The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-12-05
NEW ENGLAND VILLAGES HYsrER.
lOUS WOMAN HBhMIT.

A-au H-A AHAA.
In picturesque part of the village
OF Forest Hills, Mass, there stands
alone and many acres apart from any
other residence a quaint weather.
stained cottage. This is the home oil
Margaret Nowland, hermit.
For fifty years Miss Now,and has
lived 10 Forest Hills and yet she is to-
day at the age OF IS as unknown to
the people Of that town as she was
half century ago, when, a beautiful
girl Of II, she walked into the village.
from nobody knew where. and took
Up her abode In the little house which
had SO long remained unoccupied.
Rumor bad It that she was BRIDE
and all awaited anxiously for the
bridegroom 10 appear.
Weeks and months passed and still
the young woman continued to live a
life Of seclusioa, alone in the quaint
little cottage. A glamour Of romance
vas thrown around the place and the
house and It's beautiful occupant were
the center OF inieres; in tie town.
Finally. by some chance it was
learned that the mysterious young
Eoman's name was Miss Margaret
Nowland, and that she came from the
far West.
More than this no one could dis
cover. Miss Nowl4nd never went TO
the post office nor TO church, and ex-
cePi to buy food she never strayed be-
yond the little wicker gate which shut
the outside world from the lawn which
stretched around the hermitage.
Twice week the young woman
was seen on the street for the length
OF time 1t took her to 90 to the village
store and back. Her necessary sup.
plies purchased, she would disappear
again, not having addressed a word
to any one 10 or from the store
For fifty years this has continued
and all the force of New England
curiosity has failed to ferre, out the
history of Margaret Nowland. which
would have re NAMED a mystery until
the end Of time had no; unforeseen
circumstances brought to ligh, the
very romantic story Of this woman's
life.
About one month ago, the town OF
Forest Hills was startled by seeing a
white haired man push open the gate
leading to the hermitage, walk briskly
up the path to the front door. and
litt the kDocker, which fell back with
sound that seemed to demand ad-
mliiance Tor the intruder.
The entire village was on the tip
toe OF curiosity and from a respectful
distance a score OF persons waited
oIeaihlessly to see what would happen.
As usual, /; was the unexpected.
Slowly the front door swung back.
for an instant Margaret Nowland and
the intruder faced each other. then
the man stepped across the threshold
which for fifty years had not been
passed by visitor, the door closed
and the villagers were left standing
on the sidewalk staring =, the cottage
IN oPen-mouthed amazement.
About two hours later the man left
the hermitage, walked quickly to the
station and took train for Boston.
The following day Margaret NoNland
went to the pos, Office where the
astonished clerk handed her a letter
so heavy that 1t took double postage
TO carry il.
For one week this same thing oc-
CARED daily; every morning Margaret
Nowland, stlll uncommunicative, went
TO the pos, Office, received her letter
and disappeared IN the hermitage
again.
On the eighth day the white.hsired
stranger reappeared.
This time Miss Nowland met him
at the little wicker gate and the two
stioiled around the grounds before
entering the house. Never had Fores,
Hills been so stirred, the entire town
was wild with excitement and burn
ing with curiosity which threatened
to break all bonds.
Late that afternoon Miss Nowland
and her visitor called upon the Uni
tartan minister OF the town and the
lips OF the hermit were opened.
Before hearing the story of her
past, full Of romance and tragedy.
however, Forest Hills was shaken to
It's foundations by the statemen, that
they were TO lose their hermit. Marga-
ret Nowland is going to be married
on Christmas Day Of this year to the
white.haired stranger, who will on
that day celebrate his 8Ist birthday.
The minister was besieged with
visitors on the day following his visi:
from the old couple, and this is the
story which Margaret Nowland author.
lied him to tell TO the curious.
Fifty years ago in Sioux City, a
little town north of Cb;o,n1 d, L.-.: