National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-08-01

'h'"i' toi't tnefH WOulu not 40 sc
without knowing what they wanted
The one who had spoken first replied
that they had authority to take me will
them, and that it would be better for me
to go quietly, and not compel them to
use force | stepped back, and, seizinp
the poker, told them that would use il
against the first one who laid hand on
me. Then | rang the bell violently.
To my surprise, the two men stood
still, and made no attempt at escaping
and when the people of the inn came
up to see what was the matter, they APP
peaed to them to help them secure me.
While thus stood at bay, as it were,
a door opened ut my back, and before |
could turn round, some one threw n
thick cloth over my head, completely
covering me, and rendering me perfect
ly powerless to resist. Still struggled
but hopelessly, and I was soon over
powered, gagged and blindfolded then
my arms were pinioned to my side, and
l was led out into the open air, and
pushed into carriage, and driven
rapidly away. | soon gathered from
the conversation of those beside me
that | was being taken to a mad house :;
and could not but surmise-what was
the truth that it was nj the instigation
of my brother that | was being taken
there. The whole villainous scheme
was now clear TO me. The visit Of the
two doctors-real or sham, ! knew not
the letter written to entice me from
home, so as to carry me off easily, and
without making disturbance. Ny
cruel, wicked brother, not content with
stealing my love from me, was about to
lncarcerate me IN private asylum, 80
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 an hours drive we stopped;
and | was hurried out Of the carriage
into house, and led, still blindfolded,
up a long stair. When my eyes were
uncovered / found myself in n small
room, scantly furnished, without a car
pet on the bare boards, and lighted by
Il small narrow window, barred on the
outside with heavy iron bais. A small
wooden bedstead at one end, and
single chair, were the only signs of hab-
itation visible. 1t was prison, not a
bed chamber.
| 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, in company with brutal keeper,
who took malicious pleasure in thwart- |
ing and bullying me. Letters l wrote
N abundance, but none of them ever
gained reply; nor do I believe they
we're delivered.
Escape seemed impossible, guarded |
md watched as | was and | began to
ose all heart, and each day l became .
more hopeless and despairing. Gradu.
lily my health began to fail, and | got
leryous and excitable, unable to keep
TN through the day or to sleeps at night.
This was what my iailors were waiting
or to finish their hellish purpose. /
Vi forced to take medicine every day.
nd dsleeping-draughts at night, contain
ng morphla, until my poor brain began
wander, and for few weeks / was
aving mad. Then they relaxed their
srtures they had gained their end.
AS [ recovered my reason nv facul-
les seemed to be sharpened. and be-
an to plan means for escaping. I pre-
ended to be subdued and timid, and
y this means got greater liberty But
could not devise any plan for getting
utside the hated walls and, had it not
cen for a trifiing accident, l might
robably have been still pris oner.
as so quiet, and my keepers believed
le to be so tractable and harmless, that
hen wrs taken for my daily walk it
as not thought necessary to confine my
rms IN straight waistcoat, and I was
'met'.mes taken for rambles outside
le asylum grounds.
One day my keeper, who was very
md of trout-fshing, wished to have an
our or two's fishing in strean few
liles distant. Of course his piscato-
al pursuits had to be carried on with
reat caution, and without the knowl- .
lge of his master and was always y
ound over to secresy. l was always {
ell pleased when fishing day was pro- g
osed, as these were the only pleasant q
iys / had and l hoped that some day q
other | might by their means get an a
oportunity of escaping. I
On the morning in question we got to /
le stream, after calling at friends a
1use for my keepers rod and tackle, h
ld my Keeper began his amusement, 8
akln9 me keep close to him all the U
me, AS we walked along the banks of +
e small river we came to deep pool,
favorlte spot for trout and my keeper
It to work eagerly. As he walked
ently along, keeping his eyes intently
Ied on the water, in expectation of f
Sc, his foot caught on the root of
opl ha ct,,u, b1aJ fnruo,J n,l fo1l +,
sad-tirst into the deep water. Now p
rs my chance and without waiting Ii
oment to see whether he could swim b
not, turned and fed, without know Il
g or caring in what direction l went. G
Dward evening l found I was within a W
W miles of my own place and, i'm OF
lied by an inward impulse, | walked h
wardit intending to take one last look p,
it before leaving England. l had ty
ten thought over what l would do 81
len L got free, and had decided to W
st make good my escape to another lie
nd, and then take means to recover T.
Y rights, and punish my brother for m
) unnatural conduct. Se
When got to my house it was dark; ns
t the new moon shed soft, silvery hf
int over the familiar scenes, and, over af
me by the sight of the many spots en- til
ared to memory by the remembrance We
my former love and happiness, 1 sat
wn on garden-seat, and burying my
,e in my hands, burst into flood of alb
rs-the first l had shed for years. re
As sat there l heard voices, and had sh
rely time to hide myself behind some be
she's, when she and my brother came wi
wn the gravel-walk, arm in arm, and re.
down on the seat had Just left. ba
ey were talking lowly; but 1 was SO an
Sc to them that l distinctly heard be