Year: 1870

n. and brother of bis, by which his
brother was to have possession of his dwell |
ling house, his servants, horses, carriages,
and such other property as had not been
deposited in banks for the benefit of his
daughter, till the time of her marriage, when
the possession of them was to be given up
to her husband. 1t was a condition of. the


agreement that in the case Eliza died
without marrying, the property was to go


to her uncle and his family.


Immediately after the death of Mr.. A,


his brother removed into his dwelling


Eliza boarded in his family and everything


went on very agreeably for some months,


when Eliza discovered in her uncle and his


family, manifestations that she should never


marry-the reason for which, from what


has already been said, must be obvious to


every reader. Unluckily for Eliza, she did


not discover the diabolcal plot in season to


Illustrate it in its bud 1t was nothing less


than this to shut her up in one of the CEN


tire rooms, in the third story of the house


to prevent her leaving it by keeping the


doors and windows thoroughly bolted, and


refused her the company of her associates,


by telling them, when they Called that she


was either at school or was at some of the


shops on business, or had taken q ride in the
country for her health, and to see some of


her relations, or telling them something


else equally destitute of truth.


Eliza generally received her meals through


small door in the ceiling from the hands


of her unfeeling aunt, to whom her cries
, for liberation from her lonely and dismal


prison house, were no more effectual than


they would have been had they been direct
ed to the idle wind.


Three years was the unfortunate gil


thus shut out from all communication with


the world, when one morning her scanty


breakfast was carried to her by an old fe-
. male servant of her father. Eliza once
more discovering the face of her old friend


and servant Juan, burst into tears, and at
l tempted several times to speak, but was
. unable to do so. Juan we'll understood the
meaning of these incoherent sobbings, and


said, herself almost unable to speak from
-, emotion


"Hush, Eliza, Mistress speak not; /
= understand all. Your tyrant aunt was
!, !, taken suddenly ill last night, and the doc
tor says it is doubtful whether she long sur
: wives. will see you again at noon, and at
y evening. Some of your old servants have
y y long been planning means for your escape,
and are now in hopes of effecting y and
Il without waiting for Elza's thanks and


blessings, tripped down stairs.


+ Eliza, although unable for some time to
!, partake of her simple repast, did so at last
d with better zest than she had ever before.
Her old servants were still about the house,
d and were bent upon herr rescue Most vel


come, soul inspiring intelligence


Il "What ~ said she to herself sis it pos
n sible that am to be delivered from this
v vile place of confinement? Is it possible
(, that all connected with this establishment
: my own establishment-do not possess
d hearts of adamant? God speed thee, Juan.
4 and thy associates in thy work of love and
f mercy"


: 1t is unnecessary to detail all the minutie
t of the scheme for Eliza's escape, and the


several interviews held between her and Juan
d during the three days she supplied Eliza
f with her meals. Suffice it to say, that on
. the evening of the fourth day after the
y above interview, Eliza was furnished with
e an instrument to unbar her window, and
!, was promised rope ladder the following
S evening, to effect her descent from one of
the windows in the room adjoining but
/ having loosened the bars of the window the
y same evening the instrument for that pui-
= pose was put into her hands, she determin-
, ed not to wait until the following evening
n for the promised ladder, not knowing but
g the plot of the servants might be discovered
# by her uncle, or by some of his children
!. and she accordingly went to work, making
r rope, (f such it may be called) from hel