The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-02
MRS. HILFORD'S HERMITAGE
Why She Lives in a Hut on Georgia
Mountain Side.

Waco, Ga. Nov. 2S-From one of the
winding roads which connect this village
with the hungarian hamlet of Buda &
tiny path leads into tangle of brier:
and elder bushes and then drops abrupt
ly into ravine at whose bottom ripple.
a brook
The end Of this path is near the top OF
the cliff which forms the east side of a
| foothill known as the Beacon" A lit
tie cottage nestles there.
Altogether the spot is a romantic one
and the cottage unique but no more so
than it's occupant-a sweet-faced young
woman, who FOR over four years has
lived a hermit's life on this mountain
side with no other companions than doz-
en- dogs, as many cats and half that num-
| Der of goats.
Ten years ago Alma Frisbe was the
most admired and the gayest miss in
Revere, Mass. Living in what is prac-
tically part of the classic Hub, she had
acquired that manner and culture sup
posed to belong from birth to native Bos-
tonians She was eighteen, dark eyed,
full Tipped and pretty.
Among the occasional guests at the
Frisbe home was Henry Bascom dap
per attache of a State street bank.
One day they went to Lynn and were
married by a Justice, but kept the af-
fair secret for nearly a year.
A baby was born and two months later
Bascom deserted his wife. Then the ba-
by. puny thing from the first. died, and
Alma went back to Revere and tried to
forget her sorrow. a year later her hus-
band was killed in a wreck on the Penn
sylvania road.
In time the young widow succeeded in
blotting out the tragedy Of her life to
such an extent that she took a second
husband, John Hflford. of Lowell, fore
man in a big cotton mill.
Mr.. and Mrs Hilford went to Fall Riv-
er to live, where the husband was taken
i'll and became a helpless invalid. Five
years ago the weary. saddened wife took
her husband to Boston. where he died.
Utterly heartbroken. Mrs Hilford fell
a prey to melancholy, and one day sud
denly disappeared.
About four years ago a young woman
stepped off the train at Waco. Ca. She
was dressed in deep mourning. and a
pair of glorious eyes LOOKED cut visit
fully from a pale, delicately turned face
a correspondent for the Sunday World
several days ago paid a visit TO the cot
tage and met with awarm greeting from
a lot of dogs which rushed toward him
pell-meu. barking furioUsiy.
4 woman's voice called from within
the cottage:
=.
down. Come. all Of YOU. Aren't YOU
ashamed Of yourselves?"
The dogs obeyed instantly. When the
owner Of the voice appeared on the vine
covered porch they fell over eacI, other
70 fawn upon her. Then a stranger thing
happened. Six handsome goats, black
white and gray. bounded out of the woods
and clambored upon the poarch, butting
the dogs away 10 get near their mistress
Cats OF nearly every color and condi-
ton put in an appearance. meowing and
calling
These are my pets. sir. and the only
things on earth I care for" said Mrs
Hilfori. with an Apologize gesture and
Just the suspicion Of smile.
why did you leave Boston and come
70 this forsaken place; taere isn't soul
within rniles?- was asked Of her
why. indeed2" she echoed sadly. BE
caus I thought there was nothing else
10 live for. ! haven't a relative in the
world. and when my husband died L
seemed 70 me there was no further need
for me 70 remain I was sore a. heart
and wanted 70 get away from everything.
NIy husband had purchased ranch In
Georgia which neither Of Us had seen. 50
when all was over I concluded 10 SO
there and live When I finally reached
this place my heart failed me and half
determined 70 50 back again to Boston,
but-you see. here I am