The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-10-07
WAS 1T
DREAM?
By WILLIAM

By WILLIAM CHANDLER
| am a commercial traveller. did
not in my youth receive much educa-
ton and am lamentably ignorant of
American history. These things
mention because they bear upon the
experience / am about to relate. New
er having heard or read of the char
acters | shall mention, it is impossible
that ! should have conJured them M
from memory.
One autumn | left my home for q
tour in the middle west. Reaching
Pittsburgh, l made 1t a starting point
for visiting Ohio river towns between
1t and Cincinnati. The Ohio, which
the early French settlers named La
Belle Riviere beautiful river), afforded
such attractive scenery that at Mari.
eta / left regular modes Of travel,
hired a rowboat and, putting my bag.
gage in II. principally a trunk full Of
samples, d%rifted-there was no need Of
pull1ng-down the river, intending to
take In the principal towns by the way.
Shortly before nightfall l came to an
island so beautiful that l was tempted
to land and inspect it. Tying my boat
TO the point that formed its upper end.
made my way through underbrush
and cleartngs. There was no one on
this. part of the island, and l was op
pressed by a feeling Of loneliness. Re-
turning to my boat, / supped from the
contents Of q lunch basket had
bought for myself on the shore; wrap,
ped myself in my blankets and turn.
ed In.
The night was chilly. and / failed to
keep warm. Rising to walk about for
a few minutes, looking southwark I
saw a large dwelling house, most of
the windows Of which were uluminat-
ed. ! thought it strange that l had
not seen 1t during my walk at night
fall. Hoping to secure a warm bed,
went to the house, which was perhaps
a quarter of a mile distant. As I ap-
preached l saw that it was Of colonial
build, with a pair Of wings. Before it
was a lawn and behind it were trees.
Knocking, | was admitted by an old
darby. and on my asking If | could
get a lodging for the night he called
his mistress, who came out into the
spacious hall. She was a pleasant
looking lady about thirty years old
and Of courtly manners. When i ask.
ed her if l could be accommodated for
the night she replied with the accent
ct an Irish lady Of high degree that i
would be welcome to the best her
home afforded and invited me into the
living room.
was struck at once with the turni-
ture, which had either been there for
a hundred years or had been purchased
from some dealer In curios. There was
a large fireplace in the room, In which
burned q cheerful blaze to take of the
chill autumn air. The lady left me to
order some refreshment, and, all being
still. ! could hear voices In an adjoin-
ing room separated by u thin part
ton. One was the voice of the lady
who had left me. the other that of a
man with the same inlection-an Irish
gentleman.
II fear" he said, that the colonel is
about to lead US all Into a wild
scheme"
ut a be no more visionary than
our coming across an ocean to build
a home on this desolate island. For
my part have great confidence in the
man and his scheme. l believe he will
be able to carry 1t through successful.
ly, and we shall be very rich"
ut Is you, my DEAR" replied the
man. who have been infatuated by
this man who they say can win any
woman. | am engaged in a scheme
With.one whom I have never seen, but
who has won you to 1t and through
you me. Suppose some Of the persons
be has taken into his CONFIDENCE
l heard NJ more then. Whether |
dozed In the interim l don't know, but
presently ! heard voices again, one
the lrishman, the other a man who
spoke In melodious tones.
I'VE must give out that the land
speculation is our real purpose" said
the latter, and offer a hundred acres
to each and all Of our adherents."
But suppose there Is no war with
spatn?" suggested the 1rishman.
I'VE must bring o. a war. The gen.
eral'-
Again there was an interim or 4
slumber from which l was awakened
by a crash. Starting up, / went into
the hall In time to see that men with
muskets. having broken down the front
door, were pushing into the house.
Some children at the head of the main
staircase were looking down In terror.
Then followed a scene Of destruction
that I shall never forget, The SOL
d1ers-for such they seemed to be-
were roaring about the house, most Of
them drunk and all helping themselves
to what they wanted. Then suddenly
the Irish lady appeared and was pro-
testing, when suddenly I found my
self lying on the ground shivering. 1t
was coming dawn, and l saw that