The Dillon tribune., 1883-05-05
THE HAUNTED ISLAND.

THE HAUNTED ISLAND.
ACCEPTING an invitation from yachting
years ago, wa found ourselves, one balmy
ut ernoon. sailinv along the iron-bound
coast OF NJ line. and enjoying the beauty Of
TIL. scenery. with the ocean ON our right,
and innum.rable islands. some Of them
hold and rocky, others green and inviting,
upon our left
Ny fire d, whom shall call Dale Drum.
mond was man Of thirty five. and had
been a sad wanderer since, ut fifteen, he
left home to 20 in o the navy ~ mid.
sulpman.
iii ugh all that knew him felt that he
had y history Of deep intere t. there were
acne who Car d to ask him Of the pat, and
excepting that he came Of good family,
and ut twenty five had resigned from the
navy to enjoy fortune lett to him, little
Was known regarding him.
You run in among these islands, Drum
mond, Us though you were in open water"
| SAID. seeing how. a. l thought. recklessly
he steeied Ills pretty schooner yacht among
the dangerous snnken rocks aud many in
let's that were now upon every, side for we
had headed in shore
IL know these waters as I do my
mothers face; aud better, for ] have
never seen her since was wee child"
h. answered. and after moment con.
tinu.d. US he polLted to lordly villa .
leu We away.
"Do ylu ree that mansion yor der, look.
ing out from that forest ""
l answered III tue affirmative, aud then
atl,,ed:
"A .soond one, too, league down the
coast"
YES; in the one I was born in the
other had my hope. for the future dashed
to the earth forever"
He spoke bitterly, AID I saw that he
was much moved. ~ he gaxed upon the
two old houses, both of which, "a We drew
nearer. see:Aed crumbl,ng to decay.
Colonel, well drop anchor under the
lee Of yolMier wild looking island, -.
member it Is said 10 bs haunted. ano; ii you
care to accompany me, we will go and have
look at the old ho,nesteads, tor have
not been here for Twelve years."
VI course. was oily too glnd to 20,
and. In an nour after we landed on the
ina,n sore, aud, ascending to the 81 Il
above, found ourselves in what hid once
be the handsome grounds OF q fine old
mansio but which low Was desolals auu
time wO u.
"Thers is my home; no one dwells
here now. for my father cut me of tro II
my inherit nee, und lie the place to "A
distant relative in England; and yet.
strange to say, y,nler old homestead il
mine, for II was .elt me by the only bein
ever osed; but have not dared to colue
h. re- until to-day"
We stool together, gazing upon the two
OIL. mansions. whose broad acres ioine,l
to.eth about half way Letwe.n the two
homesteads. and. being in com,nunica i've
mood, Drummond went on, in his easy
way:
! "i'u tell you the story. Colonel, tho !
never speak OF the past as it il sad to
think OF it. can assure you.
was burn in that old place. M told
you. my father and MOI her coming there
year or 40 before my birth, aud they
were English.
"Of his past, or my mothers. my father
never spoke, anu ! remember llftl AZ u
dark-faoed, stem man OF fifty, und double
the age Ut his wife
he never went from home, lived in
luxury, seemed TO possess unlim. ted means.
aud was very stern, silent man. while INV
mother was . sad faced woman; and.
rememner. she often W Ut, aud seemed
ever 10 have some deep grief ut heart.
Procuring tutor Tor me, my futhe,
teit that he nd done his duty by me, anu
J was allowed TO do Just az l pleas. d. and
! hunted or fish d more than studied.
One day went, tom notion of dare.
deviltry. al"ne to yon,er island which
every QUE stunned OH account Ut its being
saiu to lie haunted by the ghost of a crew
luied to wre,k there by false beacon,
~ found no ghosts there but did find
a lerfect little fairy, a maiden of u,
years OF age. and five years my Junior,
her father had In cry moved to the othe,
homes cad you see here; and having dwell,
on the sea shore in England, the little
rlueie was perfect sal or; an, al ne. il
her light canoe, had fe',rle>s,y padded owe,
10 Haunted Island, wh.cn, las yon see. is ,
mill. from the mainland.
at once mHde .er acquaintance. ani
sailed her hack home, with her canoe i,
tow. an from that day. children III mi
W. We're, we were Lovers. and lu.:,, her v,
hunted. t.hed. >ailed. and read Loo :: for
Wien away from her studies, sue was ~
via as Young Indian.
~ Jew Mo'th> after our meeting
received my m'dshipman's warrant. AN lief
nome TO enter the navy but each ,e
got short leave. for there vas II,
Naval Academy in those days ami NJ,
every visit but lnfatu !, i, me more vii,
the little Fidele Claire-tor such was il,
name.
AT length I came home when in ~
twen'y-S'cond year. and then it was ask.
flde!e to he my wife Tor she TAD grow,
TO DE ieaut,iu' inaiin of seventeen. am
unuer ski..e .ovein.ss wss &C. ompl sh ,