Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-11-03
WAS 1T A
DREAM?
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

ton and am lamentably ignorant of
American history These things 1
mention because they bear upon the
experience l am about to relate New
er having heard or read Of the char
acters I shall mention, it is impossible
that I should have conjured them up
from memory.
One autumn I left my home for a
tour in the middle west. Reaching
Pittsburgh, I made it a starting point
for visiting Ohio river towns between
it and Cincinnati. The Ohio, which
the early French settlers named La
Belle Riviere beautiful river, afforded
such attractive scenery that at Mari
eta I left regular modes of travel.
hired a roWbOat and, putting my bag
gage in it, principally a trunk full of
samples, drifted-there was no need of
pulling down the river, intending to
take in the principal towns by the way.
Shortly before nightfall l came to an
island so beautiful that was tempted
to land and inspect it. Tying my boat
to the point that formed its upper end.
made my way through underhrush
and clearings. There was no one on
this part of the island, and I was op-
pressed by feeling of loneliness. Re-
turning to my boat. [ supped from the
contents of lunch basket I had
bought for myself on the shore, wrap
ped myself in my blankets and turn
ed in.
The night was chilly. and I failed to
keep warm. Rising to walk about for
few minutes, looking southwark I
saw a large dwelling house, most of
the windows of which were illuminate
ed. l thought it strange that I had
not seen it during my walk at night
fall. Hoping to secure a warm bed,
went to the house, which was perhaps
quarter of a mile distant. AS 1 ap-
preached I saw that it was Of colonial
build, with a pair Of wings. Before it
was lawn and behind it We're trees.
Knocking, was admitted by an old
..dlarky, and on my asking if 1 could
get 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 1 could be accommodated for
the night she replied with the accent
Of an Irish lady of high degree that 1
would be welcome to the best her
home afforded and invited me into the
living room.
I was struck at once with the furni-
ture, which had either been there for
hundred years or had been purchased
from some dealer in curios There was
a large fireplace in the room, in which
burned a cheerful blaze to take off the
chill autumn air. The lady left me to
order some TefTeShment, and, all being
still, I could hear voices in an adiOin-
ing room separated by Il thin parti-
ton. One was the voice of the lady
who had left me, the other that of
man with the same infectf0n-an Irish
gentleman.
Il fear he said, that the colonel is
about to lead US all into a wild
scheme"
1T can be 10 more visionary than
our coming across an ocean to build
a home Oh this desoIate island. For
my part I have great confidence in the
man and his scheme. I believe he will
be able 70 carry it through successful
", and We shall be very rich"
1T IS you, my DEAR" replied the
man, who have been infatuated by
this man who they say can win any
woman. l am engaged in a scheme
with one whom have never seen, but
who has won you to it and through
you me-. Suppose some of the persons
he has taken into his CONFIDENCE
I heard no more then. Whether l
d0Zed in the interim I don't know, but
presently l heard voices again, one
the Irishman, the other a man who
spoke in melodious tones.
We must give out that the land
speculation is our real purpose" said
the latter. land offer a hundred acres
to each and all of our adherents.''
But suppose there is no war with
Spain%' suggested the Irishman
I'VE must bring on a war. The gen
erap'-
Again there was an interim or a
slumber from which 1 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 L shall never forget. The sol
diers-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. L
was coming dawn, and 1 saw that
was amid a ruin, the only surviving
thing being a well house.
Returning to my boat, I dropped
down the river and at the first landins