_Discovery of the Plot--Escape from the Castle--Lewis Mortimer and
Fostina return to the Village--They meet the two Brothers--Conclusion._
Reader, behold now the plot of Rineldo Aubrey, who vainly sought to win
the love of the beautiful Fostina, and finding that he had a successful
rival, endeavored by his subtle plans to destroy his happiness. To
execute his designs more fully to his purpose, he had intercepted the
letters belonging to his cousin, from which he learned that Lewis
Mortimer had been unfortunately taken ill on his passage to California,
and concluded to return to his native village as soon as he recovered.
After receiving this intelligence, he hastened on his journey to the
place where Lewis was then confined by sickness, thinking an
opportunity had now offered itself for him to secure his victim, until
he had accomplished his purpose.
Having arrived at the village, where, as it had been stated in the
letter, Lewis had been left by his friends, he called on the attending
physician, and offered him a large amount of money to detain him a
certain length of time; and in order to do this, he must be conveyed to
some place of confinement.
The physician agreed to the proposal, and gave orders to have his
patient removed to the castle, as it was retired from the village, and
he thought he would be more likely to recover.
Rineldo, in the mean time, wishing to leave the impression upon the
minds of his friends that Lewis was dead, accordingly had his death
inserted in the public prints, which soon conveyed the sad intelligence
to Fostina, the result of which has already been made known to the
reader.
[Illustration: _Their escape to the Village._]
After a mutual explanation had taken place between Fostina and Lewis at
the castle, they soon contrived plans to effect their escape, and
wishing to make their way through the dense forest which surrounded
them as soon as possible, they directed their steps to a stream that
bent its course along the forest side. Fortunately, they espied two men
seated upon the opposite bank engaged in fishing. Lewis, on seeing
them, instantly gave the signal for them to cross the water in the boat
that lay anchored near them. They cheerfully obeyed his call, and in a
few moments Fostina and Lewis were safely landed upon the opposite
shore. They then immediately took their way to the village inn, where,
on the following morning, they entered the coach and started for their
native village, Lewis being determined to seek out his enemies, and
take possession of the cottage.
In a few weeks, they arrived at the village of S----, where, to their
inexpressible joy, they learned that the brothers had returned home
soon after the sudden disappearance of their sister, who, as it had
been reported by Mr. Aubrey, had fallen from the precipice in a fit of
insanity, and been drowned.
With hearts overflowing with joy, Fostina and Lewis now hastened to the
cottage, where they met the long absent and beloved brothers, who,
after hearing from their sister the recital of her sufferings and
adventures, returned their grateful thanks to Heaven for the
deliverance of their friends.
They now informed Lewis that, soon after leaving him at the village,
they fell victims to the same disease, and fearing that to continue
their voyage would be a sacrifice of life, they gave up the pursuit of
that which they must lose so much to obtain, and with happy hearts and
contented minds they resolved to return to their Mountain home, where
they fondly anticipated the pleasure of meeting with their friends, in
health and safety.
Fostina then learned from her brothers, that on their arrival at the
cottage, Mr. Aubrey had returned to his native country.
A few weeks after the lovers had returned to the village, Lewis was
restored to his former health, and Fostina having escaped from so many
dangers, now fulfilled her faithful promise to Lewis Mortimer, who was
indebted for his life and present happiness to the beautiful maiden in
the Mountain Glen.