Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-07-12
ROMANCE Or THE 500.
Strange Outcome of the Jilting of Lieu
tenant Reins by an English Girl.

| Strange Outcome of the Jilting of Lieu
tenant Reins by an English Girl.
Reins' Landing. on st. Joseph's Island,
opposite the sailors encampment in the
500 river, is always pointed out in q
trip up the stream; but time and new
generations seem to have Obliterated
the romantic episode that makes it the
most interesting spot along the beauti-
full shore. 1t is now more than hun
dred years since young Lieutenant
Reins, in the service of his Majesty the
King of England, fell head over heels
| in love with beautiful girl, the daugh-
ter of a country squire in one of the
shires near London. The attachment
seemed to be reciprocated, and the
officer trusted his betrothed with con-
fidence worthy better woman, for the
young lady, having many admirers and
being somewhat of a coquette, at length
fell victim to designing and worth
less scamp, who managed one day, by
submitting false proofs of her lovers
dislOyalty, to induce her to elope with
him.
The shock killed his 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 for him the rank OF Ma
for. 1t was also in this service that he
discovered the grandeur and beauty OF
the great lakes and their bordering
scenery, and it was here that he re-
solved, when his commission should ex-
pire, to live the remainder of his days
away from the world. Some years
afterward, when he had secured his re-
lease from the service and was about to
put his resolution into effect, having
been allotted pension, he received
one day from Montreal letter bearing
the postmark of his old English home.
The letter proved to have been die
tated and was to the effect that his for
mer 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 daughters, aged
twelve and fourteen respectively, and
implOring him to watch over them for
her sake. He hesitated, but the old
flame still burned in his heart, as it
does ever in a mans heart for a way
ward 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 destitute,
and that consideration had also had its
weight in his conclusion to protect
them. Imagine his surprise to learn,
after short greeting, 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 inheritage amounted to &c, 900.
1t was one day after securing 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 tall blonde,
just budding into womanhood-he I'M
folded glowing plan, to which the
girls made ne objections, and within
two weeks the party sailed for Mon
treal, whence the three jOurneyed to
st. Joseph's Island, in the St. Mary's
river, and settled for life. Whether
the sequel was fOreseen in Major 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 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 lately
dined.-Detron NeTS.