The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-02-23

ness which was devastating the colony
at this melancholy period.
Major Hamilton was taken down with
this sickness, a dry fever, which drank
the blood, ani was attended with de
hrlufn. The Major was confident Of
recovery, and, from his happy temper
ament, his physician agreed with him
But these hopes were not destined to
be realized. He expired seven days
after he was first seized, while endeav-
oring to speak last word to his friend
Captain Gordon He was buried under
arms at sunset of the same day
Now, it was on the second night after
this wonderful event that Gordon, hay-
ing retired to ted later titan usual
found himself unexpectedly awake. He
T touched his repeater. and found it only
a little past ] O'Clock. He turned on
the other side and composed himself
afresh Thoughts Of his friend came
over his heart as his cheek reached the
pillow, and he said: Poor Hamilton
Well, God have mercy upon us.'
He felt at this moment that some
one near him said amen with great
soleInnity. lie was GtfeCtually aroused,
and asked, ''Who is there -
There was 10 reply. His voice seem
Cd to echo into Hamilton's apartmeet,
and he then remembered that the door
was open which communicated between
The Two rooms He listened intently,
but heard nothing save the beating of
his own heart : 1t is al mere imagin-
alton, he said, and once more laid his
head upon the pillow, and the moment
he did SO, be distinctly heard, for the
first time, the Majors wellknOwn step
1t was not matter to be mistaken
about. The ferrule sound: the pause
for the foot. the sound again. measltr-
ed on its return, as if all were again in
life. He heard it first upon the piazza :;
he heard it approach; pass through the
door from the piazza into the centre Of
the apartment, and there it seemed to
pause, as If the figure of the departed
were standing on the other side of that
open door in the room it had so lately
occupied
Gordon rose. He went to the window
that opened uponth piazza, and looked
out. The night was very beautiful the
the deepest blue end there was no
sound save the low dash of the waves
upon the lock at the foot Of the bluff
and no light save the lucidity OF sin
gle star, which traced its glittering
pathway Of light toward him, across
the distant waters Of the ocean
lit is very strange" said he; q
could have sworn [ heard it.
He returned to the door that stood
open between the two rooms. The
Majors apartment was darkened by the
shutters being closed, and ho could
distinguish nothing inside it. While
he stood gazing into the dark room,
the thought of being in the presence of
a disseubudie;t spirit rosa IN his mind
and although brave man, he did not
Immediately control the bristling SEN
sation of terror that began to possess
him.
He passed out onto the piazza. The
sentinel presented arms.
Have YOU been long stationed
here2' said Capt. Gordon.
. Half an hour was the reply.
" Did you-did you happen TO see
! any one ON the piazza during the time ~
. | did not. !"
Gordon returned at once to his room,
yeNei ut himself at having been the
sport of an illusion Of his own brain
He closed his door and his window, and
went to bed.
He was now thoroughly awake, and
had regained, as he thought, entire po-
session of his faculties MY old com
rade, said he, 'what could hepossibly
want with me2 We were always
friends - -kind-hearted, gallant fellow
that he was No man was ever his
enemy except upon the field itself.
Why should | have dreaded 80 meet
him, even if such an event could pos
/ siblv be-
a moment or two after this he was
almost paralyzcd with dread, by the
recurrence of the well known step,
which now seemed pacing the dark and
tcnaufless APARTMENT Al combined
to make, III his imaginatian. a situation
appalling and awful. 1t was, there
fore, with great earnestness that he ex-
claimed:
In the name of God, Hamilton lis
that you ~
\ voice from the threshold of the
communicating door, addressed him IN
tones that sank deeply into his soul:
'.Gordonl listen, but do not speak
to me. In ten days you viii apply for
furlough, it will not be granted YOU.
You will renew the application III three
weeks, and then it viii be successful.
/ Stay no longer in Scotland than is alb
/ solutely necessary. Go to London.
1 Take lodgings at No. y Jermyn street
You viii be shown into an apartment
looking into a garden. Remove the
pannel from above the chimney piece,
/ and YOU will find papers which viii es-
/ tablsh the fact of my marriage, and
will give YOU the address of nv wife
and son. Hasten for they are III deep
/ distress; and those papers will estab-
/ lish their right. Do not forget me-,
When Capt Gordon arose it was
broad day. He dressed himself, went
/ to town, drew up a statement Of the
affair, and swore to 1t. A recent ar
rival had brought intelligence of tle
death of his father. and of his acces-
sion to a large estate. Within ten days
he applied for a furlough, but such
4 had been the mortality among the off
GERS that his request was refused AM
/ other arrival, however, brought to the
/ island reinforcement for the garrison,
and the difficulty was removed. on a
second application, in three weeks.
/ tie sailed Immediately for Scotland,
arranged his affairs, and intended at
once to leave Tor London: but agree
able engagements, one after another,
retarded his departure, and he forgot
his friends concerns, and the prefer
natural visits which he had received
from him We're no longer impressed SO
vividly as at first upon his mind.
+ One night, however, after social
party of pleasure, he awoke without
( afl,,aranE .aYrca aS ba I,oI .1o,o ~, +ho