Year: 1873

only questioned me furtheT, until, wild with
passion, I lost oil control over myself, and
tried to push them out. Little I suspected
then th.; they were paid BY my brother to
examine me, and find an excuse for pro-
nouncing me mad. Once in an asylum,
could easily be kept there, and my cruel
brother would be able to enjoy my property
undisturbed.


A few days after what I have Just told
You took place, I received letter from my
brother apologizing to me for bis behavior,
and asking me to forgive him, and to meet
him at certain town, about twenty miles
deccitful letter, but I j0yfully believed it,
and gladly promised to meet him, eager to
be once more reoonciled to him.


When got to the inn at The town where
was to meet him, was told that he had
not come, but that he had engaged room
l was shown into it. Iwaited long time
patiently, expecting my brother to come
every moment; bnt he never came. Soon
after dark, two mcn-rough, Unlocking fsl-
lows-camc into the room without knock
ing. One of them walked straight up to
me, and said I was to be good enough to 20
with them. asked what their business was,
but got no reply other than beforc-that I
was to go with them. told them would
not do 20 without knowing what they
wanted. The one who had spoken first re-
piled that they had authority to take me
with them, and that it would be better for
me to 60 quietly, and not compel them to
use force: I 1steppsd back, and, Selling the
poker, told them would use it against the
first one that laid hand on me. Then l
rang the bell violently. To my surprise,
they both stood still, and made no attempt
at escaping; and whom the people of the
inn came up to see what was the matter.
they appealed to them to help them secure
me: While thus stood at bay, as it were,
a door opened at my back, and before
could turn round, some one threw thick
cloth over my head, completely covering
me, and rendering me perfectly powerless
to resist. Still struggled, but hepelessly.
and was e0On overpowered, gagged and
b)indfolded; then my arms were pinioned
to my side, and was led out into the open
air, and pushed into q carriage, and driven
rapidly away. I sOon gathered from those
beside me that I was being taken to mad
house, and could not but surmise-
was the truth-that it was at the instiea-
ton of my brother that Twas being taken
there. The whole villainous scheme was
now clear to me. The visit of the two doc.
tors-real or sham I knew not-the letter
written to entice me from home, 80 as to
Garry ME off easily, and without making a
disturbance. My cruel, wicked brother,
not content with stealing my love from me,
was about to incarcerate me in q private
asylum, 10 that he, being next heir to the
property, might :oely enjoy it without nv
having the means or the power of exposing
him. After about An hours drive We stop
ped, and was hurried out of the CARRIAGE
| into house, and led, still blindfolded, up q
long stair. When my eyes were uncover.
ed found myself in a small room, scantily
furnished, without q carpet ON the bare
boards, and lighted by small narrow win
dow barred on the outside with heavy iron
bars A small wooden betstead, at one end,
and single chair were the only signs Of
ha6ltation visible. 1t was prison, not q
bed-chamber.


was at once unbound and ungageed.
and left 10 my own bitter reflections. Day
afte.' day my life was the same SOLITARY.
monotonOus existence-the only exercise I
got being an hours walk, in company with
= brutal keeper, who took amalictsus pleas
uro in thwarting and bullying me. Letters
wrote in abundance, but none of them
ever gained reply; nor do believe they
were delivered.


Escape seemed impossible, watched as l
was; and I began to lose all heart, and
each day became more hopeless and do.
sPairing. Gradually my health began to
fail, aud got nervous and excitabie, un.
able to keep still through the dav or to
sleep at night. This was what my iailors


were waiting for to finish their hellish pur-
pose. WAS forced to take medicine overv
day, and slceping-draughts at night, until
my poor brain began to wander, and for q
few weeks l was raving mad. Then they
relaxed their tortures; they had gained
their end.


As l recovered my reason, my faculties
seemed to be sharpened, and 1 began to
plan means for escaping. Iprctentled to be


subdued and timid, and by this means got
greater liberty. But l could not devise
my plan for getting outside the hated walls;
and, had 1t not been for trtling accident,
might have bcon still prisoner. was 30
quiet, and my keepers believed mo 80 tracta-
bic and harmless, that when was taken
for my daily walk it was not thought neces-
sary to contine my arms in . straight waist
coat, and was sometimes taken for ram.
bles outside the asylum grounds.


One day my keeper, who was very fond
OF trout.fishing, wished to have an hour or
two's fishing in stream few miles distant.
VI course, his piscatorial pursuits had to
be carried on with great caution, and with
ont the knowledge of his master and was
always bound over to secrecy. was always
we'll pleased when fishing-day was pr0.
posed, rs these were the only pleasant days
had I hoped that some day or other


might by their means got an opportunity of
escaping.


On the morning in question we got 10 the