"Poor dear child! I didn't or'to do so, I know," said Uncle Joshua, and
Julia continued: "Then I thought how the world would loathe, and despise
and point at me, until I was almost maddened, and when Dr. Gordon said I
would live, the tempter whispered suicide; but I dared not do that. About
that time I heard rumors of a marriage which would take place as soon as I
was well; and Fanny will you forgive me? I tried to be sick as long as
possible for the sake of delaying your happiness."
A pressure of the hand was Fanny's only answer, and Julia proceeded: "I
could not see you married to him. I could not meet the world and its
censure, so I determined to go away. I had thirty dollars in my purse, of
which no one knew, and taking that I started, I knew not where. On
reaching the schoolhouse something impelled me to enter it, and I found
there a young girl about my own size. Under other circumstances I might
have been frightened, but now utterly fearless, I addressed her, and found
from her answers that she was crazy. A sudden idea entered my brain. I
would change clothes with her, and thus avoid discovery. She willingly
acceded to my proposition, and in my new attire I again started toward
Lexington, which I reached about four in the morning. I had no definite
idea as to where I wanted to go, but the sight of the Cincinnati stage
drawn up before the Phoenix determined me. I had purposely kept my own
bonnet and veil, as the maniac girl wore neither. Drawing the latter over
my face, I kept it there while securing my place in the coach, and until
we were many miles from the city. Passengers entered and left, and some
looked inquisitively at me and my slightly fantastic dress.
"We reached Cincinnati about ten in the morning, and with a long glad
breath I stepped from the coach, and felt that Kentucky and my notorious
character were behind. I stopped at the ---- Hotel, and the next two days
were spent in procuring myself a decent outfit. Each night I went to a
different house, for the sake of avoiding suspicion, and as my bills were
promptly paid, no questions were ever asked. At the D---- House I saw in a
paper an advertisement for a teacher in a school in one of the interior
towns. I had formed some such plan for the future, and instantly
determined personally to apply for the situation. I did so, but
credentials were required, and I had none to give. Somewhat weary of my
adventure I returned to Cincinnati, and in passing through one of the
streets, my eye caught the sign 'Fashionable Dressmaking and Millinery.' I
knew I had a taste for that, and I concluded to offer myself as an
apprentice."