Year: 1875

| not been the case, she would nave leareu W
pass through the house, or risk drawing the
heavy bolt that fastened the lower entrance
Then, there was the garden, surrounded by a
lofty brick wall, surmounted by iron spikes,
and with no outlet but an iron gate, constant
ly kept locked. Her heart sank, as the
thought of all these difficulties occurred to
her. Still, she determined to overcome them,
some way or other, for she was resolved that
if it was in human skill to get away from
that house, the next mornings light should
not find her still its inmate.


She did not venture to stir, until she heard
the clock, in distant tower, chime the hour
of midnight Then she rose, and quickly and
noiselessly, without striking light, put
on the suit of clothes which she had worn
when she came there, wrapped her shawl
around her, tied her hat down with thick
veil, and then cautiously opening one of the
windows, which she had purposely left untas-
tened, looked out.


There was no moon, but it was clear star
light night, and she could distinctly see the
objects around and below her. She shud-
dered as she looked down. Could she ever
risk that fearful descent? Besides, even if
she accomplished it, little would be gained.
Oh! if the wall were but nearer! 1t ran
within foot of the house, on the other side !;
but how to get to it? Suddenly thought
occurred to her-the leads! If she could
once climb to the roof she could steal around
to the opposite side, and let herself down from
thence upon the wall. She looked up-the
distance was not great but it was impossible
to climb from the window. Was there no
other mode of ascent?


She pondered for a little while in despair,
and then she remembered that there was
sky-light in the roof of the closet adjoining her
room.


Quietly reclosing the window, she hastened
off in pursuit of this new idea. The closet
door was unlocked, and pushing it open, she
looked in.


1t was pitch dark, and she was reduced to
the necessity of striking light. She trusted,
however, to the remote situation of the closet,
and the absence of all outside apertures to
keeping this fact from betraying her, even
should either of her guardians be awake.


The light being struck, she looked up.
There was the square opening in the ceiling,
closed by little wooden door which hooked
inside. She had no ladder-nothing upon
which she could mount in order to reach it.
If she could get upon the broad upper shelf
of the closet, she thought she could manage
it. This was no easy matter to do. However,
she had too much at stake to be easily daunt-
ed, and after sundry vain attempts, she sue
ceeded in attaining the lofty perch. Clinging
to an iron staple in the wall with one hand,
with the other she unfastened the skylight-
door, and with much dificulty-for it was
heavy-she managed to lift it up The cold
air rushed in, extinguishing the Highland
there she crouched in the dark, clinging des-
perately to her inconvenient support, and al
most afraid to make any movement for fear
of falling, or of throwing something down
which might make a noise. However, the
effort must be made, and there was no time
to be lost. Shifting her position so as to
bring herself as near as possible to the open
ing, she leaned forward and got her head and
one shoulder and arm through. Putting out
her hand she could touch one of the chlmneys,
along the side of which ran a lightning-rod (;
and by taking firm hold of the rod, she could
steady herself and get her other hand free.
This was great advantage to her; and pres
emily, by dint of pushing and crawling and
squeezing, she actually got herself entirely
through the opening, which she took care to
close again as soon as she was fairly out Of it.


So far, 50 good. Now, to reach the leads
and then, having reached them, to crawl
along them without losing her balance and
falling from the giddy height into the garden
below Acold shudder crept through her as
she pictured such catastrophe to herself.
But it was no time to indulge in terrifying
fears. Almost holding her breath, she COM
menced her perilous journey around the roof /;
and now her professional training, and the
strength and agility attained by long practice,
stood her in good stead. Along the narrow
pathway where it seemed that nothing but a
cat could have kept its balance, she crept
with firm step and light, undulating move.
ment not daring to look down until she reach
ed the point she had desired to attain. There
was the wall but alas it was long way
l
below her. She took off her shawl, and fas-
tened it to an ornamental cornice at the edge
of the roof: BY slipping down on this, and
then dropping from the lowest end, she might
manage to alight on the wall, which was at
least four feet wide on top. Before she es-
sayed it, she tried the strength Of the shawl
with her hands-and the old, worn fabric
gave way!


That hope was gone. Almost in despair,
she looked around her. Farther on there was
window with broad ledge above it, and
close by it was another chimney. Here was a
climbing vine of strong ivy, and SHE thought
if she could once get hold of this she might
descend with comparatively little trouble.
No sooner was the idea conceived than put in
execution. A few more steps, and the window
was reached Clinging to this, she let herself
down, slowly, fearfully, but safely, until the
wall was within reach another effort, and
the top of it was gained, and she felt that
freedom was near. 1t was easy work now to
walk along until she came to tree whose
branches hung over from the garden, and by
means of this to bring herself near enough
the ground to risk fall and breathless,