The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-02-22

strange that should start when my eve
fell upon the name that was inscribed
in quaint letters inside the ring-..Bar-
bara."
1 sat and unused upon the whole adj
venture; what the crone had told me-
the graveyard, the ring and (this was
returned to me the oftenest) the thrill
ing touch of the soft hand in the dark
ness.
Perhaps should say right here that
I called myself an old bachelor, and
had never been in. love-that is, with
any mortal. did not think that
was devoid of sentiment or feeling, for
l often dreamed of love, and wor-
shipped beautiful things of my own
fancy. but my life had been thrown
among boys and men, and woman was
far away and mystery. A motherless
home, a stern father, a hard working
students life at college, a stranger
struggling for bread and reputation in
a great city-one can perceive how it
could be that had made few acquaint-
ances among women. In reality / was
only twenty-five. but much experience
and busy life had made me feel older;
SO. as said, called myself a bachelor.
/ have given this brief history of my
SELL in order to prepare the way for
another confession. l WAS falling in
love with the owner of that soft, warm
hand. 1t is preposterous, but it is true.
l began to doubt my reason. In vain !
tried to remember that Barbara, the
witch, was an old, ugly woman. The
only picture could call up was that Of
a beautiful young girl Without words
fail me; only she was far from CHASTITY.
but was as warm and substantial and
full of lie as that hand had seemed to
be.
The fre-irons fell with an unearthly
clatter and started me out of my
dreams. Invent to bed to soothe my
nerves with sleep. and lay awake most
of the night with the lamps burning.
Fortune smiled upon me from that
night. Two years of busy city life had
passed, and old Barbara's talisman was
still unreclaimed. when one day-do
you believe in love at first sight? Well,
if the first appearance Of Walter
Wyman's sister had not conquered me
as she stood under the parlor lamps, a
revelation of beauty and youth, the
touch of her hand when she welcomed
her brothers friend would have en-
shaved me forever. Never had touch
so thrilled me s!nce-since held the
witch's hand in the graveyard. The
same peculiar shock passed through
me. and the memory Of that spectral
night came over me like flash.
But did not start out to tell love
story. Let me briefly say that fell in
love, hopelessly and ridiculously in
love, and that l acted just like all
lovers have done since the world began.
1t doesn't matter much about a mans
age. At twenty-seven he will conduct
himself pretty much as he would have
done at seventeen, and so wrote verses
and sighed. ana tormented myself with
a thousand hopes and fears, and grew
hot and cold by turns. and wonderfully
timid, and prided myself upon conceal
ing it all, when, rs q matter of fact, the
state of my feelings was perfectly ap-
parent to all my acquaintances.
Matters were in this interesting state,
when one day an opportunity occurred
of which availed myself with degree
of skill and presence of mind that am
proud of to this day. 1t all came about
through my asking the young lady if
she believed in ghosts.
81 suppose should. said she, laugh
ing, considering my experience. !"
Leave q woman alone tc make an
evasive answer. OF course. l implored
an explanation and she related to me
the following story:
cit was about two years ago when q
party of girls, just home from school,
were visiting friend down in the
country. One of the girls had heard
foolish old story about witch's grave,
and some nonsense abost her annual
and talisman, and when
l expressed my incredulity, they braved
me to put it to the test. What is the
The place? A little town
called Adlingtune.
"Foolishly accepted their challenge
and received terrible fright. 1 car.
ried out the instructions and stretched
my arm over the grave. 1t was so dark
l could see nothing. but some one
seized my hand. 1 was so benuinbed
with fear that could not cry out. but
could only fly through the lonely grave
ward to where my trembling compan-
ions were awaiting me in the field. II
was foolish adventure, for l fell i'll,
and it cost me valuable ring. which
was left to me by poor Aunt Barbara.
For her little name sake, she said Wien
she sent it across the sea 10 me. You
see, the ring was little large for my
finger and was pulled off by-by-"
"By me-" interrupted, taking the
lost ring from my pocket.
1t was time for Barbara q forgot to say
that her was name). to be startled now.
l hope may say that came out strong
on that occasion. told my story in .
very impressive way, fingered over the
effect of the witch hand on my heart,
spoke of the good fortune the talisman
had brought me. made a very pretty al.
fusion to Barbara the witch reclaimine
her own-for she was not witch. after
all. as could testify. having felt hel
charms-and finally not only offered tc
return the ring bat to give myself into
the bargain.
She took both. Francisco Argo-
nGut.