before a large house, and rang the bell.  Mr. Williams came to the door, and asked what was wanted.  The watchman gave him the letter.  He read it, and invited me to stop.  His wife got up, received me very kindly, and gave me some supper, for which I was truly grateful.  Nor was I less thankful for the delicate consideration with which they avoided any allusion to my convent life, or my subsequent flight and suffering.  Mrs. Williams saw that I was sad and weary, and as she conducted me to a comfortable bed, she remarked, “You are safe at last, and I am glad of it.  You can now retire without the apprehension of danger, and sleep in perfect security.  You are with friends who will protect you as long as you choose to remain with us.”

Notwithstanding the good lady’s assurance of safety, I found it impossible to close my eyes.  I was among strangers, in a strange place, and, having been so often deceived, might I not be again?  Perhaps, after all their pretended kindness, they were plotting to betray me.  A few days, however, convinced me that I had at last found real friends, who would protect me in the hour of danger to the utmost of their ability.

I remained here some four weeks, and should have remained longer, but an incident transpired that awakened all my fears, and again sent me forth into the wide world, a fugitive, and a wanderer.  I went to my chamber one night, when I heard a sound like the full, heavy respiration of a man in deep sleep.  The sound appeared to come from under the bed, but stopped as I entered the room.  I was very much alarmed, but I controlled my feelings, and instead of running shrieking from the room, I deliberately closed the blinds, shut the windows, adjusted the curtain, all the time carelessly humming a tune, and taking up my lamp I slowly left the room.  Once outside the door, I ran in all haste to Mr. Williams, and told him what I had heard.  He laughed at me, said it was all imagination, but, to quiet my fears, he went to my room resolved to convince me that no one was there.  I followed, and stood at the door while he lifted the bed valance, when a large, tall man sprang forth, and caught him with one hand while with the other he drew a pistol from beneath his coat saying, “Let me go, and I’ll depart in peace; but attempt to detain me, and I’ll blow your brains out.”  I shrieked, and Mrs. Williams came in great terror and consternation, to see what was the matter.  But she could render no assistance, and Mr. Williams, being unarmed, was obliged to let him go.  The watch were immediately called, and they sought for the intruder in every direction.  No effort was spared to find him, that we might, at least, learn the object of this untimely visit.  But the search was all in vain.  No trace of his whereabouts could be discovered.