The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-03-24
The Haunted Island.

1 A lCCEPTING an invitation from
~ yachting friend to go on 6
'tXnH summer cruise, some years
lEM7S ago. we found ourselves, one
balmy afternoon, sailing along the
lironbound coast of Maine, and en-.
Loving the beauty OF the scenery
with the ocean on our right, and
innumerable islands, some Of them
bold and rocky, others green and
Inviting, upon oar left.
Il Ny friend, whom shall call
Dale Drummond, was a man of 35,
and had been a sad wanderer since,
at the age of 10, he left home to go
into the navy as a midshipman.
| Though all who knew him felt
that he had. history of deepsfhter-
est, there were none who cared TO
ask him of the past, and, excepting
that he came of a good family, and
at 25 had resigned from the navy
to enjoy fortune left to. him, little
Was known regarding him. lo'e9H
"You run in among these islands,
tDrummond, as though you were in
topen water" / said, seeing how as
/ Thought. recklessly y he steered his
] pretty schooner yacht among the
| dangerous sunken rocks and mary
islets5 that were now upon every
side, for we had headed in shore.
81 know these waters as do my
mothers face, and better, for bave
never seen her since was wee
child, - he answered, and after q
moment continued, as he pointed
to lordly villa q league away hbl
"Do you see that mansion yon-
der, looking out from tue forest2'n
l answered in the affirmative, and
then added:8- 9li 20 aiEae F." .
"a second one, too, a league
down the coast.''l l.as IS "sa.1
i- 'sYes; in the one l was born; in
the other had my hope for the fu
ture dashed TO the earth forever"
He spoke bitterly, and I snw that
he was much moved, as he gazed
upon the two old houses, both of
which, as we drew nearer, seemed
crumbling to decay. ''
"Colonel, we'll drop anchor under
the lee of yonder wild looking island,
which l remember is said TO be
haunted, and, If you care to accom-
pany me, We will go over and have
look at the old homesteads, for 1
have not been here for twelve
years" '-.,
OF course, was only too glad to
90, and, half an hour alter, we land
ed on the main shore; and, as
cending to the cliff above, found
ourselves in what bad once been
the handsome grounds OF fine old
mansion, but which now was desc
late and time worn.
t'There Is my home; no one dwells
here now. for my father cut me off
from my Inheritance, and left the
place to a distant relative in Eng
land; and yet, strange to say, yon-
der other homestead is mine, for it
wss left me by the only being 1
every loved; but l have not dared
come here until to-day"
We stood together, gazing upon
the two old mansions whose broad
acres joined together about half
way between the homestesds, and,
being in a communicative mood,
Drummond went on, in his easy
way:
"I'll tell you the story, Colonel,
though / never speak of the past,
as it is sad to think of it, / can as
sure you. 0 - .r
81 was born in that old place, as
/ told you, my father and mother
coming there o year before my
birth. and they we're English.
"Of his past, or my mothers, my
father never spoke, and I remember
him as dark-faced, stern man of
so, and nearly double the age Of
his wife. OKLA 1rl.J--a
"He never went from home lived
in luxury, seemed 10 possess unlim-.
tied MEANS and was very stern,
silent man, while my mother was a
sad faced woman; aud, nphto my
17th yelr, when she died, / remem
Der she often Wept, and seemed
ever to have some deep grief at
heart. 81 H7 rfg ~ t r. .c. '.-.
Procuring a tutor for me, my
father felt that he had done his
duty by ne, and I was allowed 10
do just .as pleased; and hunted
or fished more than | studied.
g Zone day went, from a motive
of dare deYlItry, alone to yondeE
island, which every one stunned on
account of its being said TO be
haunted by the ghosts of "a crew
lured to wreck there by false
beacon. n
snn"I found no ghosts there; but 1
did find a perfect little fairy,
maiden of 10 years of age, and five
years ny junior.
"Her father had lately moved to
the other homestead, you see there;
and having dwelt on the seashore
in England the little Fidele was q
perfect sailor; and alone, in her
light canoe, had fearlessly padded
over to Haunted island, which, rs
you see, is a mile from the main
land.
''I at once made her acquaintance,
sailed her back home, with her ca
noe in tow, and from that day, chill
dren though We we're, we were low
ers, and together we hunted, fished,
sailed and read books; for when
away from her studies she was as
wild as young Indian. - q 80 -
"a few mon tins after our meeting
| received my midshipman's war
rant and left home to enter the
navy; bnt each year I got short
leave; for there Was not naval
academy in those days; and my
every visit but in fatuated me more
with the little Fidele Claire-for
such was her name. q
"At length 1 came home when in
my 22d year, and then it was / ask
ed Fidele TO be my wife; for she
had grown to be . beautiful maiden
OF IL, and under q skilled govern
ess was accomplished and refined,
| - hn- r.aA or.srff xrArrld