The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-12-01

THE lieutenant de parted with the boy and
his attendant the next day. He was absent
some days, and nothing further was known
as to his journey. its object and result, than
was gathered from Roberts story. which was
soon circulated through the neighborhood.
1t formed the basis of many conjectures and
discussions among the country people and
servants. These we're renewed with in.
creased excitement when, after some months,
it was discovered that stone cottage in the
English style had been built in the midst of
dense wilderness some miles back from
Canadian village situated on the bank Of the
st. Lawrence, and was occupied by an old
man, whose sole attendant was servant
who visited that village occasionally for sup
plies, but utterly refused to answer the ques-
tions Of the villagers or give any information
as to his masters name or history.
81 afterwards learned from other sources
the further particulars that at the period to
which this account of my young friend re T.
ferred settlement was rapidly forming on
the American shore opposite to this Canadian
village, and that the fact that a leading man
in the newly rising community, a bachelor
and retired officer of the American Revo-
luton, had adopted boy whose origin was
unknown, but who bore the name of trait
or most odious to all American people, who
was evidently not dependent upon his pa
tron for anything but care and direction,
set rumor with his hundred tongues busy
connecting the youth with the mysterious
recluse of the Forest Lodge'-as the place
was named by the country people-and set
all eyes to watching him and his movements
for anv circumstance that might confirm
these suspicious. Hence when it became
known that the boy sometimes crossed the
river and disappeared with an Indian hunter
In the woods under pretence of hunting the
game which abounded there, remaining
upon each occasion for some days it was ta-
ken as confirmation strong as Holy Writ of
the prevailing conjectures, and he was GEN
orally regarded with Increased aversion
Despite these unfavorable influences, how
ever, he lived and f1ourished, became an en-
terprising, respectable citizen, and a distin.
guished officer in the volunteer service dur
ing the war Of 1912, his zeal and valor in the
cause winning for him the esteem so long un-
justly withheld. He married niece of his
benefactor, and they were united in their
devotion to the interests and comfort of her
uhCiO III NE Oiu aSei iuueilJllU u large pOr-
tion of his estate at his death.
'The mystery surrounding the recluse,
the problem of his suspected identity with
the notorious American traitor, and his pos
sible relationship with the boy in question
were never solved.
at continued for many years to be the
subject of evening gossip by rural 6resides
In that region, and strange stories were told
by the Indian and white hunters and trap
psrs of the startling things they had seen
and heard in the vicinity of the lonely cot
tage-long since fallen into decay-both
during the occupancy Of its owner and after
his disappearance. Whether he died there
or left for SOME far-of country before his
death was never known"