Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1862-01-02
THE WHITE CAT.

Young farmer Wh0nl we shalI ca'i 1 ON ASH
land, who inherited from his father many an
acre of yalueabc land arabic, pas'uragc, and
woodland. The success OF all his projects, tho
thrift and industry Of the young man, wero
themes of wonder to his less cntcrprislng, or
less fortunate neighbors The old gossips Of
the vicinity were for long time at loss to
discover some fault in him, at length they
be- san TO wonder why he did not marry Ills
aversion to the fnr sex was very strange very
singular, and very suspicious. A family. con-
siStng Of seven old maids, all appeared one
Sunday in new caps. to make 'dead set" at
him, but he never looked towards their pew f;
and although the parsons daughter made
miut on purpose to be carried out Of the meet
ing by wong Ashland, he never offered her tho
least assistance.
At length great discovery was made; it
was found that hc,was courIing Fanny Heath
cote the pre;lest hut poorest, girl in the par
isn. Ofc1urso the whole town was in an up
roar; scandaIous stories were circulated about
the young lady, and it was openly asserted
chat Der mother. who was bed.rlddcn fifteen
wears died of inirmity, and was buried very
lriy.,cly was witch and it was moreover
added tbut this was whispered cau'iously) that
she had bcqacathod some Of the secrets OF her
art to her daughter as a legacy. And indeed
any one who looked upon the bright sparkling
eyes Of Fanny or her rosy lips, must have co'-
r5ssed that there was "a vtchery there, the
strucgcs in the world, 1t was quite wonderful
to observe what sudden interest in the affairs
Of Ashland was taken by ali those worthy 18th"
or, in the village who had marrageabIe daugl-
ira. Thy would take him by the button
when they met him iH the street. ask very alice
,ionntely after his hca.th invite him TO dinner,
or TO snp,cl, according to the time OF day, and
conclude by thro@ing out very dark hints abo,t
uhe dancer Of torming hasty connections. The
narsor, whose daughter was on the verge OF an-
cont naidcuhood, felt i, his duty to his dear
,opnr lrirul," to advise him to break eft imme-
d,,tcly with Fanny llcathcotc. Bat the obdu-
rate younr man seemed to cling closer to his
mistress the more her reputation was assa'led
he waited upon her TO meeting, and to singing
school. and even danced with her at the annual
, assembly ball. All this was matter OF irl-
un,h to Fanny, and an old crone of an amt
who Awelt in the little cottage which was tho
sole remaining property Of the family OF Heath
cote. The pretty you"g maiden. proud Oh ncr
; corolc, waXel capricious and coquetn'n
: Ike AN anclcr who has hooked fac trout, she
, found spout in playing him with the line before
Y ,hc brought hin 10 The bant'
Ashland's ardent temper ilI-IrooSed this
4 treatment, he became moody, l'alous, and dis
4 cou.oate. GAaI sulky, and /, almost savage
Q In this mood he was again assael 10y his adyl-
, SER. and, Gndn. tho conduct Of his mistress
= croyine daily moe provoking, he told her
. that ,her engagement was at an cnl-that no
. should never marry her. Fanny was thunder
y struck ,hc wcpt, promised and pleaded wh!ie
4 the Old aunt sco.ded and threatened. All waa
. in vain; Ashland had decided, and he was aol-
IS del by this decision.
" After this he entirely avoided female society,
=. nd lived secluded on his farm. He sought no
v c,upauionShp aud to visitors, who forced
i thcn. .olycs npon h m, he behaved with rude
j los, bordering on icrociy. One day as he sat
Il at dinner the door swung open OF itself, and a
!. beautiful! white cat entered the room She ap'
r. proacled Ashland, purring and seeking by her
,c,iors tn win his currcssos but the rude far
10 mcr anu,ned her from him with his foot. She
q wu, not however to be rcpulsed. but continued
y to solicit his attention. From that time forward
.. the c,t never left the presence Of Ashland but
70 followed him everywhere, t, the field, to ride
4 ,h. Stable to the dining-room This singular
r.. cop,!uct of the annual attracted the attention
Gr., or the female domcst,cs and the laborcrs on
4. the farm. and then Of the whole village, SO that
a in IL short time nothing else was talked about.
Il was the universal opinion that she was u
ct witch, and many hjntcd that 1t was Fanny
oI !Ieatheotc, who bad taken that shape to rersc'
" cute her fa,hlc-s lover. Ashland, hcWevc.
- WAS wurncd against using violence, because it
I'd vas predicted tha. i'll luck would follow hun II
lc case lie should permit his passion to get the
t. better Of his prudence. Tom we have seen
lc was fellow who liked not advice, and the con-
H. ducr Of the white cat at cngh became so IN
al suppoytab,c that onc Friday he resolved to
" s,,oat her.
re As he tcck down his gun for that purpose the
d. cat no ned 50 pitcou,Iy, and looked up In hi
face with so humane expression, that h'
half rolenlcd Hang {" said Ten, menac
h ing her with his foot "begonc! or stay her
and have n charge Of huckshot in your contoun
~ dSd stubborn head ye nap Of Satan 1.-The ca
III stepped towards The door, then returned, an'
laid down on the hearth rug at full length
cr Tom lcvcel his piece and fred, a piorcn!
ISt shrek rang through the room and the ANNA
as rolled on the floor in mortal agony. Attha' III
I'd slant the clock stuck twelve, Not long after
I'M the door burst open, and in rushed the Old aun
id OF Fanny EIeathcote, breathess with exertloa
r. and ,xciAiming, you've killed her you fou
Ell. thief my petty Fanny is breathing her last
no Tom Ashland waited for no more; bare
We headed he flow from his house, and took the We
no. known path 10 Nnny's cottage. lie few
ot- her bed side anl found her wrlthmg in agoHy
Inc with blood streaming from several wounds IN he
nd head. The pNIlor and conrU'slons OF deaf
cir were already upon her. but ehe took the han
.rd Of Ashland aud said "Forgi,e aud Forget, as
-, do. but let me have a Christian burial" an
r y expired. lley last wishes were attended tc
M but TO secure her person in the grave, she VT
red laid with her face downward, and Il horsa.shc
en- nailed upon the c.tIn lid. Ashland survive
her her but tcw months, during which time !
IT, mopcl about his hou.c, rarely taking food an