The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-01-10
WOMAN HERMlT'S LIFE.

WOMAN HERMlT'S LIFE.
Her Fathers Preference for Hus-
bard Wrecked Her
Career.
At last the life romance of Winfred
Ninans, the woman hermit Of Wesley.
Pa. has come to light. 1t is a story
Of passionate love and bitter hatred. 1t
reads like a tale from Racine.
odd Winifred" Winans-as she is
called in Wesley-has been an enigma to
her neighbors for more than sixty years.
She has led the life of hermit, speak
ing to no one, giving none her conf
dence. Now, in her eighty-fifth year,
however. she has concluded to tell her
story.
Sixty eight years ago the woman her
NIT Of Wesley was II years old. OF
beautiful personality and romantic dispo
sition, she was sought after by many
lovers.
Her father wished her to marry one
man. but she loved another 1t is an
old story i'll q way, but in this instance
1t has new plot.
The man Of Miss Winans' choice was
Charles Young Of Buffalo. handsome
young man whom she met one night at
a dance. So opposed was John Wi
, riage with Young. however, that he
planned to have Young killed in duel.
Young and his rival met in this en-
counter. They were strangely seconded
The father acted as the second of
1ouns>s opponent. while the daughter
represented her lover in the fight.
1oung's pistol drew first blood, and
fs11 DIM icf,
ed Miss Winans' hand from her father.
The two became engaged. old Winan:
apparently accepting the situation.
Found by Her Lover.
During the absence of Young from
wesley short time after the duel Wi
mans took his daughter away, the family
moving to Allentown. No word as to
their t1 whereabouts was left with Miss
Nlnans' suitor: Young followed, dis
| covered their hiding place and demand
ed the hand Of Winans' daughter.
Again the ardent lover was outWittel.
Inc father secretly removed to Boston,
Mass For years all trace of the Wi
mans was lost. Letters from the girl
to her lover were intercepted by the ia
ther, and Young was in despair.
tie travelled extensively in search of
ms bride, visiting Pennsylvania. Ohio.
Illinois and New York. but finally had
TO abandon the quest in despair.
Miss Winans was told by her father
that Young was dead. A bogus letter,
purporting to come from one Of her low
ers, was received by her announcing the
SAD news. She fell into decline and
nothing could arouse her from her mel
ancholy thoughts
She constantly brooded over the SUD-
posed death Of Young.
1oung. III turn, realizing that his
search was vain. enlisted in the Union
army. lie served with Grant and Sher-
man and distinguished himself in the
battles OF Fredericksburg and Vicksburg
Met Again by Chance.
After the, war Young CHANGED to 90 to
lie reception. One Of the faces in the
crowd was strangely familiar to him.
tie was studying the countenance closely
When suddenly it dawned upon him that
the tn face belonged to his bride-to-be.
Ihere was a mutual recognition.
rangements for marriage. They fixed on
the following day to he welded in order
that no accident should interfere with
their happiness.
But. like the villain in the melodrama,
Old John Ninans again appeared on the
scene At the altar, before the consum-
ed the young lovers.
The girl became insane. 1t was neces-
sary to place her in an asylum in Bos-
ton. The repentant father did all in his
power to restore his daughter to reason:
even consenting to the marriage, but it
was too late.
Madness now proved more effective
bar than had all the schemes Of the OBJ
durate parent. The doctors told Young
that there was no hope for the recoy-
cry Of the young girl; and, after patiently
waiting near by for two years, he left
Not long after he killed himself in 4
lit of dependency.
Reason Returns TO Find Miserv.
But the doc+~- made q Terrible
error in their diagnosis of Miss Winans'
condition. In three years she recovered
her reason and was discharged.
In the meantime her father had died,
She went back to Wesley in search Of
young. There she learned Of his pitt
we're one, her reason did not altogether
give way. Trained to control herself
through her long sojourn in the insane
asylum, she did not permit her mind to
give itself up to violent madness.
Mentally afflicted, however. her grief
profound despoondency, from which moth
ing has been able to arouse her. Though
living in Wesley more than three-score
years, she has scarcely spoken two words
Shortly after earnins IN IN nat ma Tine TINE
Young she shut herself up in her
house, from which she has seldom ven
tnred save to buy food or clothing.
There are hundreds of people living with
in block of her who have never even
seen her. :
Those who have had the opportunity
one thing: On her left hand can be seen
heavy gold ring. It is the one given
her by Charles Young when she pliehted
faith to him sixty-eight years ago. She