Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1862-08-27
@nr srrp-GtIler.
THE WHITE CAT


Nor many years ago there lived in a fine
old village Of Western New York, hand
some young farmer whom we shall cal Tom
Ashland, who Inherited from his lather many
an acre Of available land arabic, pasturage and
woodland. The saccess of all his projects, the
thrjjt and Industry of the young maa, were
themes Of wonder Of bis less enterprising or
less fortunate ueighbors The old gossips Of
the vicinity were for long time at loss to
discover some fault in him; at length they
hogan 70 wonder why he did not marry. His
aversion to the fair sex was very strange, very
singular, very suspicious. A family consist
ing otseven old maids, all appeared one Sun
day in new caps to make a +" dead set at him,
and although the parsons daughter made a
faint on purposs to be carried outef the meet
ing BY young Ashland, he never offered her
the least assistance
At length a great discovery was made; it
was found he was courting Fanny Heathcote.
the prettiest but poorest girl in the parish. OF
course the whole town was IN an uproar
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 infrmity, and was buried very
privately, was witch; and it was moreover
added (but this was whispered cautiously
that she had bequeathed some of the secrets
Of her art to her daughter as legacy. And
indeed any one who looked upon the black
sparkling eyes of Fanny, or her rosy lips, must
have confessed there was a witehery there,
the strangest in the world. It was quite won
derful to observe what sudden turn in the
Affairs of Ashland was taken by all those wor-
thy fathers Of the village who had marriages.
be daughters.
They would take him by the button when
they met him in the street, ask very affection
Ately after his health, invite him to dinner or
to supper according to the time of day, and
conclude by throwing out very dark hints
about the danger Of forming hasty connec-
tions. The parson, whose daughter was on
the verge Of ancient flaidenhood, felt It his
duty to bis dear young friend" to advise him
to break of Immediately with Miss Fanny
Hestbcote. But the obdurate yoFng man
seemed to cling closer to his mistress the more
her reputation was assailed; he waited upon
hsF to meeting and to singing school, and even
danced with her at the annual assembly ball. /
An this was a matter of triumph to Fanny and I
an old erone Of an aunt, who dwelt In the lit
tie cottage which was the sole remaing pro
psrty Of the family Of Heathcote. The pretty
voting maiden proud Of her conquest wazed
caprlcious and cogiettish like an angler who .
has hooked fne trout, che found sport in
playing him with the line before she brought
him to the bank.
Ashland's ardent tcmper ill-broOked this
treatment, he became moody, jealous and dis
finally sulky and almost savage.
In this mood he was again assaled By his adj
visers, and finding the conduct of his mistress
grew daily more and more provoking, be told
her that theirengagement was at an end-that
he would never marry her. Fanny was thun-
derstruok; Sic Wept, promised and pleaded,
while the Old aunt seolded and threatened. .
All was vain Ashland had decided, and he
.bided By his decision.
After this he entirely avoided female socie-
y; and lived secluded on his farm. lie sought