Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-05-15
o her husband that night when paused

to her husband that night when paused
In the hallway to remove my overcoat.
God help usr said the old man in horri-
fled tones. Sure rs you are born, Hester,
he's seen Lady Whitaker They were
naturally a silent old pair, but that night
they did not address n single remark to me
beyond the necessary questions of tea
or milk, biscuits or cold bread, but sat
and eyed me furtively rs one who had ex-
perienced strange things.
"The next day and the next fingered
about the little town, awaiting the coming
of the lady who had so wrought upon me
that dreamed of her all night and, wax
ing, had thoughts of nothing but of her.
Passing me on the street she never once
turned her face or eyes toward me, but on
following her was rewarded once, as she
paused at the little white gate, by one
swift, demure glance from her glorious
eyes and smile ro9uish and inviting,
while yet touched with melancholy and
defiant scorn l rushed forward but she
had entered and was gone, and though l
hung about the place till dark | saw no
more of her, Jim, don't think me fool,
but ] tell you l loved that woman. Yes.
and somehow l believe at times / love her
yet, or at any rate she closed my heart
against all other women, for l have found
none that warmed my heart as she did
with that one bright, sudden smile
THAT there was some mystery surround
ing her could not doubt, for question as
might and whom l would could learn
nothing of her. Most of thoee of whom
made inquiry declared there was no such
person living in the neghborhood, but
several of the older inhabitants responded
Ct,1 " tn Nyit oh n Of ha
head and IA meaning look, which exasper-
ated me beyond measure. What do you
mean by thatg' | asked old Paxton one
afternoon as | joined him on the road to
town. The old fellow shook his head again,
but possibly feeling freer with his sharp
eyed wife away, took his pipe from be-
tween his lips and said: Did you never hear
of the ghost woman of Wye, sir? That's
she you're talking of, and if you'll take an
old mans counsel you'll have no more to
say of her. 1t fares i'll with them that
wicked Lady Whitaker smiles upon, as
all the people about will tell you. Ask
some one to tell YOU of young Ovid Ar
mold
"'Tell me yourself urged.
Ono, indeed. won't. I've said more'n
enough 81 her as it's Leaving him,
wen, direct to Josiah Durham, who had
been absent for some days. Before we be-
gin to talk business said, tell me who
and what is Lady Whittaker.' The old
mans shrcwd gray eyes looked back at me
from beneath his bushy brows like two
points of fire That's hard question, sir,
to answer, but can speak for myself and
say, don't know. There's many another
who has tried to find out besides you, Mr..
Bremen, and to my knowledge none of
them ever did. Some of the people about,
the wise young ones, will tell you the
whole things nonsense; some others will
declare she's a wicked spirit doomed to
haunt the scene of her evil earthly life,
while and such as have seen her will say
frankly that she is a mystery not to be
solved
"'Tell me the whole story urged.
"'That, sir, you'll find in this book
He rose and handed me an ancient leather
bound bool; filled with yellow, time stained
leaves covered with dim old writing. This
is the diary Of my great grandfather, John
sthan Durham. who was minister here in
1905 glanced at the book he offered me
and then at him, when he laughed invol-
unfairly Excuse me, Mr.. Bremen, he
said, but your look Of amazement and n
crcdulity made me forget my manners. !
anu going to leave You now for little
while, If you do not mind, and you may
read what Jonathan Durham had to say
in 1906 of the fair lady to whom you seem
to have lost your heart.
'Impossiblcn exclaimed, vcxed at the
garrulOus old fellow, whom supposed to
bo making fun of me.
Jewell, read read, and satisfy yourself.
You won't believe the story at first. | did
not, but it's true for all that When ! saw