The Osceola times., 1881-08-06
A CAROLINA ROMANCE.
Being shipwrecked Woman Lives as u
Harmless Until Found by Her Lover.

Being Shipwrecked Woman Lives as u
Hermitess Until Found by Her Lover.
Asheyille (N. c. Correspondence Baltimorean.
A few months ago the following state
ment appeared In the Asheville Citizen,
written by tke editor, Mr.. Robert NJ.
Furman: We have lust returned from
our annual visit to Miss Mary Burt, the
hermitess OF the mountains, ana as few
persons ever saw or even heard Of this
strange woman, short sketch, embody.
ing all that is known of her, may not be
uninteresting TO our readers. About
fifty years ago prepossessing young
woman appeared suddenly in small
mountain village, as il she had dropped
from the sky; who she was or whence
she came no one knew. To all ques-
tions she replied simply: My name is
May Burt; am a lady, and have come
here because il pleased me to do so ;
other than this concerns no one but
myself" She had no baggage beyond a
few clothes tied up in handkerchief,
but was so lady-ike IN her appearance
and department that when she applied
for work in the house of well-to-do
farmer, she was gladly received and
treated in all respects as an equal. She
assisted the farmers wife and daughters
IN the duties of the family. Ten or fif
teen years passed and the mystery of
her appearance was gradually forgotten,
and she seemed to have been one of the
family. About this time she was, after
much persuasion, induced TO take charge
of country school near by, and having
declined more than one good offer of
marriage, was looked upon as a perma-
nent institution. Suddenly, however,
her whole character seemed to change,
ard she became moody, melancholy and
fond of solitude, and after few years
teaching gave up the school, purchased
section of wild land, and had a rude
log hut erected in one of the loveliest
spots in the mountains, but so far off
from all habtation that, particularly in
winter, she often passed weeks without
intercourse with any human being. A
dog, a cat, few chickens and cow,
whose mlk supplies the place of tea or
coffee, are the only living things with
whom she at such times has any inter
course.
And now comes the solution of the
mystery, brought about by this very
sketch in the Ashevile Citizen, which,
being copied into a Vermont paper, fell
into the hands OF wealthy gentleman
of that State, who Immediately went to
Asheville, sought out the editor of the
Citizen, when the two in company pro-
ceeded TO the mountain home Of Miss
Burt. Entering the house, where she
was. as usual, alone, the stranger said !:
"Mary, do YOU know me P
81 can not say that do" she replied.
Selling her by both hands, he ex
claimed:
MARY Burt Howe, have you forgot
ten Robert Fletcher?'
81 have not" she replied, "but ] sup.
posed you were either married or dead"
The whole story was told to the eds
itor of the Citizen. Fifty years ago
Mary Burt Howe was engaged TO be mar
ried to Robert Fletcher but becoming
jealous Of his fancied attachment to an
other girl suddenly left her home in
Maine and went to Boston, determined
TO make her own living away from all who
knew her. She got a place as stewardess
on board sailing vessel bound for Liver
pool, but terrific storm drove the ship
out OF her course and wrecked her on
the coast of North Carolina. Mary was
the only woman saved, and after many
hardships landed from small boat oE
Shepherds Point, tongue of land run
ming out into Beaufort llarbor, TO which
the shipwrecked crew were guided by a
fire burning brightly. Here they found
party of trading Indians cncamped,
| who treated them with the utmost kind
ness. The men of the party remained
| but few DAYS, shipping as sailors in a
| Indies. They would have taken Mary
| on board, but she had such a horrrr Of
the sea that nothing could induce her to
trust herself again TO ITS waves, and she
remained with the Indians, who soon
broke up and started for their mountain
home, taking her along with them.
! Gradually her mind recovered from the
shock of the shipwreck, and she de-
termined to get back to civilization, but
not to return destitute to her home: so,
taking the few clothes she had managed
to save, she one night lett the Indian
camp and the next day found herfelf at
the little mountain village where she
dwelt so long. Having traced her to the
vessel on which she embarked and
heard that il had been wrecked on the
coast of North Carolina, Mr.. Fletcher
mourned her as dead, until he read the
account, taken from the Citizen, of
Mary Burt living alone in the noun
tains of that State. Being a rich man,
he Immediately started for Asheyille,
found Mr.. Furman, and, as related, his
lost love. 1t did not take long to induce
Miss Burt. or rather Howe, to return
with him to Vermont. But before mar
rying, she, at MIR. Fletcher's earnest re-
quest, executed deed of gift, by which
she transferred her beautiful mountain
glen 10 the editor Of the Asheville Cit.
zen, stipulating that he should take
care OF her faithful dog and cat as long
a they lived. and 60 every summer to
iish and hunt ia tho wilds whsss che