The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-03

tie regard for the picturesque; and like most men similarly situated. was wearying for the termination of my two hours vigil, and little inclined to admire the surrounding scenery At length the clock struck three: and was at once filled with feeling of cheery satistac- tion at the immediate prospect of being relieved, and of returning to the warm guard-room and drinking cup of hot coffee before turning of to sleep
 heard the sentry on the gate lustlly shout Sentry-go as summons for the relief to turn out; and just AS was preparing to take last turn on my post l perceived. at the extremity of the shadow cast by the officers quarters. a ghostly figure in long white robe bearing in its hand drawn sword endeavored to shout for assistance, but was so narrowed with fear and won der, that was unable to articulate a single word. but stood perfectly trans fixed staring at the appartion. ltmoved slowly past me; but when 1t turned round and raised its disengaged hand to it's white head-covering aS if in salute its aspect so filled me with terror that being as mentioned before. of d ner- vouS temperament l fell to the ground, and only recovered consciousness when a minute or two afterwards, l was vigor- ously shaken up by the sergeant on the guard
 That non-commissioncd officer along with ihr nloH at :hc rc!:e! laughed heartily when l described the trigh; l had received. and remarked that l had been dreaming The sergeant, however, performed the duty required of him by the rules of discipline in d most incxor- able fashion He deprived me of my arms and belts. and confined me in the prisoners quarters in the guard-room
 Next day was taken before the com manding officer, hot-hcaded Welsh man, whom shall call Colonel Morgan, charged with having been asleep on my post To him related particulars of the mysterious figure had seen, but my statement, instead of proving Il sat iStaetory excuse for my otiensc, as l hoped it would, threw the worthy cole mel into a state of great indignation. and he at once remitted me for trial bv court martial
 On the third day after the sitting of the court, l was informed that my sen tence would be promulgated at forenoon parade. With d sinking heart, l heard the assembly sounded, then the fall in; and shortly afterwards the band played merrily, as if in moekery of my agitation.
 Escorted by file of the guard. I marched to the center of the hollow square into which the regiment had been formed and the adiutant read out my sentence, which was that should be i'm prisoned with hard labor for period oi cighty-four days Appended to the con tirmation of the proceedings of the court martial by the general commanding the 1 district, was a note to the following eff feet Considering the nature of the prisoner defence, which was calculated to excite an uneasy feeling among the men of his regiment l consider the pun ishment inflicted quite inadequate to the cnormity of his otfense
 The next day l was escorted. hand cufird, to A military prison about six miles distant, where after having been medically examined and weighed. was introduced to most select assemblage of erring brethren of the sword, who were engaged in the exhilarating occu- patton of picking oakum, alternated with the agreeable muscular exercise of shot drill.
 The humiliating and degrading ,itlla- ation in which found myself through no fault of my own, made me naturally enough, deeply regret my folly in having joined the army, and excited within nic many unpleasant reflections on the good prospects in civil life which had thrown to the winds Like Mckey Frees father in Levers Charles c Mallcy, heartily eiaculated Bad luck to the hand that held the hammer that struck the shil- ling that listed mel"
 Now for the sequel to my ghost story which was related to me when wa, re- leased from durance vile
 Between two and three O clock on the morning of the day after l was taken to prison, man came screaming into the guard-rooom of the barracks, exhibiting symptoms of the most extreme terror, and declaring that he, too had seen the figure while on sentry; and his dcscrip- ton of its appearance was precisely sim liar to mine
 The sergeant of the guard at once rushed to the officers quarters, woke up the adjutant, and informed him of the ghosts alleged reappearance A hue and-cry was at once instituted and the orderly sergeants having been reused checkroll was called, to ascertain whether any man had left his room for the purpose of playing practical joke. Every nook and cranny in barracks, from the officers quarters to the wash houses, were rigidly examined; but the spectre had apparently vanished into thin air, leaving all the regiment in state of unpleasant suspense
 What's all the row. shouted the colonel from the window of his room he having been awakened by the unusual commotion in barracks
 " The ghost has appeared again sir replied the adiutant
 Have you caught him?
 No, sir
 If you do put him. white sheet and all in the grIarGl-ro0m I sholIt1 very