Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-06-29
NO. 81
o'clock, after hich fireworks will be
served to those who desire 10 remain.
A Colonial Romance.

A Colonial Romance.
Reins' Landing, on st, Joseph's
Island, opposite the sailors encamp-
ment, in the 500 River, is always
pointed out in trip up the stream;
but time and generations seem to
have obliterated the romantic episode
that makes it the most interesting
spot along the beautiful shore. 1t
is now more than q hundred years
since young Lieutenant ReiDs in the
service of his majesty, the King of
England, fell head over heels in love
with beautiful girl, the daughter of
q country squire in one of the shires
near London. The attachment SEEM
ed to be reciprocated and the young
officer trusted his betrothed with
confidence worthy better woman,
for the young lady. having many ad-
mirers and being somewhat of a CO.
quette, at length fell q victim to q
designing and worthless scamp, who
managed one day by submitting false
proofs of her lovers disloyalty to in.
duce her to elope with him
The shock killed the father, and
seemed to quite break the young
mans heart. He rallied, however,
and soon obtained leave to join the
British forces in America, who were
engaged in war with the French and
Indians. 1t was in this service that,
half reckless of his life, he exhibited
daring and bravery which gained
him the rank of Major. 1t was also
in this service that he discovered the
grandeur and beauty of the great
lakes and the bordering scenery, and
and it was here that be resolved
when his commission should expire
to live the remainder of his days
away from the world. Some years
afterward, when he had secured his
release from the service and was
about to put his resolution into effect,
having been allotted pension, he
received one day from Montreal q let
ter bearing the postmark of his old
English home. The letter proved to
have been dictated and was to the
effect that his former love, betrayed
and deserted by her husband, was on
her death bed, but could not die with
out again seeking his forgiveness and
ended by committing to his care her
two children, both daughters, aged
twelve and fourteen respectively, and
imploring him to watch over them
for her sake
He hesitated, but the old fame
still burned in his heart, as it does
ever in o mans heart for wayward
love, and the next day found him on
his way to old England, which he
had determined never to see again.
He had imagined the children desti-
tute, and that consideration had also
had its weight in his conclusion to
protect them. Imagine his surprise
to learn after q short greeting that
the estate of their mothers father,
willed away at the time of the mad
marriage, now came back to them
through the death of the relative to
whom they were left, and the inheri-
tage amounted to $4,000.
1t was only one day after receiving
his official appointment as guardian
of the girls that strange thought
came to him. He would take his
wards to America. So calling the
two beautiful girls to him, the oldest
a tall blonde just budding into wo-
maj hood, he unfolded glowing plan
to which the girls made no objections
and within two weeks the party sail.
ed for Montreal, whence the three
journeyed to ST. Joseph's Island, In
the St. Mary's river, and settled for
life. Whether the sequel was FORE
seen in Major Rein's mind when the
idea came to him that day in En-.
gland is to be guessed at. Certainly
q like course with their mother years
before would hsye made his life differ
ent He was the only white man in
the region and the events which fol-
lowed showed that the girls had no
longing for other society. Within
two years the Major. by some sort of
ceremony, married both his blooming
wards, and in the years that followed
over forty children were born of the
polygamous union, many OF whom
still liye in the vicinity. Andat the
home of one of the renowned Majors
descendants the writer only recently
dined.
The Major aud his wives have long
been dead, and the block house, and
other substantial buildings erected by
his pension and the girls fortune have
dccayed and disappeared, while some
speculative creature of the present
generation has erected near the land
ing gable.end structure, over the
door of which ia inscribed: meals,
twenty-five cents-Hotel."