The Ghost of Love

Timothy Watson turned eighteen in the summer of 1861. The days had become long and hot and though troubles seemed far away, they were actually getting closer, as the nation split in two, initiating a war that was inevitable. 1

The United States had fallen into dispute over one issue that would likely be never forgotten. One by one, states began to detach themselves, forming their own country, the Confederacy. The new U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln, wanted to keep that nation intact but did not use any force. It was not until shots were fired, that a feud unearthed.2

Timothy’s family was poor and lived in the rooms above the small candle shop they owned in Georgia. He was a shy boy and only went to school when he was eight and then stopped so he could help his parents in the shop. When the war broke out, Timothy immediately wanted to go off to war to lead the Confederate states to victory. His parents immediately said no, telling him he was needed more at home. As he stalked upstairs and slammed his bedroom door, he did not realize what the summer held for him.3

He fell in love.4

It was love at first sight for Timothy and, at his young age, he had never experienced feelings this overwhelming before.5

Charlotte Kent lived on the other side of town, on a big plantation. The day she walked into the shop was the day that changed Timothy’s life. They had never seen each other before, so he did not know of her high status. She came in, a sweet smile stretched across her lovely face. She smiled as he stammered a few inaudible words and fumbled with the candles she had ordered. 6

“ What is your name?” she asked him as he miscalculated her change for the third time.7

He ducked his head; a red blush crept up to his cheeks. “ Timothy Watson,” he managed, after a few seconds of silence.8

“ Charlotte Kent,” she said, extending her hand over the counter, indication a handshake. Timothy took her hand in his for a brief second then pulled away, surprised at the shock he felt at the touch. She took a step backwards, running her hand through her hair nervously. She had felt it too. 9

Charlotte continued to visit Timothy at the candle shop every Friday afternoon when she came to pick up her candles. Timothy wished with every bone and breath in his body that she would love him back, but it seemed impossible to him. It seemed true, that she would never love him, when one Friday afternoon, she didn’t show up. Thrown off by this sudden change in schedule, he decided to close the shop in the early evening instead of later at night. 10

Timothy was sitting in his bedroom, whittling a rose in a chunk of wood when he heard a noise coming from downstairs. He crept quietly downstairs, realizing that it was a knock on the door. He unlatched the lock and pulled it open, wondering who could possibly be on the other side. He was surprised to see Charlotte, wrapped in a cloak with a hood pulled over her head, standing on the other side, a small lantern held in her hand. Timothy motioned for her to come in, speechless. She came inside the store and sunk into a chair.11

“ Um…” Timothy started to say. He kicked himself mentally. Why did he have to be so shy?12

Charlotte was thinking along the same lines as he was. She smiled up at him, despite his surprise. “ You’re really shy aren’t you Timothy?” she asked. He didn’t answer. “ It’s okay, Timothy. I happen to really like shy.” 13

Timothy sucked in what little of his breath was left because, really, the mere sight of Charlotte left him completely breathless. “ Miss Kent,” he finally stammered out, “ Are you okay? It’s odd for you to show up at the shop at such a time of night.”14

She sighed, uncovering her head and shaking loose her hair. “Please don’t call me Miss Kent…it’s Charlotte. I had to come this late, Timothy. I had to avoid being seen.”15

Timothy didn’t understand what she was talking about. “ Miss…Charlotte, you can always come in the daytime to visit the shop. Is it improper for a lady to come to a simple candle shop?” 16

“ No, it is not improper for me to come and buy candles,” Charlotte said, slowly, standing up.  “But it is highly improper for me to fall in love with the boy who works in the candle shop.”17

Timothy took a step back, not really knowing if he had heard her correctly. “Charlotte…did you say?”18

Charlotte smiled at him and took his hand in hers. “ Yes, Timothy, I did.” When he didn’t answer, she continued on. “ I had to come and tell you, but my parents were starting to get suspicious so they forbade me to come here.”19

That was the day that Timothy got his wish. Charlotte Kent had fallen right back in love with Timothy Watson. She continued to visit him every Friday night, whenever she could sneak out. She would leave a lit candle in her window where Timothy could see it and he would know it was safe to meet her. It was a symbol of the love they felt for each other.  They both knew they couldn’t be together but it did not stop them from seeing each other. As the weeks went by they fell deeper and deeper in love. 20

Timothy wanted more than anything to be married to Charlotte so they could buy their own house and have children together. More than once he mentioned it and finally, on the seventh time, Charlotte admitted to having the same dreams. Their passion could hardly be kept stifled. Timothy was constantly writing beautiful letters and poems to Charlotte that he had some of the servant-girls sneak to her. 21

One day, Timothy finally asked Charlotte to marry him and she accepted, tears of joy in her eyes. A priest willing to do anything for true love wed them secretly. Charlotte received a beautiful letter from Timothy the next day, repeating all the love declarations he’d said the night before and detailing the plans of their escape. 22

Charlotte’s parents, however, intercepted this letter before she could leave. Disappointed in the choice that their daughter had made, they vowed to find a way to keep her away from Timothy. They kept her under close watch, to prevent her from sneaking out again. 23

Timothy continued working in the candle shop, longing to be with Charlotte and waiting for what the Kents would do with him. It wasn’t long before he found out. The Kents went to a general in the Confederate army, proclaiming Timothy a spy for the Union and a traitor to the Confederacy. 24

The Confederate Army, though they had no proof, took the accusation seriously because the Kents were a very prominent family in the south. They came knocking on the door of the candle shop late one night and took Timothy away. His parents tried to reason with the men but they wouldn’t budge. The last thing they ever heard their son was “ I love you”. He also requested that a candle be lit in the window of the shop for everyone to see. Though they didn’t quite understand the meaning of it, they obeyed his wish. 25

Two days later, Timothy was hanged for acts of treason on the Confederate States. It was said that he called out to a girl right before he died. The candle burned in the window for two weeks straight before it finally blew out. Grief stricken and heartbroken, Charlotte returned to the candle shop one last time, requesting to have what was left of the candle. Too upset over their son’s death to care, Timothy’s parents obliged to her wishes, confused at the odd request, for they did not know the love that their son had felt for this girl.26

That night, Charlotte lit the same candle in her bedroom window and killed herself. Before she died, she let out one small tear and whispered, “ I love you Timothy”, the last words she ever said. It was said she died for love, because without Timothy, she didn’t feel like she could live at all.27

The Kents moved out of that house soon after, publicly humiliated by their daughter’s suicide. The house remained empty for years after and the people that did choose to live there didn’t stay long.  To this day, you can still see a candle burning in the window and the wisps of Charlotte and Timothy looking down at all the true love in the world. 28