The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1902-12-24
WOMANHERMITWEDS.
MASSACHUSETTS, TOWN LOSES
PICTURESQUE INHABiTANI.


(Speclat Lettei-j
Massachusetts has bona hde wom-
an hermit
In a 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 OF
Margaret Nowland. hermit.
For fifty years Miss Nowland has
lived in Forest Hills and yet she is
today at the age Of rs as unknown to
the people Of that town as she was half
a century ago, when, beautiful girl
OF 21, she walked into the village, from
nobody knew where and took up her
abode in the little house which had SO
long remained unoccupied.
Weeks and months passed and the
young woman continued to live life
of seclusion, alone in the quaint little
cottage Finally. by some chance 1t
was learned that the mysterious young
womans name was Miss Margaret
Nowland, and that she came from the
far West
More than this no one could discov-
err. Miss Nowland never went to the
postoffice nor to church, and except to
buy food she never strayed beyond the
little wicker gate which shut the out
side world from the lawn which
stretched around the hermitage.
For fifty years this has continued
and all the force of New England Gu.
riosity has failed to ferret out the his
tory Of Margaret Rowland, which
would have remained a mystery unit
the end Of time had not unforeseen cir.
culnstances brought to light the yer,
romantic story Of this woman's life
Mysterious Stranger Comes.
About one month ago. the town o
Forest Hills was startled by seeing
white-haired man push open the gait
leading to the hermitage. walk briskll
up the path to the front door, and lif
the knocker, which fell back with I
sound that seemed to demand admit
tance for the intruder.
Slowly the front door swung back
for an instant Margaret Nowland am
the intruder faced each other, then tn
man stepped across the threshol'
which for fifty years had not beei
passed by visitor. the door was closeI
and the villagers were left standing ol
the sidewalk staring at the cottage Il
open n-morthed amazement.
About two hours later the man lef
the hermitage, walked quickly to tn
station and took a train for Boston
The following day Margaret Nowlan
went to the postoffice where the aston
ished clerk handed her letter s.
heavy that it took double postage t
carry it.
For one week this same thing oc
Cured daily; every morning Margare
Nowland, still uncommunicatiye, wen
to the postofhce, received her letter an
disappeared in the hermitage again.
On the eighth day the white-haire
stranger reappeared-
This time Miss Nowland met him a
the little wicker gate and the tw
strolled around the grounds before en-
tering the house. Never had Fores
Hills been SO stirred, the entire tow
was wild with excitement and burnin
with a curiosity which threatened
break all bonds.
Late that afternoon Miss Nowlan
and her visitor called upon the I'm
tartan minister of the town and th
lips of the hermit were opened.
Before hearing the story Of her pas
full of romance and tragedy howeye
Forest Hills was shaken to its foundi
tions by the statement that they wei
to lose their hermit. Margaret Nov
land is going to be married on Chris
mas Day Of this year to the whit
haired stranger. who viii on that da
/, celebrate his Slst birthday.
Minister Tells story.
: The minister was hesiegad with Wis
/ tors on the day following his visit fro
Ia