Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-23

was cOquette OF the most unScrupu ouS sort
that she was pasSonately fond Of the -admira
ton of the other sex, and was determined to
exact the tribute due her charms even from
the sons of the wilderness. She flirted des
perately with one after another, contriying 10
impress each with the idea that he was the
happy individual especially favored by her
smiles. Her manners and conversation show
ed less and less regard for the opinion of 9th
erS, or the rules of propriety The effect of
such a course of conduct in a community so
simple and old-fasbioned in their customs, so
utterly unused 10 any such broad defiance of
censnre may be more easily imagined than de-
Scribed How the men were flattcred and in
tOxcated in their admiration for the beautiful
siren, and their lessons in an art so new to
them as gallantry; how the women were
amaz:d ont OF their proPrety, can be conceiV-
ed without the aid of philosophy.
Things We're bad enough as they were but
when the time came for Mr.. Wiuton TO depart
and take his place in the Assembly, the change
was for the worse. His handsome wife was
left, with her only son, in Ea>ton for the win
ter Her behavior was now more scandalouS
than ever, aud soon total avoidance of her
by every other female in the place attested
their Indignation The coquette evidently
held them in great scOrn, while she continued
10 receive, ia a still more marked and offensive
manner, the attentions of the husbands, whom.
she boaSted. she had taught they had hearts
under their IinScy, wooIsey coats. Long walks
and rides through the woods, attended always
hy some one who had owned the power of her
beauty, set public opinon wholly at defiance :;
and the company at her freSiGe, evening after
evening was vel known 10 be not such as be-
come a wife and mother.
Should this history Of plain, unvarniShed
fact chance TO meet the eye of any fair triher,
who has been tempted TO invite or welcome
such homage, let her pause and remember that
the wrath OF the injured wives of ElSton was
but such as nature must rouse in the bosom Of
tie virtuouS in all ages and countries and
that tragedies as deep as that to WHICH it led
have grown from the like cause, and they still
do at ANY period of civilization.
Tie winter months passed and spring came
to set loose the streams and hll the woods with
tender bloom and verdure But the anger of
the Justly irritated danes of EaSton had gath
cred strength with time Scarce one among
the most conspicuous of the neighborhood but
had particular reason TO hate their cOmmpa
cucmv for the algenaled affection and mUuop-
OliZ d time of her husband so faithful TO his
duties before this fatal enchantmeHt Com.
plants were made by Que to another, aud
strange stories told, which, Of course, lost
nothing in their circulation from mouth to
mouth What wonder was it that the myStc.
r.ouS influence exercised by the strange woman
should be attributed to witchcratt? What
wonder that she should be judged to hold ia
terrourse with evil spirits, and to receive by
them the power by which she subdUed men to
her sway?
Late in the afternoon Of q beautiful dav, in
the early part of June, two or three OF the
matrouS of the village stationed themselves
near the wood by which stoud the house Of
Mrs Wiutou Not far from this was a small
pond, where the boys amused themselves IL
fishing. CT bathing during the heats Of sum
mer The spot once occupied by this little
body of water is now the central portion of
the town. and covered with neat buildings of
brick aud stone
The women lad come forth TO watch nor
was their vigilance long unrewarded They
saw Mrs Wiuron, accompanied by one of her
gallautS, dressed with care that showed his
anxiety TO please. walking along the borders
Of the wood The sun had set, aud the gray
shadows Of the twilight we're creeping over the
landscape vet It was evidently not her iuten-
tiou to return home As il grew darker the
two entered the wood, the female taking the
arm Of her companion, and presently both dis.
appeared
There he goes ~ exclaimed one Of the wo-
men. who watched with fierce anger in her
looks for i was her husband she had seen
." knew it | knew be spent every evening
with her r.
"ShalI we follow them, asked one of the
others.
No let US go home quick = was the an
swer.
Such a scene as tha: night witseSsed was
never before enacted in that quiet village. At
a late hour there was meeting of many Of
The matrOuS in the house OF one of their num-
ber The curtains We're closely drawn the
light was 50 dim that the faces Of those who
whispered together cond scarcely be discern
ed There was something fearful in the as
semblagp at such On unSOuted time, Of those
orderly housewives, so uHaccuStOmed ever 10
leave their homes after dusk The circum-
stance OF their meeting alone betOkeGed some
thing uncommon in agitation still more did
the silence, huShed and breathleSS at intervals
the eager but suppressed whispering. The
rapid gestures. the general sir of determine
tion mingled with canton. Ii struck mid
night, they made signs, one to another, and
the light vas extingHiShed.
Ii was perhaps eu hour or more after, when
the same band of women left the house and
took Their way in profound silence. along the
road leading out o: The village. b. rOund-
about course. skirting the small body of water
above mentioned, they came to the border Of
the wood Just then the waning moon rose
above the forest tops. shedding faint light
over hill and stream IL could thea be seen
that the females all wore 9 kind of mask of
black stuf Their course vas directed to-