The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-10-13
TWO MAIDEss, ROMANCE,
Feast of Sweetmeats and then Doses Of
Morphine.
Death the Climax Of a Curious VILLAGE
Love Story.
A Pair of Young Girls with Heads
Turned by Religion and no
vel Reading,

Last Sunday afternoon Nettie Bar
rett, who had died by her own hands,
was buried in the little graveyard
just back Of the Methodist Church
lin Belchertown, Massachusetts, at
almost the same hour which had
been appointed a few days before for
her baptism. The mourners around
her grave remembered her only as
they had SO recently known her
Joyous, brilliant, handsome and young
so young that the old sexton who
tolled her years hcsitated between
the fifteenth and the sixteenth
strokes Of the bell, uncertain which
most accurately marked her age.
She was the only child of a widowed
mother, with whom she had lived
upon farm in South Amherst, six
miles from Belchertown, until last
April, when she was sent to Belcher-
town to attend the grammar school.
Her guardian Squire Dickinson,
found her boarding place with Mrs.
Packard, close by his own house, and
provided literally all that she needed
for her happiness, and she was so
contented that when vacation came
she chose to remain among her new
friends rather than return to her
mothers quiet farm house. Hef
spirits made her one of the most at
tractive girls in the village, and she
with one or two Of her companions
ruled the young men Of the sur
rounding country right royalty. On
Thursday night Nettie was very late
in coming to tea, and when she eli
tered the house her eyes were red
with weeping.
"Why, Nettie,'' exclaimed Mrs.
Packard, "you are very late, but your
supper is all ready for you; conc
and eat it,
q don't care for any," replied the
girl. "My guardian has been seold-
ing me for being ont evenings, and
he says that people talk about it.
That's all the supper l want, and
promise you that he will have nc
more chances to lecture me, and you
will be troubled no more by my
actions" "a.
Il am very glad, Nettie, to heal
you speak so firmly said Mrs. Pack.
ard kindly, ''and your resolutions
ARE good, if you will only KEEP
them"
/ A little later Nettie asked for a
light, that she might go to her room
to write to her mother, and at half
past s the doors and windows were
all locked, and the house was darl
except where the light shone in thu
young girls room. Early the mex
morning. Mrs. Owens, a. neighbor
came with much anxiety to inquire
whether Frances Bridgman had spen
the night with Nettie. Frances i:
the adopted daughter Of Belcher
towns wealthiest citizen, and while
her parents were at the sea-shor,
| lived for several weeks in Mrs.. Owens
family. She had been very intimate
with Nettie, and was, therefore, sup
posed to be with when missed from
home.
!. Mrs. Packard told Mrs. Owens
that Nettie had gone alone to he
room very early the night before, ant
that it was not possible that Francs
was with her. However, she fnall,
went up stairs to look. She opene,
the door of Nettie's room and wa
met by strange sight. Nettie wa
lying in bed asleep, but apparent,
in great pain, and Frances was b,
her side, very, very sick. The be-
and floor was strewn with candies
and nuts, and apples, and on the cen
tire table was little pile of letters
In reply to Mrs. Packard's excite(
questioning, Frances said that the,
had eaten candy which had KEEP
them awake all night: that Netti
was just getting better and was tax
ing a nap, while she herself was feel
, ing wretchaaly. All she asked fol
though, Was to be let alone. Mrs
Packard went away. and in an hou
! after returned to the sufferers, to fin
: their. condition scarcely changed
Frances asked for salt and water an
drank eagerly, but when a glass wa
prepared for Nettie she cried out
.No, do not waken Nettie. She ha
now fallen asleep, and will soon b
well.''