The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-02-22

tried to remember that Barbara, the
witch, was an old, ugly woman. The
only picture / could call up was that of
beautiful young girl Without words
fail me; only she was far from CHASTITY.
but was as warm and substantial and
full OF life as that hand had seemed to-
be.
The fire-irons fell with an unearthly
clatter and started 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 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 since-since l 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 l did not start out to tell love
story. Let me briefly say that fell in
love, hopelessly ard ridiculously in
love, and that | acted just like all
lovers have done since the world began.
1t doesn't matter much about mans
age. At twenty-seven he will conduct
himself pretty much as he would have
done 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 conceal
ing it all, when, as a matter of fact, the
state of my feelings was perfectly APP
parent to all my acquaintance.
Matters were in this interesting state,
when one day an opportunity occurred
Of which l availed myself with a 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 a woman alone to make an
evasive answer. OF course, ] implored
an explanation and she related to me
the following story:
g. 1t was about two years ago when a
party of girls, just home from school,
were visiting a friend down in the
country. One of the girls had heard a
foolish old story about a Witch's grave,
and some nonsense about her annual
appearance, and talisman, and when
expressed my incredulity, they brayed
me to put it to the test. What is the
matter? The place. A little town
called Adlingtune.
Foolishly | accepted their challenge
and received a terrible fright. [ car
ried out the instructions and stretched
my arm over the grave. Itwas so dark
I could see nothing, but some one
seized my hand. L was SO benuinbed
with fear that I could not cry out, but
could only fly through the lonely grave
yard to where my trembling compan-
ions were awaiting me in the field. 1t
was foolish adventure, for I 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 when
she sent it across the sea to 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.
Itwas time for Barbara Ct forgot to say
that her was nancy, to be startled now.
I hope Imay say that I came out strong
on that occasion. I 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 very pretty al
fusion to Barbara the witch reclaiming
her own-for she was not witch, after
all, as could testify, having felt her
charms-and finally not only offered to
return the ring but to give myself into
the bargain.
She took both. San Francisco Arso-
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