Part 3 (1/2)

Fostina now felt herself free frorasp of her eneht startled her She gazed wildly around, but no one was to be seen or heard in the village, and hastening to the street she walked with hurried steps in the direction of the Mountain She knew, fro previous, that her uncle's family were at the house of their friend, and, that if she succeeded in reaching the cottage, shediscovered

Urged on by necessity and the feeling of hope which now filled her breast, the courageous girl fled swiftly on until she reached the cottage, without encountering any dangers She hastened to the door, which she found was closely barred; then going to theof her apartain ad; it would not be safe for her to ree, for she well knew that her uncle, as soon as they discovered that she had e, and if there, she ain fall a victim to their treachery

The idea now flashed across her ht possibly escape her pursuers With this bold deterirl hastened to her brother's wardrobe, and taking a suit of clothes, soon perfected her disguise She then procured a valise belonging to one of her brothers, and hastily packing a suit of her own apparel, together with a few valuable articles which had been given to her by Lewis, took the portrait of her departed mother, and placed it in her boso thethrough which she had entered, and turned her steps towards the Mountain; and approaching the brink of the precipice, she took the apparel that she had worn fro her escape, and which she had also taken with her on her departure fro it into the waters beneath the Mountain, hastened froreat presence of ht that her ene a part of her clothing floating in the waters below the precipice, would suppose her to be drowned, and she would then be enabled to escape with safety

Having thus far accomplished her purpose, she descended the Mountain, and as the , she feared to enter the public streets, and taking an unfrequented path which led through the forest, she was soon far distant froe

Here ill leave the lovely Fostina, who had so far bravely effected her escape, and return to her uncle's residence in the village, where slept her treacherous ene their victim was now safe within the hall of security

CHAPTER VI

_Rineldo's Surprise--Mr Aubrey and his Son go in Pursuit of Fostina--Visit to the Mountain and Cottage--Horrible Discovery--End of their Search_

On the following , the fa preparations for the e of the two cousins, which was to take place on that day Rineldo arrayed himself in costly apparel, and ascended to the roo the door, as his surprise to find it open, and the key reotten to take it on the evening before, and rushi+ng into the apart his cousin was not there, he hastened below and informed his parents, who immediately searched the house, but in vain The family then readily concluded that Fostina had returned holy, Mr Aubrey, accoe, but when they arrived no traces could be seen of the lost one They then hastened to the Mountain, closely exa every place for concealment, but Fostina could not be found Rineldo then walked to the side of the Mountain, and glancing into the waters below, beheld a shawl belonging to his cousin, floating upon the surface He instantly gave the alarm to his father, who immediately rushed to the spot, where he discovered that the fears of his son were but too true

With all the horrors of an upbraiding conscience, the father and son now returned to the cottage Rineldo, with grief and terror filling his distractedthat by his treacherous plans, he had caused the unti to destroy the happiness of another, he had committed deeds of the darkest hue, and must now live a miserable existence for his awful criuilty conscience; reination the foreance upon thevoice of Lewis Mortimer and her brothers seemed borne to hin land, calling on Heaven to avenge the wrongs of their beloved Fostina

CHAPTER VII

_Fostina pursues her way through an unknown Country--She stops at the Village Inn--Conversation between the Landlord and Coachain appears in the Dress of a Female--Her Departure_

Let us now turn to the beautifulafter her escape, pursuing her lonely way through the dis dawned, and all Nature see merrily in the forest, as if to cheer the lonely traveller, as now many miles distant fro in the forest, froers which surrounded her, Fostina hastened on her way, soh a strange and unknown country

The day was fast drawing to a close, the sun had sunk beneath the western horizon, the shadows of evening began to appear, and Fostina, weary and fatigued, had now entered a se With hurried steps she continued her way, until she arrived at the inn Here she entered, and calling for a private apartment, was soon conducted by the landlord into a neatly furnished roo of some little refresh a heavy purse from her valise, which she had taken on her departure froe portion of the contents in the hands of the servant, saying she should depart at an early hour the nextherself safe beyond the reach of her enemies, she threw herself upon the couch to rest Soon after, her attention was arrested by the heavy trae approach the door of the inn The bell i, and the servant announced the arrival of the stage, and then for a while, all was again silent

Fostina now sank into a profound slumber, from which she was suddenly awakened by the sound of voices in an adjoining room Curiosity induced her to listen, and she discovered that the landlord and coachathered the following

The driver infore of S---- that evening, he was told that a ;--that a young lady, residing at the cottage in the Glen, had been drowned in the waters below the Mountain, either intentionally, or by a fall from the precipice It was also reported that the friends of the unfortunate fee to California, and a short tience of their sudden death This was soon followed by a long illness, which left the sufferer a victirief, on hearing this sad co that the impression was left upon the minds of her uncle's fa still ain fell asleep No other sound disturbed the fair sleeper during the night; and at an early hour, the following reatly refreshed

She hastily arose, and taking her apparel froain arrayed herself in fe a servant, she left the apartment, and entered the street, where she ie, which rolled rapidly away from the inn

CHAPTER VIII

_Fostina continues on her Journey--She arrives at a distant Country Village--A Walk in the Forest--Visit to the Castle--Mistaken Friends--A Mystery--Strange Discovery--Mysteries Revealed--The Result_