The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-06-13
A Colonial Romance.


opposite the sailors encampment, in the
500 River, is always pointed out in a trip
up the stream but time and new gener-
ations seem TO have obliterated the ro-
mantle episode that makes it the most
interesting spot along the beautiful shore.
1t is now more than hundred years
since young Lieutenant Reins in the SER
vice of his majesty, the King of England,
fell head over heels in love with a beau
ful girl, the daughter Of a country 5 luire
in one of the shires near London. The
attachment seemed to be reciprocated and
the young officer trusted his betrothed
with confidence worthy better wo-
man, for the Young lady, having many
admirers and being somewhat of a CO.
quette. at length fell victim to design
ing and worthless scamp who managed
one day by submitting false proofs of her
lovers disl9yalty to induce her to elope
with him.
The shock killed the father, and SEEM
ed to quite break the young mans heart.
He rallied, however, and soon obtained
leave to join the British forces in Ameri-
ca, who were engaged in war with the
French and Indians. 1T was in this SER
vice that, half reckless of his life. he ex-
hibited daring and bravery which gain
ed him the rank of Major 1t was also in
this service that he discovered the grand
eur ami beauty Of the great lakes and the
bordering scenery, and il was here that
he resolved when his commission shonld
expire to live the remainder of his days
away from the world. Some years after
ward, when he had secured his release
from the service and was about TO put his
resolution into effect, having been allot-
ted pension, he received one day from
Montreal a letter bearing the postmark
of his old English home. The letter PROV
ed 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 without
again seeking his forgiveness, and ended
by committing to his care her two chill
dren, both daughters, aged twelve and
fourteen respectively, and imploring him
TO watch over them for her sake. He hes
itated, but the old flame still burned in
his heart, as it does ever in mans heart
for wayward love, and the next dav
found him on his way to old England,
which he had determined never to see
again. He had imagined the children
destitute, and that consideration had also
had its weight in his conclusion to pro-
tect them. Imagine his surprise to learn
after 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 we're left, and the
inheritage amounted to e6,000.
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 10 America. So
calling the two beautiful girls TO him. the
oldest tall blonde just budding into wo-
manhood, he unfolded 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 ST. Mary's riv-
er, and settled for life. Whether the Sc
quel was foreseen in Major Reins's mind
when the idea came to him that day in
England is to be guessed at. Certainly q
like course with their mother years be-
fore 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 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 recently
dined.
The Major and his wives have long
been dead, and the blockhouse, and 9TH
er substantial buildings erected by his
pension and the girls fortune have de-
cayed and disappeared, while some spec
ulatiye creature of the present generation
has erected near the landing gable-end
structure, over the door of which is in
scribed: Meals, twenty-five cents
HOTEL