The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-03-09

| OF a crescentular bay, and oyerlookS the
town and harbor. lnland, toward the
east, small plain extends itself, while,
on the west and north, which is nearest
the shore, and almost overhanging it, are
several low, one story buildings, hastily
erected, of wood, for the accommodation
of the officers of the corps. and consisting
all Of three or four rooms in each end,
| with piazza on the side toward the sea,
extending the whole length of the struc
ture, and forming shaded and agreea-
Bile promenade during the earlier part Of
the day. The rooms opened upon the
piazza and communicated with each 9TH
er by means of side door, which was
occasionally kept open for the freer cir
culation Of air.
| In one Of these barracks were quarter
ed three officers of the regiment
Major Hamilton, Capt. Gordon. and a
third, whose name cannot at this mo-
ment recall.
| Major Hamilton's apartment was in
the center. He had lost leg in the SER
vice; and usually wore wooden pin or
stick shod with iron, and being an alert
man. fond of exercise, used to walk up
and down this piazza for hours together,
stopping occasionally at Gordon's door or
window, and sometimes looking in that
of the other officer, exchanging cheer
full word with them, as they sat, each In
his apartment, endeavoring to beguile the
time with dressing, reading, writing,
thoughts of promotion, of home, and of
a speedy and happy return to Britain.
The sound of the Majors step was
peculiar. It was only the blow given by
| the iron ferule at the end of his wooden
| leg that was heard for, altho' a stout
man, he trod lightly with the remaining
foot, and heavily only with the wooden
substitute. which gave forth its note at
short intervals, as he paced to and fro so
regularly that there was a certain pleas
ure in listening to it. Sounds that strike
the ear in this measured way affect US
more than others. The attention becomes
engaged, and they grow emphatic as
we listen.
The calker's hammer stroke as it flies
from the dock-yard of the busy port
across some placid bay into the green
and peaceful country, is an instance of
this truth. Associated with this meas
| ured movement of the Major, was his
deep CHEEKY voice, that made light Of
danger and difficulty, whether on the
field of battle, or as now amid the sick
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" and was attended with de
lirium. The Major was confident of re-
covery, and, from his happy tempera
ment, his physician agreed with him.
But these hopes were not destined to be
realized. He expired seven days after
he was first seized, while endeavoring 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, having
retired to bed later than usual, found
himself unexpectedly awake. He touch
ed his repeater, ard found it only little
past 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 So
lemnity. He was effectually aroused and
asked, 'Who is there -
There was no reply. His voice seem
ed to echo into Hamilton apartment,
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. SIT is all mere imagina-
| tion," he said, and once more laid his
head upon the pillow, and the moment
he did so, he distinctly heard, for the
first time, the Majors well known step.
| 1t was not a matter to be mistaken
| about. The ferrule sound, the pause
for the foot the sound again, measured
| on its return, as if all we're again in life.
He heard it first upon the piazza; he
heard it approach; pass through the
door from the piazza into the center 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 upon the piazza, and looked
out. The night was very beautiful; the
moon had gone down the sky was of
the deepest blue; and there was no
sound save the low lash of the waves
upon the lock at the foot of the bluff
and no light save the lucidity of sim
gle star, which traced its glittering path
way of light toward him, across the dis
tant waters of the ocean.
1T is very strange" said he; 81
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 he could dis
tinguish nothing inside it. While he
stood gazing into tie dark room, the
thought of being in the presence of a