Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-08-31
THE MAJOR'S GHOST.

THE MAJORS GHOST.
1t was the twelfth annual dinner of
the club, and the colonel, the major, the
captain and myself were seated around a
table loaded with wine and fruit. We
were the remainder of our club, which
originally contained all the officers of
our regiment who had survived the war.
AT first there were fifteen of us, but the
hardships and wounds of these four bit
ter wears had taken the others away.
Every wear there was one plate less, and
we began to look on our final dissolution.
But we four who had met the previous
wear. gladly drained glass to the dis
comfort of the broken spell
1t had not been our fate to have the
fame OF victory without toll, for ours
had been a fighting regiment. Dangers
shared together had strengthened the
bond of friendship, and these yearly
meetings were rich in stories of old
times-stories of daring, or of the kind
ness of some who had gone to eternal
rest. None of us were old men. The
colonel was just forty, the major was
thirty-fve, and the captain was thirty
three, and / six years his Junior. We
were all married except the major, and
it was a wonder to us that he was not
married. for the major was Just the man
who could have made a good and true
woman's life bright and joyous.
Handsome, brave, generous, de-
hghtful talker, an author of no common
merit, and possessed of fortune ample
enough to make the worlds comforts
and luxuries accessible, the major was
much sought in society and was ever
ready to respond to the call. But while
attentive to all women with whom he
was thrown in contact, he was noted for
the impartiality with which he bestowed
these attentions. We knew that he
could easily carry off desirable prize,
hut he never made the attempt.
As our knowledge of his character had
shown us his chivalrous devotion to
women. and as we knew that during orr
acquaintance he had never had prefer
ence for any special one, we were puz-
zled to know why this was so. We had
made him the point of subtle attacks
regarding the matter, but the Major was
a good strategist, and he turned the
flank of every forward movement we
essayed in this direction, diverting our
talk into other channels, until at last we
had dropped the matter as one that
might touch on a sorrow OF which we
knew nothing The talk had been lively
all through the evening, centreing about
"reminiscences of iovial times during a
raid we had made, which had been pro-
life of amusing adventure.
The Major had shown at his best, and
we had listened to his humorous nara
tive with keen delight. So the dinner
had passed and the dessert was before
Ms the servants had been dismissed and
cigars were lit. Then one of those un-
accountable silences that come to such
assemblages fell upon us, and we pulled
away at our cigars and said nothing,
until the stiffness grew strangely weird
and powerful.
Suddenly the Major stopped smoking,
and. looking at each of us in turn, said,
s.You have often wondered why j am
not married, and now 1 will tell you.
cit is not a long story, but it may be
of interest to you, and as We are all that
is left. / have thought that the secret
should be shared between us.
..When the war came 1 had but Just
graduated from the college, and, as you
know. enlisted as private. 1t was no
easy matter for me to do this but l felt
it to be my duty. was young, strong,
and able to fight. 1 had means to make
the life of a soldier as comfortable as II
could be made, and while my mind
longed for literary and peaceful scenes,
/ still felt that L owed my country
duty. 1t was but short time after
enlisted when We were ordered South
The regiment, as you know, had hare
work and plenty of it, but my part wa
as well rewarded as could wish, for
was soon advanced to the command o.
my company.
"You remember the time when w
went south of the Rappahannock, ant
were-auartered in this queer little VII
lage. where even though we were foes
the people treated us so kindly? fo'
must also remember the large hous'
back of the village, the one that crowne'
the hill on whose sides were so man.
orchards Well, had been but da.
in the village when found out that l
was the native place of Harry Wayne
nv college chum, and also, that tn
house on the hill was his home.
"For few days l refrained from call
ing, thinking that my uniform might b
distastefui TO Harry's mother and sisters
for he had gone with his State and wa
an officer in Lees army. At last my dc
sire to know something of my old frlen
grew too strong to be kept down WIT
such scruples, and one afternoon
walked to the house, and, passing n
the broad carriageway running from tn
road to the door, went slowly up tn
steps leading to the pleasant and shad
veranda, and just as was about soune
ing the massive old-fashioned knccke