The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-24
OLD AGE AND YOUTH.
A Mystery That Farmers Couldn't Under
stand Solved BY a Sheriff.

For some time the farmers living In the
country about Greenwich Conn, have been
wondering who pretty young girl was that
made daily visits to their houses and asked
for food, and where she came from. The girl
seemed TO be about Is years old. She wore no
nat, and her brown hair fell about hor shoul-
dsrs. Despite her wild appearance there was
something about the girl which indicated re-
hnepent. Sho had large brown eyes and a
soft voice. was always polite and apparently
as thankful for a crust of bread as for more
liberal supply of food. Nothing was thought
of her sudden appearance at first, but she
kept coming. day In and day out, the farmers
aud their wives began TO worder where she
was living and whether she had any friends
or relatives. No one remembered TO have
ever seen her before. and IL was useless to
question her, for she would not talk about
herself.
Several youns men in passing through
Kraft's woods. near Greenwich. early last
week. came across what they afterward said
was a wild man. he seemed to be about 50
years old. had long hair and long whiskers.
and was dressed in ragged clothes which
scarcely covered his emaciated form. The
young men said that when they first saw the
man be was sitting in the crotch OF tree
eating crust of bread. They called TO him.
but he made no answer. When they ap-
preached he slid down the tree and disap-
peared In the woods.
Tho impression among the farmers when
they heard this tale was that the young men
had been romancinr, but the housewives con-
nectod the strange man with the strange girl,
and when she came around the next dAy they
- 49, Aa ee,
talk. and ran away into the woocs.
Several days parsed after this and nothing
was seen or heard OF the eiri. Then couple
of farmers concluded TO 90 out into the woot 8
and zee what had become of her. At the
same time they decided TO look up the wild
man. The weather was bitter cold at The
time and the wind had been blowing a gale
every night. The two farmers didn't have to
60 more than hal mile before they solved
both mysteries. The first thing they dis
covered Yves decrerit looking horse, which
seemed about TO fall apart. The horse was so
thin that his ribs fairly stuck cut, and he
hadn't the slightest protection from the cold.
When the farmers found him he was gnawing
at the trunk of a tree.
A short distance off was an improvsed tent.
1t consisted of an old bit Of carpet, some bed
tick and an old coat. thrown over same sap.
pings which had been bent 20 within about
three feet OF the ground. Inside of the tent
we're two persons, the old man who had
been seen in the crotch of the tree several
days before and the other the girl. The latter
was lying on a cot bed when the farmers
came mp. She Immediately Jumped up and
pulled sheet over the front of the tent, and
ali the efforts of the farmers to Get her and
the old man out to talk were useless.
The farmers finally gave il up and went
home. The next day, though, they notified
Sheriff Fitzroy Of Greenwich, and the sheriff
immediately hitched mp and drove out t.
Eroft's woods to look into the matter himself
The couple were still there, and had evidently
Just eaten their dinner. for fire was burn
ing outside and cooking utensils were scat
tered about.
Neither the man nor the girl seemed at al
alarmed oven the arrival Of the sheriff. They
paid absolutely 70 attention 10 him at first
but when he told them he would have "a
place them under arrest they begged him tC
leave them alone.
"Wo are not doing anybody any HARM
said tho girl: '1eave rs alone. Wen move
along in a day or so."
"Why, you'll freeze to death out here" said
the sheriff; "come along, and III give yov
bCth a square meal and good bed. "
Tho two climbed into tho sheriff's Wagon
without another word aud he drove item tC
the town hall and locked them up. The next
day no arragned them before Judge Cam
erOn.
IF hadn't brought them in" no said
"thcy would have beei frozen TO death Why
~nt Iop a tho ~
that couldn't loosen it,"
Chow old are your" asked the court. Rd
dressing tho man.
"I'm 81 years old, was the reply.
"And you 2" 20 the girl.
"Ninetcep," she replied.
Gwen. thoo, what do you two mean going
around together like thisi You ought 20 h'
ashamed OF yourteives"
"we'ro married." put in the man. who bat
given his name 20 the clerk as Charles Burns
"We were married In Port Chester"
"Is that soS" asked the judge ot tho girl
"No, SIR" she said, beginning to cry
"we're not married. but / love him, and he,
| good TO me-"
s1hen the girl went on end said her nam,
was Annie Weaver, and sho formerly LIVED
In Rye with her parents Her father died
she said. and her mother married again. A
young man named Weaver came along and
wanted 10 marry her. and her stepfathei
forced her to accept him. The man ill
treated her, she said, and she had TO leave
him, and then she met Burns, who was gooc
and kind 10 her, and she went 90 live Will
him because .here was no happiness for he
with anybody else.
eve started out 20 60 70 pedford Station,
che ssid "but our horse gave out. and w
| were Obliged TO camp out in tho woods. VI
will snovo on "a aoon aa Ma can I"