The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-06-22
A Colonial Romance.

Reins' Landing, on ST. Joseph's Is
land. opposite the sailors eacampment,
in the 500 River, is always pointed out
in trip up the stream but time and
new generations seem to have oblitera-
ted the romantic episode that makes it
the most interesting spot along the beau
tiful shore. Il is now more than a hun
dred years since young Lieutenant
ReiDs in the service OF his majesty, the
King of England, sell head over heels
~ love with beautiful girl, the daugh-
ter of country squire in one of the shires
near Lordon. The attachment seemed
to be reciprocated and the young officer
trusted his betrothed with a confidence
worthy better woman, for the young
lady, having many admirers and being
somewhat OF a coquette, at lenght fell a
victim to a designing and worthless
scamp, who managed one day by SUBJ
mitting false proofs of her lovers dis
loyalty TO induce 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 il war
with the French and Indians. 1t was
in this service that, half reckless of
his life, he exhibited daring and brave
~ which gained him the rank of Major.
1t was also this service that he discov-
cred the granduer and beauty of the
great lakes and the bordering scenery.
and 1t was here 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 pat his resolution into
effect. having been allotted a pen
sion, be received one day from Montreal
letter bearing the postrsark of his old
English home. The letter proved to
have been dictated and was to the effect
that his former love, betrayed and de-
serted by her husband, was on her death
bed, but could not die without again
seeking bis forgiveness, and ended by
committing TO his care her two children,
both daughters, aged twelve aid four
teen respectively, and imploriDg him to
watch over them for her sake. He hes
itated, but the olG flame still burned
In his heart, as il does ever in a mans
heart for a wsyward 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 .he
children destitute, and thar considera-
tion had also had its weight in his con-
clusion to protect them. Imagine his
surprise to learn after a short greeting
that the estate or their mothers father.
willed away at the time OF the mad
marriage, now came back to them
through the death of ihe relative to
whom there were left, and the inheri-
tage amounted to 5000.
1t was only ole day after receiving
his otficial 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 tall blonde Just
budding into womanhood, be unfolded
a glowing plan to which the girls made
no objections. and within two weeks the
| party sailed for Montreal, whence the
three journeyed to st. Joseph's Island,
| in the 81. Mary's river. and settled for
| life. Whether the sequel was foreseen
/ in Major Rein's 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 tie 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 of his
blooming wards, and in the years that
followed over forty children were born
of the polygamous union, many of
whom still live in The vicinity. And
at the home OF one of the renowned
Majors descendants the writer only re-
Gently dined.
The Major and his wives lave long
been dead, and the block house. and
other substantial buildings erected by
his pension and :he giIls fortune have
decayed and disappeared, while some
speculative creature of the present gen.
GRAFTON has erected neal the landing a
gable-end structure, over the door of
which is inscribed /: meals, twenty
five cents-Hotel -