Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-06-09

and had never been in love with any
mortal. | did not think that / was
devoid of sentiment or feeling, for /
often dreamed of love, and worshiped
beautiful things of my own fancy,
but my life had been thrown among
boys and men, and women were far |
away and mystery. A motherless
home, a stern father, hard working
students life at college, q stranger
struggling for bread and reputation
in great city-one can perceive how
it could be that had made so few
acquaintance among women. In
reality | was only twenty-five, but
much experience and busy life made
me feel older; so, as | said, | called
myself a bachelor.
/ have given this brief history of
myself in order to prepare the way
for another confession. / was falling
in love with the owner of that soft,
warm hand.
1t is preposterous, but it is true.
began to doubt my reason. In vain
| tried to remember that Barbara, the
witch, was an old, ugly woman. The
only picture I could call up was that
of a beautiful young girl Without
words fail me only she was far from
ghostly, but was as warm and sub
stantial and full of life as that hand
had seemed to be-
The fre-irons fell with an unearth-
! ly clatter and startled me out of my
dreams | went 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 life had
passed, and old Barbara's talisman
was still unclaimed, when one day
do you believe in love at first sight? ?
Well, if the first appearance of Wal
ter Wyman's sister had not conquered
me as she stood under the parlor
lamps, revelation of beauty and
youth, the touch of her hand when
she welcomed her brothers. friend
would have enslaved me forever.
Never had a touch so thrilled me
since-since | held the witch's hand
in the graveyard. The same pecul-
lar shock passed through me, and the
memory of that spectral night came
over me like flash.
But | did not start to tell love
story. Let me briefly say that | fell
in love, hopelessly and ridiculously
in love, and that | acted just as all
lovers have done since the world be-
gan. 1t doesn't matter much about
mans age. At twenty-seven he will
conduct himself pretty much as he
would at seventeen, and so | wrote
verses and sighed, and tormented
myself with thousand hopes and
fears, and grew hot and cold by turns,
and wonderfully timid, and prided
myself upon concealing it all, when
as a matter Of fact, the state Of my
feelings was perfectly apparent to all
of 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 ask
ing the lady if she believed in ghosts.
Il suppose l should,' said she
laughing, considering my expert
ence.''
Leave woman alone to make an
evasive answer. Of course | i'm
plored an explanation, and she relat-
ed the following story:
''It was about two years ago when
a party of girls, just home from
school, were visiting friend down in
the country. One of the girls had
heard foolish story about a witch's
grave, and some nonsense about hel
annual appearance, and a talisman,
and when l expressed my incredulity
! they braved me to put it to the test
What is the matter? The place? A
little town called Arlington.
Foolishly accepted their challenge
and received terrible fright. i car.
ried out the instructions and stretch.
ed my arm over her grave. 1t was
so dark | could see nothing, but some
one seized my hand. l was so be.
numed with fear that could not cry
out, but could only fly through the
lonely graveyard to where my trem-
, bling companions were awaiting me
in the field. 1t was foolish adven-
ture, for | fell ill, and it cost me a
valuable ring, which was left me by
my poor Aunt Barbara. For hel
namesake,' she said when she sem
it across the sea to me. You see the
. ring was a little large for my fngel
and was pulled off by-by-"
''By me-" / interrupted, taking th'
lost ring from my pocket.
1t was time for Barbara 0 forgo
to say that was her name) to be star
tied now. l hope | may 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 goot
fortune the talisman had brought me
made pretty allusion to Barbara th'
: witch reclaiming her own-for sh'
was not a witch, after all. as [ coulC