Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-02-27
story for an
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HeRMIT's LOVE STORY.

Massachusetts has a bona fide wo-
man 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 Rowland, hermit.
For so years Miss Rowland has
lived in Forest Hills and yet she is
today at the age of 76 as unknown
to the people of that town as she was
half a century ago. when, beautiful
girl of 81, 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 had it that she was bride
and all awaited anxiously for the
bridegroom to appear.
Weeks and months passed and still
the young woman continued to live a
life of seclusion, alone in the quaint
little cottage. A glamour of ro-
nance was thrown around the place
and the house and its beautiful occu-
pant were the center of interest in
the town.
Finally, by some chance it was
learned that the mysterious young
woman's name was Miss Margaret
Rowland, and that she came from the
far west
More than this no one could dis
cover, says the Pittsburg Press. Miss
Rowland never went to the postoffice
nor to church, and except to buy food
she never strayed beyond the little
wicket gate which shuts the outside
world from the lawn which surrounded
the hermitage.
Twice a week the young woman was
seen on the street for the length of
time it took her to go to the village
plies purchased, she should disappear
again, not having addressed a word to
any one to or from the store.
For so years this has continued and
all the force of New England curiosity
has failed to ferret out the history OF
Margaret Rowland, which would have
remained a mystery until the end OF
time had not unforeseen circumstances
brought to light the very romantic
story of this woman's life.
About one month ago, the town of
Forest Hills was startled by seeing q
white-haired man push open the gate
leading to the hermitage, walk briskly
up the path to the front door. and left
the knocker, which fell back with q
sound that seemed to demand admit
lance for the intruder.
The entire village was on the tiptoe
of curiosity and from respectful
distance q score of persons waited
breathlessly to see what would hap
pen. As usual, it 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 so years had not beer
passed by a visitor. the door CLOSED
and the villagers were left standing
on the sidewalk staring at the cottage
in open-m outhed amazement.
About two fours later the man left
the hermitage, walked quickly to the
station and took train for Boston
The following day. Margaret Nowlane
went to the postoffice, where the
astonished clerk handed her a letter
so heavy that it took double postage
to carry 1t.
For one week this same thing oc
CURED daily. Every morning Margaret
Rowland. still uncommunicative, went
to the postoffice, received her letter
and disappeared in the hermitage
again.
On the eighth day the white,faireC
stranger reappeared.
This time Miss Rowland met hin
at the little wicket gate and the TIVE
strolled around the grounds before
entering the house. Never had Fores
Hills been so stirred, the entire tow
was wild with excitement and burning
with a curiosity which threatened u
break all bonds.
Late that afternoon Miss Nowlan'
and her visitor called upon the Uni
tartan minister of the town and tn
lips OF the hermit were opened.
Before hearing the story Of her past
full Of romance aid tragedy. however
Forest Hills was shaken to its founds