The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-03-07
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
A Portland Lady Enfrapped and Saved
by a Miracle.


story has been related to us personating
graphic picture of the marvellous escape of a
young lady of this city from fate worse than
death, and we give place to it because it shows
how the most intelligent people N ay be de-
ceved by designing persons, and cannot be too
careful how they trust, or make, chance ac-
quaintances. The circumstances of the case
are such it will be seen at once names cannot
bs given. 1t is sufficient to say the lady in
question is one of the most modest, well edu-
Gated daughters Of most respectable Portland
family.
Miss x, as we will call the lady, has been
making a visit to Troy. N. Y. At the same
house another lady was guest, who resides in
one of the towns on the Hudson River Rail-
road Just out of New York city. Both ladies
started for New York together, Miss X, to
make visit to her aunt in Brooklyn, and the
other lady for her home. The two girls when
they entered the car were full of chat and
merely noticed that fine looking, elegantly
dressed woman rather past middle age, was oc.
cupyiDg the seat behind them. They ran on
sbout each other and their families, as girls do,
hoping to extend the acquaintance with each
other 10 the future. A few miles before reach
ing the city Miss X Is friend left her as she had
reached her home. Soon after her friend left
Miss x. was accusted by the lady on the seat
behind, who appeared to be a woman of Gull
ture as we'll as a woman of wealth, and, what
is more, inquired after her parents in Port.
land, whom she said she met few years before
on trip South, spending the winter with them
in Florida. The young lady's suspicious were
not aroused and she conversed pleas sanity with
the stranger. When they reached New York
both ladies took horse-car for the Brooklyn
fsrry-:he stranger saying she resided in
Brookyn-and continued together until the
Brooklyn shore was reached. 1t was a winters
day, and when they left the ferry-boat it was
quite dark. Miss X. could not find her aunt's
coachman and was 10 a great deal of trouble
when her new acquaintance spoke up and advs.
ed hernot to wait longer bqt to allow her to
drive her home in hers.
Miss X thankfully accepted the offer. Why
should she not? The carriage was a neat
brougham, with driver in plain livery
Her baggage had baen forwarded from Troy by
express so as not to hamper her. Away they
drove and on the way the said stranger said she
should have to stop at her house moment to
deliver message. A fine mansion was reach
ed, the carriage stopped, and the lady alighting
ran mp the steps leaving Mis-, X in the
brougham. In few moments she returned and
asked her to come in where it was warm as she
found she should bs delayed about ten min
utes, Miss x obeyed and entered the parlor.
AS she did so the stranger excused herself, and
as she stepped from the room Miss X. fincied
she heard the key turn in the lock. The next
minute she heard wheels rolling away. She
looked out of the window and no carriage could
be SEEM She sprang toIthe door and it was OPEN
ed by the stranger, who said to her, 'Miss X.
it is useless for you to contend. You have been
brought here for purpose aud you must sub
NIT. Tears, cries, will not avail you. Follow
me-"
Miss X. saw that resistance, for the time,
would be useless. 1t was evident she was en-
trapped and escape would only be obtained by
bidpg her time She followed the woman up
stains, was ushered into handsome room and
the key turned on her. In few moments
tray with supper was passed in. She dared not
eat or drink, for fear of an apa sthetic. There
she sat patiently for several hours, until, all
at once, she heard MATS step. the door open
ed, and gentleman entered. One glance was
exchanged, when the man exclaimed, "My
God, how did you come here" The lady rec
ognized him as gentleman whom she had
frequently met the previous winter while Wis
itipg at her aunt's. She replied "get me out
of this at once, am entrapped." The gentle
man thought minute and then said: "Fhis
will be serious matter for me. These people all
know me aud can injure me greatly. had en-
gagged to me ct lady here at thu request of the
proprietor of this house. will save you but
yol must promise never to divulge my name"
He then opened the door aud both proceeded
down stairs. The proprietor having confidence
in the gentleman had nobody on guard. They
sped down stairs and out the front door, down
the steps, across the street to hsck-stand, and
then to Miss x g aunts. The gentleman did
not leave the carriage, but as soon as the front
door was opened, drove away. Miss x. stepped
across the threshold and fell in dead faint
From the effects of the shock she has not en-
tirely recovered.
The strange woman had gathered her infor-
nation about the lady's family from the talk of
the girls, in the car, had put this and that to-
getber and deceived the unsu specting Miss x.
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA