as prepared for our flight that night, and asking me to
be in readiness. I was terrified. I could not understand why he wished
me to fly with him if everything was as it should be, as my father and
brother would not have objected to any proper suitor for my hand on whom
I had bestowed my heart. For the first time I was suspicious of Tonio,
and I resolved to pay no attention to his letter. On the morrow I would
see him and tell him to speak to my father and brother. Alas! that
opportunity was not given me. Oh! that horrible, horrible night!"

She covered her face with her hands and shuddered. When she looked up
she was ghastly pale, and her voice quivered as she resumed:

"That dreadful night, as I lay upon my bed, wrapped in slumber, I was
suddenly aroused by hearing some one in my chamber. It was very dark and
I could not see the intruder. I started up in terror, but a hand was
placed firmly over my mouth. I was torn from my bed and borne in a man's
arms from the cabin. I struggled to release myself, but in vain. My
abductor appeared to possess the strength of a giant. There was no moon,
but in the dim starlight I could see that the man was masked. He
hastened with me into the neighboring forest. There he accidentally
struck his right arm against the trunk of a tree and his hand dropped
from my mouth. Instantly I uttered a loud, piercing cry, but the hand
went back to its place again almost immediately, and I was unable to
give vent to another sound. My cry, however, had been heard by my
brother, who hastened to my assistance. He overtook my abductor in the
forest, and, though unarmed, at once attacked him. The man dropped me
and turned upon my brother. A fierce struggle ensued, during which the
mask was struck from my abductor's face and, to my horror, I thought I
recognized Tonio. Suddenly there was a report of a pistol. I had watched
the conflict, unable to move. I saw my brother stagger; blood was
gushing from him. I could endure no more; I fell to the ground in a
swoon.

"When I recovered my senses, I was in a strange hut. Savage looking men,
whom I took to be bandits, were guarding me. How long I remained in the
hut I do not know, but it must have been several days. At times a
masked man came to me, telling me that he was Tonio and pressing his
suit upon me. I refused to listen to him, upbraiding him for tearing me
from my home and wounding my brother. I told him his conduct was not
that of a lover, but of a vi