The Tale of Oliver T. Horsephat -- Part 7

I will not be posting for the next several days while I take time to ponder, wonder, hither and yon...

And now the conclusion of...

The Tale of Oliver T. Horsephat -- Part 7

Oliver T. Horsephat and Mrs.Olive Treehousen parted company vowing to search their ancestral past for clues to the curse's origin.  Both spent many hours, days, and weeks exploring boxes, papers, journals, clippings, and letters searching for clues.  For Oliver, many boxes were kept in attic, dusty and unorganized.  It wasn't until the forth week of their search that Oliver T. Horsephat found himself standing on the doorstep of the Treehousen mansion, ringing the doorbell, with a small parcel in hand.

Shown to the front parlor by the house servant, he was joined by Mrs. Olive Treehousen.  At once, they both started talking about their discoveries.   Oliver, being polite, stopped and asked her to continue.   She told him of Horatio P. Treehousen's, her great-great grandfather, attempt to marry a young lady who he refers to as "sweet Virginia."  Olive read from an July 27th, 1872, entry from his red-rot-diseased journal where he writes of his sweet Virginia being taken from him.   No last name was given; however the next line provided information about paying a local witch and using her abilities.   Olive Treehousen rested assuredly that the curse began with her.

At that point, Oliver T. Horsephat excitedly opens his parcel to reveal a few letters and proceeded to unfold an July 28th, 1877, letter, from Oleander V. Horsephat, his great-great grandmother.  She speaks of the man she was to marry.  His name was Paul.  The next letter also mentions the same local witch and her curse abilities.  Olive sat stunned.  She informed Oliver that her great-great grandfather's middle name was Paul.  Oliver confirmed his great-great grandmother's middle name was Virginia. 

All at once, a hurried wind blew through every open window.   The journal and the letters both flew about the room.  Oliver T. Horsephat and Mrs. Olive Treehousen both squinted their eyes until the wind died as quickly as it arrived.  They agreed the wind was strange.   After gathering the letters and journal, they had no idea how to proceed and called it a day. 

The next morning, Oliver T. Horsephat brewed tea in the kitchen and had just sat down when the door bell rang.   Upon opening the door, he was surprised by the most angelic face he had ever seen.   He immediately felt his heart strings twinge.   She smiled back at him.

"Hello, are you Oliver T. Horsephat?  My name is Virginia Paulette Treehousen.  I've came to inform you that my great-aunt Mrs. Olive Treehousen peacefully passed away last night.   I stopped by this morning for a visit and she had left me a note to come and tell you personally.  I had no trouble finding you."    For no reason at all, she blurted out that she was 28 and single.   He invited her to tea.

One year later, their son, Oliver Paul Horsephat was born.  Curse-free.