The Benton weekly record., 1882-08-17
THE LEG END OF "ROBEfZT-
SONS FOLLY"
From Annals OF Fort Mackinac.
bY LIEUT.. D. Il. KELToS, e. &. 4.

Captain robertson was q gay young En-
gli9h officer and Il great admirer Of the la
dies. One pleasant summer evening, a
he was atrolIing in the woods at the bacl
OF the fort enjoying his pipe, he suddenly
bcheld, few rods before him and jus
croaSlng his path, & female Of most eX-
q1lSItC form, feature, and complexion; she
seemed about nineteen; was simply dress
ed; wore her long, black hair in flowing
trtasCE; and as for a moment she turned
Oh !1im her lustTOus eyes, her whole coun-
1enance lighting up with animation, tho
gallant Captain thought he had never seen
80 beautiful II creature. lie politely dotted
his cap and qniekened his steps, hoping to
engage her in conversation. She likewise
h&stcned, evidently with the design of es-
Gaping him. Presently sne disappeared
around a curve in the road, and Robertson
Lost sight Of her.
Al the officers quarters that night moth
Ing "as talked Of but the young lady AND
her possible Identify She Was clearly not
native, and 40 vessel had been known to
touch 1T the island for many week. Who
could she be? Captain Robertson could
hardly sleep that night, y rigid inquiry
WAS instituted in the village. The only
effect WAS to engender AS intense curiosity
in the town Na already existed among the
garrison.
A. the shades Of evening drew near, the
Captain was again walking III the pleasant
groves enjoying the delightful breezes and
the Whif of his favoritc pipe. Ere was
thinking Of last evenings apparition, and
blaming himself for not pressing on more
vigorously, or at least calling to the fair
spectre. At this moment, raising his eyes
from the ground, there she was again,
slowly preceding him at q distance ofI
scarcely more than thirty yards. AS soon
as his astonishment would permit, and as
speedily as he could frame an excuse, he
called to her: "Mademoigelle, II beg
your pardon"
She turned Oh him one glance, her face |
radiant with smiles, then redoubled her !
pace. The Captain redoubled his, and soon |
broke into a run. She still kept the inter-
val between them undiminished. A
bend in the road, and again she was
gone. Captain Robertson sought her
quickly, but in vain; he then rushed back
to the fort and call out general possee of
officers and men TO sconr the island, and,
by capturing the maiden to solve the n1ys-
terry. Though the search was kept up till
late hour in the night, not trace could
be found Of her. The Captain now began
to be laughed at, and jokes were freely
banded aG his expense.
Two days passed away, and the fantasy
OF Captain Robertson began to be forgotten
by his brother officers, but the Captain {
himself maintained q gloomy, thoughtful
mood-the truth is he was in love with the
woman he had only seen twice, and whom, I
he felt assured, was somewhere secreted on
the island. Plans for her discovery revel-
ed in bis brain night and day, and visions
otromance and happiness were ever fit {
Ting before his eyes. It was on the even
ing Of the second that he was irresistibly |
led to walk IN the shady path in which the {
apparation had twice appeared to him. 1t Y
led to the brow Of the precipice st the
corner Of the island. lie had {
nearly reached the famous point from y
which we now look down perpendicularly T
l28 feet into the placid waters of lake HUI
ron, when, sitting on large stone, appa-
rcntly enjoying the magnificent scene T
spread out before her, he discovered the
object OF his soIicitude. Escape from him
WAS now impossible, silently he stole up c
to her. A crunching Of the gravel under {
his feet however, disturbed her, and turn ].
ing, her eyes met his. y
Pretty maiden, why thus attempt to v
elude NE? Who are you? There was no 4
answ, r, but the lady arose from the rock i
and retreaCed nearer the brink Of the preci- Il
llce, al The same time glancing TO the right d
and left, as if seeking oophole Of escape. Il
''lJ0 no. lear me-" said the Captain, II y
am commander Of the garrison at the fort b
here. No harm shall come 10 you, but DO 3
pray tell me who you are, aud how you 9,
came on this isand!n !,
The lady still maintained stolid silence, a
but u The fading light looked more beat e e
ulul than ever. She was now standing 4 4
within three feet Of the brink with her ss
back to the terrible abyss. The CnbtaiI Ii
shuddered at the thought of her making <
an unguarded step and being dashed % 4 /
pieces on the rocks below. SO he tried TO C
calm her fears lest, IN her agitation, she 4
might precipitate 4 terrible catastrophe. g
Ny dear young lady, he began, ! y y
see you fear me, and will leave you; but 4
for heavens sake 90 pray tell ne yonr 4