stantly 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
distracted mind, hastily retired to his room, feeling that by his
treacherous plans, he had caused the untimely death of his cousin. He
felt that in seeking to destroy the happiness of another, he had
committed deeds of the darkest hue, and must now live a miserable
existence for his awful crimes.

Mr. Aubrey, too, felt the reproval of a guilty conscience; remorse took
possession of his breast, and he beheld in his imagination the form of
his departed sister standing before him, threatening vengeance upon the
murderers of her child. And the agonizing voice of Lewis Mortimer and
her brothers seemed borne to him in every breeze across the ocean, from
a foreign 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 Coachman--Fostina
again appears in the Dress of a Female--Her Departure._

Let us now turn to the beautiful maiden of the Mountain Glen, whom we
left on the morning after her escape, pursuing her lonely way through
the dismal forest.

Morning dawned, and all Nature seemed animated with its approach; the
birds sang merrily in the forest, as if to cheer the lonely traveller,
who was now many miles distant from her Mountain home. She soon reached
an opening in the forest, from which she saw an extensive plain. Urged
on by the dangers which surrounded her, Fostina hastened on her way,
sometimes wandering along the forest, then again through 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 small but thickly settled
village. 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 room.

After partaking of some little refreshment, Fostina summoned the
servant, and taking a heavy purse from her valise, which she had taken
on her departure from the cottage, she placed a large portion of the
conte