Fostina Woodman, the Wonderful Adventurer | Page 9

and hastily
summoning a servant, assisted in bearing the apparently lifeless form of
his cousin to her apartment.
Mr. Aubrey immediately brought restoratives, but there was little hope
of again rousing the consciousness of the unfortunate sufferer.
Towards evening he called in a physician, who, on seeing the patient,
expressed his fears, which greatly alarmed the family. He remained
several hours anxiously watching over his patient, who now seemed to
be in a state of delirium, occasionally starting as if from a sudden fright,
and calling for Lewis Mortimer.
The physician, on being informed of the cause of her sudden illness,
expressed his belief that her strength had been greatly reduced by
trouble and anxiety of mind, together with the sudden shock she had

received, and her recovery was doubtful.
Rineldo, on hearing this, seemed greatly alarmed, and with unceasing
attention continued to watch over his cousin. She had remained
delirious during the night, and towards morning the physician took his
leave. On the following day she appeared more calm, and apparently
sunk into a quiet slumber; at the close of the afternoon she suddenly
started, and gazing wildly around, seemed conscious of her unhappy
situation. She lay a few moments as if to convince herself of its reality,
and then buried her face in her hands, weeping bitter tears of agony.
Her cousin attempted to soothe her grief, but she motioned him from
the apartment. Soon after the physician entered, and expressed his joy
on seeing his patient recovering.
For several days she lay without making any allusion to the death of
Lewis, and bore her grief in silence; it seemed now as if the last ray of
hope was extinguished, and she well knew that Rineldo would take
advantage of her lonely situation to renew his former addresses.
Several weeks had passed away since Fostina had received the sad
news of Lewis Mortimer's death, and she had now so far recovered her
health as to sit by the window of her lonely apartment. One morning, as
she was seated near the door, gazing at the beautiful scenery which
surrounded the cottage, she beheld the stranger who now occupied her
uncle's residence in the village, conversing with Mr. Aubrey. He soon
after entered the cottage, and when he beheld the great change in
Fostina's countenance, he seemed greatly surprised, and expressed his
grief on seeing her look so ill. Soon after he departed, her cousin
entered, and taking the hand of Fostina, pressed it to his bosom, at the
same time, seating himself near her, again declared his unchangeable
love, and offered her his hand. She told him that if Lewis Mortimer was
dead, none other should ever possess her love, and she should regard
him with no other feeling than friendship. Rineldo, seeing her
determination, arose and departed, leaving his cousin alone in her
apartment.
[Illustration]

The next morning, Fostina prepared herself, for the first time since her
illness, to visit once more the burial place of her friends. With feeble
steps she passed slowly on, until she arrived at the spot, where she
seated herself beneath the shade of the willows which waved in the
morning breeze, sighing mournfully as they swept by the sorrowful
maiden, who was now seated by the tomb, where slept the loved and
cherished ones. Here she remained for some time, as if holding
communion with the spirits of the departed and revealing to them her
sad fate. She summoned all her courage and fortitude to meet whatever
awaited her in the future, and then with an effort she rose from her seat
and returned to the cottage.
CHAPTER V.
Fostina goes to the Village--Deception Unmasked--The Mystery
Revealed--Fostina makes her Escape.
One lovely morning, a carriage drove up to the door of the cottage in
the Mountain Glen. The coachman alighted, and hastily approaching
the door, rang the bell, which was answered by Mr. Aubrey. He
informed him that he had been ordered there with a carriage by the
physician to take a young lady to the village, at the same time taking a
note from his pocket and inquiring for Miss Woodman. Fostina had
been seated near the window of her room, while this conversation took
place, and on hearing the inquiry of the coachman, immediately made
her appearance at the door, and received the note from the stranger.
She hastened to her room and perused the contents, which she found to
be an invitation extended to her by the friend of her uncle, requesting
her to come and spend a few weeks at his residence in the village.
Fostina with pleasure accepted the invitation of her friend, thinking that
for a short time, at least, she should be relieved from the annoyances of
her uncle's family. She, therefore, without hesitation, prepared herself,