Year: 1875

CHAPTER X.


ALICE REMAINS PRISONER.


When Alice could sufficiently compose her
excited feelings to speak, she said, in tone
of forced calmness-


Mrs. Broderick, I don't wish to accuse
YOU of unkind motives, but must say that
your treatment of me is very singular and
quite unwarrantable. / am neither child
nor an insane person, and [ am quite able to
take care Of myself"


"You are very little more than child,
reioined her cousin "and am surprised that
YOU have been allowed to leave home and
travel about alone as you are doing l cor
slider that my brother and myself, being your
nearest living relatives (except your grand
father are your natural protectors, and we
have decided to act in that capacity"


Alices dismay, on hearing this announce
ment, can be better imagined than described


"But you have no right to detain me thus
by force" she gasped. "You have no author
ity over me; have never been placed under
your guardianship"


"Have you any other guardian p asked
Mrs. Broderick.


Alice was silent. She could not, in truth,
say that she had.


Every one knows" calmly pursued Mrs
Broderick, "that girl Of your age-6fteen,
are YOU not 9-is not at liberty to choose her
own mode of action while she has living rela-
tives capable of holding her in their guardian
ship" r., ,,.o .,..,;nr
with difficulty.


"Well, sixteen one year makes no differ
ence At all events, you are too young to
take care of yourself, and Providence having
thrown you into our hands, we do not intend,
for some time to come, to let you slip out OF
them, my dear"


There was an infexion of triumph in Mrs.
Brodercks sepulchral voice, and covert
CLEAN in her cavernous eyes, which puzzled
as much as it dsmayed Alice, while she spoke.
What possible motive could these people have
for thus taking possession of her. What ad-
vantage could they gain by having her with
them? 1t was complete mystery, and one
that she could not unravel. She struggled
for moment with her feelings; then with a
sudden impulse, springing toward her cousin
and clasping her arm, she exclaimed IN
tone of entreaty-


"Oh! Mrs. Broderick, pray, pray, let me 60
away from here! Indeed, am not migrate
ful for all your kindness to me, but | am
obliged to 90 elsewhere indeed, am. You
will make me miserable if you force me to
stay"


"And why will it make you miserable,
Alice? Are we not nearly related to you !?
And can you not see that your natural and
fitting home, at least for the present, is with
us?"


"No," sobbed Alice. "If my mother had
chosen me to live with you she would have
told you so before her death"


TUur mother always acted wiffuffy and
imprudently, and was blind to her own good.
But now that she has no voice in the matter,
we must take it into our hands. In short"
she added, with an air of decision, "there is
no use in arguing the matter. We are quite
resolved upon the course we must pursue, and
you will find it to your advantage to submit
with as good grace as possible to what is
inevitable. / am sorry you should find our
selves and our home so disagreeable; but per-
haps custom and time will reconcile you to
both My brother and I will see that you
are provided with proper wardrobe, and all
other necessares and you may rest assured
that as long as you make no opposition to our
wishes, you will be treated with kindness and
consideration Let me advise you to weigh
this we'll in your mind, and for your own sake,
reconcile yourself to the situation in which
we consider you most provdentially placed" ="


With these words, Mrs. Broderick made her
exit from the room, leaving Alice to her own
reflections.


The poor girl was so overwhelmed with sur
prise and confusion by what she had just
heard that it was impossible for her, at first,
to arrange her thoughts in any definite or con-
elusive form. The more earnestly she tried
to think of some means by which she might
effect her escape, the more hopeless her case
seemed to be. There was no habitation with
in sight; no human being near, on whom she
could call for aid and if Mr.. Chester and
his sister were as resolved, as they appeared to
be, to detain her, she could see no prospect of
releasing herself from their custody. Again
came the perplexing inquiry-why should they
desire to keep her with them? She was des-
titute, friendless. without influence of any
sort What benefit could they derive from as
suming the position Of her protectors? She
was too ignorant to know how far their au-
thority extended over her, or whether, indeed,
they had any lawful authority at all. But
even supposing that they had none, this fact,
alone, could avail her nothing. She felt Bit
terly that might was right" and while they
chose, forcibly, to assert this right, how could
she prevent them? She was, in fact, prs-
oner, and, from what she had seen of her jail
ors, she judged that there was a small chance
of hope from their clemency. Of Mr.. Ches-
ter, in truth, she knew but little; but that lit
tie impressed her almost, if not quite, as un-
favorably as her acquaintanceship with his
sister. There was possibility, however, that
he might be induced to listen to her entreaties
and representations, and faint, very faint
ray of hope struggled into poor Alce's breast,
that when she could find an opportunity, she
might win from him more indulgent hearing
than she had done from Mrs. Broderck.


How little did she imagine the real cause
of their satisfaction at having her in their
power, and Of their anxiety not to permit her
to escape! To their worldly and scheming
minds, the arrival of this helpless girl was a
timely stroke Of good fortune, Cor, as they
hypocritcaly said, of Provdence,) to ease
their apprehensions concerning their future,
and place most tempting prospect in their
view. Had she known aN their plans con-
cerning her, the trouble and perplexity she
now felt would have been augmented to the
keenest anxiety and distress. But of these
it is not yet necessary to speak.


The poor girl spent the remainder of the
day in sad and hopeless reflections on her
trying situation, and melancholy retrospect
tions of the life she had lately quilted. Tn.
congenial as her aunts home had become to