Year: 1873

Bruised by q brothers hand, wa


ashamed to meet her. But more griey


ed than angered by my brothers con


duct, I wrote her simple letter, telling


her all, and offering to release. Her re
ply came only too soon. 1t was kint


but ready acceptance of my Offer, She


could not, she said-in it, deny her low


for my brother. She still loved me will


all the strength of sisters love-alas


how cold to the love l felt for !--but hel


heart was given to my brother, and will


him alone could she be happy. At tn,


same time, she added, that if on further


consideration insisted on making hel


my wife, she would although reluctant
y, perform her promise, and would try


to make a good faithful wife, but never


a happy one. sH


What could l do but give her. upi


Was ]. /. to satisfy mean, selfish love, tc


drag the woman 1 professed to love be.


yond the whole world, into a wretched


unhappiness, full of lifelong regret:


and blighted hopess itra


When we met again it was as brother


and sister. But the shock and strug-


gle were more than l could bear, and
sank into ill-health becoming nervous
and at times fanciful. My doctors ad-


vised change of air and scene, and ac-
cordingly 1 prepared to start on tour
Of the Continent. But before I could
get away a diabolical plot was prepared
and put in practice by my brother which
was to rob me of money, home, and even
reason itself.


About week before L proposed
starring, l was rather surprised at re-
ceiving call from two gentlemen, both
strangers to me, who introduced them
selves as consulting physicians, and
said they had been requested to call and
see me by my brother. Although as
though astonished at such display of
interest on my account being thus
shown by him, I never for an instant
suspected any sinister design on his part
and answered most Of the questions put
to me without hesitation. q So much so.
in fact, that the two doctors rose, and
wishing me good morning. said they
were very glad to be able to report so fa-
vorably ON me. As they were leaving
the room, they stopped for moment,
and said a few words together in an un-
der tone. 1 only caught her name, and
felt myself redden at the sound. ni


" Yes,'' said one, "you are right; we
ought to try the subject Ice .airna


Then, turning back they began asking
me what 1 thought to be impe rtinent
questions. ordered them to leave, but
they only questioned me further; until ,
wild with passion, l lost all self-control
over myself and tried to push them out.
Little Tsuspected then that they were
being paid by my brother to examine,
and find an excuse for pronouncing me
mad. Once in an asylum, I could easily
be kept there, and my cruel brother
would lie able to enjoy my property un-
disturbed. g.ar-. -usis iess2


A few days after what 1 have just
told you took place, / received a note
from my brother, apologizing to me to
forgive him, and to meet him at GER
tain town, about twenty miles from my
place. 1t was cruel, hypocritical, de-
ceitful letter, but I joyfully believed it,
and gladly promised to meet him, eager
to be once more reconciled to him. l


When l got to the inn at the town
where l was to meet him, was told
that he had not yet come, but that he had
engaged a room; and 1 was taken to it.
waited long time patiently, expect
ing my brother to come every moment;
but he never came. Soon after dark,
two men-rough, ill-looking fellows
came into the room without knocking.
Oneof them walked straight up.to mt, and
said I was to be good enough to go with
them. 1 asked what their business was
but got no reply other than before
that Twas to 60 with them. 1 told them
would not do so without knowing
what they wanted. The one who had
had spoken first replied that they had
authority to take me with them, and it
would be better for me to go quietly
and not compel them to use force. l
stepped back, and seizing the poker,
told them that / would use it against
the first one who laid hand on me.
Then l 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 appealed to
them to help them secure me. While
thus stood at bay, as it were, a door
opened at my back, and before 1 could
turn round, some one threw thick
cloth over my head, completely covering
me, and rendering me perfectly power
less to resist. Still struggled but hope
lessly; and 1 was soon overpowered,
gagged and blindfolded; then my arms
were pinioned to my side, and l was led
out into the open air, and pushed into
and driven rapidly away.
soon gathered from the conversation
Of those around me that l was being
taken to a mad house; and could not
but surmise-what was the truth-that
it was at the instigation of my brother
that was being taken there. The whole
villaineus scheme was now clear to me.
The visit of the two doctors-real or
shauc knew not; the letter written to
entice me from home, so as to carry me
off easily and without disturbance. My
cruel, wicked brother, not content with
my love from me, was about to
incarcrate me in private asylum, so
that he, being next heir to the property
might freely enjoy it without my hav-
ing the means or the power of expos
ing him. After about an hours drive
we STOPPED; and l was hurried out of
the carriage, and led, still blindfolded,up
a long stair. When my eyes were un-
covered found myself in small room,
scantily furnished, without carpet on
the bare boards, and lighted by small
narrow window, barred on the outside
with heavy iron bars. A small wooden
beadstead at one end, and single chair