house for my keepers rod and tackle,
and my keeper began his amusement,
making mo keep close to him all the
time. As We walked along the banks OF
the small river we came to deep pool,
a fayorite spot for trout, and my keeper
set to work eagerly. As he walked
gently along, keeping his eyes intently
fixed on the water, in expectation OF a
rise, his foot caught on the root OF
tree, hnd he stumbled forward, and fell
head.frst into the deep water. Now
was my. chance and without waiting q
moment TO see whether be could swim
or not, turned and fed, without know.
ing or caring in what direction went.
Toward evening 1 found I was within a
few miles OF my own place; and, i'm.
PEELED by nn inward impulse, l walked
towardit, intending to take one last look
at it before leaving England. had
often thought over what l would do
when l got free, and had decided to
first make good my escape TO another
land, and then take means to recover
my rights, and punish my brother for
his unnatural conduct,
When 1 got to my house 1t was dark;
but the new moon shed soft, silvery
light overthe familiar scenes, and, over
come by the sight Of the many spots en-.
tleared to memory by the remembrance
Of my former love and happiness, / sat
down on garden.seat, and burying my
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