Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-09-16
Selett Stprp.
THE MAJORS STORY.

lne maJor Hho buoW u ~ NAG e''
and we had listened to his humorous
narrative with keen delight. So the
dinner had passed and the dessert
was before us, the servants had been
dismissed and cigars we're lit. Then
one of those unaccountable silences
that come to such assemblages fell
upon us, and we puffed away at our
cigara and said nothing, until the
stiffness grew strangely weird and
powerful.
Suddenly the Major stopped smok-
ing, and, looking at each of us in
turn, said: "You have often wond-
cred why I am not married and now
1 will tell you.
ut is q long story. but it may be
of interest to you. and as we are all
that is left I have thought that the
secret should be shared between US.
"When the war came / had but just
graduated from college, and, as you
know, enlisted as private. 1t was
no easy matter for me to do this, but
I felt it to be my duty. I was young,
strong and able to fight. I had means
to make the life of soldier as COM
Portable as it could be made, and,
while my mind longed for literary
and peaceful scenes, I still felt that I
owed my country duty. 1t was but
short time after I enlisted when we
were ordered south. The regiment,
as you know, had hard work and
plenty of it, but my part was as well
rewarded as I could wish, for l was
soon advanced to the command of my
company.
"You remember the time when we
went south of the Rappahannock, and
were quartsred in this queer little vii
lage, where even though we we're foes,
the people treated US so kindly? You
muat also remember the large house
hack of the village, the one that
crowned the hill on whose sides were
so many orchards2 Well, I had been
but day in the village when found
out that it was the native place of
Harry Wayne, my college chum, and
also that the house on the hill was his
home. 4 u
"For few days I refrained from
calling, thinking that my uniform
| might be distasteful to Harrys mother
and sisters, for he had gone with his
State and was an officer in Lees
army. At last my desire to know
something of my old friend grew too
strong to be kept down by acruples,
and one afternoon l walked to the
house, and, passing up the broad car
riage way running from the road to
the door, went slowly up the steps
leading to the pleasant and ahady
veranda, and just as was about
sounding the massive old-fashioned
knocker the door was thrown open
and a young and beautiful woman
stood before me. The laugh that had
been moment before rippling from
her lips ceased and she started back
with a slight gesture of alarm, but
my doffed cap and peaceful attitude
treasured her and she stood waiting.
"Is Mrs. Wayne in ?" atked.
my mother is at home; who shall
I say desires to see her?"
"Oharles Talbot, clsssmate Of her
son, and at present with the regiment
quartered in the village"
What are you the Charley Tai
bot who was Harry's chum at col
lege?"
II am"
"'Then come in, for we all seem to
know you, and, though on opposite
sides, are friends and she held ont
her hand.
II took it, and its warm clasp
thrilled me strangely, as did the clear
glance of the bright eyes that were
upturned to mine.
"'I am Mabel Wayne, Harry's sis
ter she went on. we have heard
so much from Harry concerning you,
and your kindness to him, that we
have often longed to meet you. Har-'
ry said that he knew you would be in
the Northern army; but for us, in
your cafe, there is no war. Please be
seated aud l will cal mother
1--WE had passed into large, airy
drawing.room while she had teen
speaking. Here she left me and soon
returned with middle aged lady,
whose beauty was of that quiet, moth
erly kind, SO rich in power that