The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-30
a ROMANCE OF THE 500.
Remarkable Outcome of the Jilting Of
Lieut.. Reins by an English Girl.
From The Detroit Nelus.


Reins Landing, on st. Joseph's island oppo-
site the sailors encampment, in the 500 river,
Is always pointed out in trip up the stream;
put time and new generations seem TO have OBJ
liberated the romantic episode that makes II the
most interesting spot along the beautiful shore.
1t is now more than hundred years since
young Lieut.. Reins, in the service OF his
Majesty the King of England, fell head over
heels in love with beautiful girl the daughter
or country squire in one Of the shires near
London. The attachment seemed to be re
ciprocated and the young officer trusted ms
betrothed with a confidence worthy better
woman, for the young lady, having many ad-
mirers, and being somewhat of a coquette, at
length fell victim to a designing and worth
less scamp, who managed one day, by submit
ting false proofs of her lovers disoyalty, to in
duce her TO eope with him.
The shock killed the father, and seemed to
quite break the young man s 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 for
him the rank of major. 1t was also in this ser
vice that he discovered the grandeur and
beauty of the great lakes and their bordering
scenery, and it was there that he 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
his old English home. The letter proved
to have been dictated and was TO
the effect that his former love, be-
trayed and deserted by her husband, was on
her death bed but could not die without again
seeking his forgiveness, and ended by commit
ting to his care her two daughters, aged II and
ID respectively, and innploring him to watch
over them for her sake. He hesitated but the
old fame still burned in his heart, as it does
ever in a mans heart for a hayward love, and
the next day found him on his way to old Eng
land, 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. I'm
agne his surprise to learn after a short greet
ing that the estates of their mothers father,
willed away at the time of her mad marriage,
now came back to them through the death of
the relative to whom they were left, and the
nheritage amounted to 5000.
II was one day after securing his official ap-
pontment guardian Of the girls that a
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 womanhood, he unfolded a
glowing plan to which the girls made no objec-
tons, and within two weeks the party sailed 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 Maj. Reins' mind when the idea came to
him that day in England is to be guessed at
Certainly like course with their mother years
before would have made his life different He
was the only white man in the region, and the
events which followed 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 chill
dren were born of the polygamous union, many
of whom still live in the vicinity And at the
home of one of the renowned Majors descend.
ants the writer lately dined.
The Major and his wives have long been dead
and the blockhouse and other substantial build
ings, erected by his pension and the girls for
tune, have decayed and disappeared, while some
speculative creature OF OF the present generation
ture, over the door of which is inscribed:
Meals. 25 centS-HOtel."