Year: 1876

SOD, who had Just ridden over from Sir
Williams, where he had spent the eve
ming with his intended bride, was in
formed by his keeper that he had seen
the "White Woman of Wat.ord and
that two of the ricks were burning.
mounted his horse, and, accompanied
by his son and the keeper, oil armed,
set out to punish the outlaws. They
were REINFORCED by Sir William on the
way. There was full moon, but it was
obscured at intervalswith clouds. They
pursued the course Of the Wye, which
is thickly wooded where it passes the
Hampden and Richardson parks. On
reaching the valley at the foot of the
hills the keeper, while in q lonesome
p ace, swore that he saw the white
woman and warned them to go TO fur
ther. The irascible old trooper rated
him soundly for being a superstitious
poltroon, but no threats could induce
him to continue the hunt. His words,
as preserved by tradition, were:


"You're fightin' agin Heaven, and
the blood will be on yourselvesI"


This warning only served to still fur
ther incense Hampden, who believed
neither in wraiths nor fairies, and he
swore to put bullet into the white
woman that would test her spiritual ma
ture if he came across her. They had
not proceeded far when they heard the
sound Of distant singing. Dismount-
ing, they crept through the copse to the
stream, and then picked their way as
noiselessly as possible along its margin.
All at once one Of the party uttered an
exclamation and pointed through the
trees:


1--WE are bewitched," he said; "look
you'll" The moon poured its silvery
light through the vista. and they say.
or thought they saw, the figure of q
woman intermingling with the light as
though it had been born of it. Old
Hampden was not the man to suffer this
coil-he lifted his gun and fired. The
appar.tion vanished, nor could they dis
GOV. r any traces of it. Satisfied that it
was in part an illusion, they set out to
retnrn. They had not proceeded far,
before the figure reappeared. This
tin.o it was at greater distance, and
WAS leaning apparently against tree.
They stood o moment dazed with its
lustrous beauty one only of the party
was unable to perceive anything, and
he boldly denied its existence, and when
tho others described its position and
whrreabouts he suddenly and deaantly
discharged his heavy weapon at it. As
he did so the moon disappeared, and
they were in darkness. They were,
however, REINFORCED almost immediate
ly iy q number of the peasantry at
tracted by the noisesoi their guns. All
the gentlemen were now in favor of
abandoning what they believed wild
goose chase. Not so the Hampden he
alone insisted upon clearing mp what he
declared had been too long mystery
and nuisance to the county. Form
the men into two parties, which were to
converge from opposite sides Of the
stream half mile lower down,
tboy set out once more. Another Incl
dent, however, modified the leaders
plan and added to the lisinclination of
the men to 60 on. When they returned
to their horses it was found that the ami
NAL which had been ridden by the elder
Hampden had broken loose and disap-
peared, in con equence of which the
gentleman was forced to continue the
hunt on foot, which he did at the head
of the villagers.


About half mile down the stream
was a ford; the place was known as
est. .Altan's Well" Young Hampdep,
who had preceded his party some dis
tance, reached the we'll alone, Just as the
moon emerged from the clouds and Lit
up the scene brilliantly. No sooner had
his horse crossed the little river and ap.
preached tue blasted oak that overhanes
the well than he was struck dumb with
amazemsnt and horror, for lying there
as If dead, with the blood oozing from
her white breast and her long hair
wound about her as if to shield her.
was the daughter of Sir William and
the woman he was to make his wife.
For q moment he believed himself to be
the victim of some cruel jncantation,
but the voices Of the approaching vii
layers warned him. In q few moments
they would be upon linn. With the
alacrity and courage OF true gallant,
his instinct was at once to save her from
exposure and danger. He lifted her
upon his horse, stripped himself of what
clothing would answer the purpose, and
thus draped and guarded he led his
precious but unconscious burden noise
lessly awsy from the pursuers.


Twice the pursuing party came 80
near them that it was only by the most
adroit msneuvering that he escaped.
he heard them shouting his name
through the woods, but he passed on
and succeeded in getting his charge
safely home and in preserving the secret
from the world.


Shortly afterward they were married
and the stories of the "white lady I"
grew, and spreading, attracted the at
tention Of the chroniclers.


This In substance is Forse's nara
tive. And it has pleased the world to
accept 1t as pretty story Of somnam-
bulism.


Petite adopted the current legend,