Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-11-29
qNOrtester Daily Spp.
THE WHITE CAT.

Atut ilSllJ GdlS dt3U lCIt liEGU III q me OH
village OF western New York, a handsome
young farmer whom we shall call Tom Ash
ton, who Inherited from his father many an
acre of available land, arabic, pasluraee and
woodland. The success of all his projects.
the thrift and industry of the young man,
we're themes Of wonder Of his less enterprising
or less fortunate neighbours. The old gossips
OF the vicinity were for a long time at loss to
discover some fault in bin at length they
began to wonder why he did not marry. His
aversion to the fair sex was very strange very
singular, very suspicious. A family consisting
OF seven old maids, all appeared one Sunday
IN new caps, 10 make Il dead set at him, al.
though the parsons daughter made a faint on
purpose to be carried out of the meeting by
young Ashland, he never offered her the least
assistance.
AT ienght great discovery was made it
was found he was cOurting Fanny lieathcute
the prettiest but poorest girl in the parish OF
course the whole town was in an upruar
scandalous stories were circulated about the
young lady, and it was openly asserted that
her mother, who was bed-ridden for fifteen
years, died OF ntirnity, and was buried very
privately, was a witch and II was moreover
added (but this was whispered cautiously that
she had bequeathed some OF the secrets OF her
art to her daughter Il legacy. And indeed
any one who looked upon the black sparkling
YVES Ni RAINY Vi iCi tOSN ups, must nave
confessed there wtchtry there, the
strangcst ia the world. 1t was quite wonder
tu to observe what Il sudden turn in the ailairs
of Ashland was taken hy ali those worthy
fathers us The village no nd marriageable
daughters.
They would take hul bg lie button when
they mel him in the street. ask very affection
ately after his heat invite him to dinner or
supper according to Hp time OF day, and CON
cludetl by thror.ng auf very dark hints about
the danger Of flrmlig Laa,y connections. The
parson, whose daughter 'e3ts on the verge OF
ancient madenhou,!, eek il his duty to his
dear young friend, 10 advise him to break OFT
Immediately with Miss Fanny Heathcole. But
the obdurale young man seemed to cling
closer to his mistress the more Der reputation
was asSailed Inc waited upon her to meeting,
and to singing school, aud even danced with
her at the annual assembly bail. All this was
a matter OF triumph to Fanny aud an old crone
OF al aunt, who dwelt IN the little cottage,
which WAS the Sole ltaining property at the
family Of ltpaiHG5ls. lne pretty y9uug maid
en-, proud oi her c9HQuest, waNpu capriciOus
and ooquttish like an angler who has hook
ed fine treut, she found sport in playing him
with the He before she brought him to the
bank.
Ashland's ardent temper i-brooked this
treatment he btuunG moody, jealous and dis
this mood he was again assailed by his adyis
ers, and finding the conduct of his mistress
grew daily mUtr aad more provoking, he told
her THAI their engagement was at an eud-that
he would never marry her Fanny was thuu-
derstruck; she wept, promised and pleaded,
while ,he Old aunt scoided ana threatened. All
was vain Ashland had decided, and he abcl,
by his decision
After this he entirely avoided female socjg-
livoJ srplD,lal n his lie Suuultf
no companionship, and to visitors with "A rude
ness bordering on ierOcty. One day rs lie sat
"a diHiieri the door swung open oil;stf and a
bpautltul White Cal entered the ROOM approach
ed Ashland, purrng and seeking 81 agt-
ions TO win his eaTesses but the rgde farmer
spurned her nom him lth is foot She was
not howe yer, 10 beiepuslG 5ut aoianucd 10
solicit his attention. From that tite forward
the cat never lett the presence ot Ashland, but
followed him everywhere, to the field, to ri e,
to the stable, to the dining room. This singu
lar conduct OF the animal attracted the alien
ton first Of the female dOuuestiCs and then the
" hole village, so that in a short time nothing
else was talked abolt. 1t was the universal
opinion that she was a WITCH and many hint
ed that ii was Fanny IeatIcole, %ho had
taken that shape to prosecute her failhlrss
lover. Ashland, however, was warned against
using violence, because it was predicted that
iIl-lnck would follow him in case he should
permit his passion to get the better OF his
prudence. Tom, We have seen, was 4 fellow
who liked little advice, and the conduct Of the
white cat at length became SO insupportable,
that one Friday ne resolved to shoot her.
As he took down his gun for that purpose,
the cal m0aned so piteousiy, and looked up in
his face with so humane an eXpTessiun that
he halt relented. Hang yer said Tom,
menaeing her with his foot, 'begonc or stay
here and have charge of buckshot in your
COMPOUNDED stupid head, ye imp OF Satan!'
The cat stepped toward the door, then return
ed and lay down on the hearth rug, al full
length. Tom eveIlpd his piece and Ii sed, "a
piercing shrek rang through the room, and
the animal rolled ON the floor in mortal agony.
At that instant the clock struck twelve. Not
long after the door burst open, and in rushed
the old aunt Of Fanny Hcathcute, GREATNESS
with exerton, and exclaimiug-"Y You've killed
her, you foul thiefl My pretty Fanny is
breathing her last"
Tom Ashland waited for no more bare
headed he flew from the house, and took the
well known path to Fauny's cottage. He
flew to her bedside, and found her writing in
agony, with the blood streaming fom several
wounds in her head. The paliur and convu-
sions of death were already upon her, hut she
took the hand Of Ashland, Forgive and for
get as | do let me have a christian burial,
aud she expired. Her last wishes were at
tended to- but, to secure her person in the
grave, she was laid with her face downward,
aud horseshoe nailed upon the cofiin-lid
Ashland survived her but Il few months, dur
ing which he moped about his house, rarely
taking food, and necessarily muttering strange
phrases to himself He was buried by the side
of Fanny, and plain slab Of stone, without
any inscription, marks the place OF their re-
pose.