Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-24
THE MAJORS GHOST.

the club. and the Colonel, the MAJOR,
the Captain and myself, were seated
around the table, with the wine and
fr,,its before us. We were the remain
der of the club, which originally con-
tanned all the officers belonging TO our
regiment that had come out OF me
war alive. AT our first gathering there
were fifteen of us, but the hardshlps
and wounds Of those four bitter years
had taken the others away. Every year
there had been one plate less,
until the present, and we had begun
10 look upon our final dissolution as
thing inevitably fixed by fate. But the
four who had met the previous year
were together again, and we gladly
drained a glass to the discontinue
OF the broken spell.
II had not been our fate to have the
fame Of victory without toll, for ours
had been a fighting regiment, and we
were proud Of H. Dangers met and
shared together made the bonds of
our friendship strong indeed, and
these yearly meetings were rich IN the
stories Of old timeS-stOrleS told OF the
daring or kindness of some one who
had passed TO the everlasting peace OF
heath. None of US were old men. The
colonel had Just reached 40; the major
was So, and the captain was three
years his senior, while / was three
years his Junior. We were all marred
except the major, and it was a source
of great wonder TO us that he was
not so, for the major was just the man
who could have made good woman's
life joyous and bright.
Handsome, brave, generous, talented,
a delightful talker, an author OF no
common merit, and possessed OF a for
tune ample enough to make the worlds
comforts and many of its luxuries ac-
CesSible, the major was sought for in
society, and was ever ready TO respond
TO the call But while attentive to all
the women with whom he was thrown
IN contact, the major was noted for
the impartiality with which he be-
slowed these attentions. We knew that
he could easily carry OF a desirable
prize, but he never made the attempt.
A our long knowledge Of his char
acter had shown up his ChiyalrOus de-
vOtlOn TO women, and as we knew that
during our acquaintance he had never
had preference for any special one, we
were puzzled 20 know why this was So
We had made him the point of subtle
attacks regarding the matter. but the
major was good strategist, and he
turned the flank of every forward
movement we eSsayed in this direc-
ton, 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 moth
ing The talk had been lively all
through the evening, centering about
"reminiscences of jOvial times during
a raid we had made. which had been
prolific Of amusing adventure.
The major had shown at his best,
and we had listened 10 his humorous
narrative with keen delight So the
dinner had passed. and the dessert was
before as. the servants had been dis
missed. and cigars were lit. Then one
OF those unaccOuntable silenCes that
sometimes come 10 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 smok-
Ls
said: you have often wondered why
] am not married, and now will tell
TT is not a long story, but 1t 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, had but just
graduated from college. and. as you
know, enlisted as a private. l.. was no
easy matter for me to do this, but l
felt il to be my duty. / was young,
strong. and able to fight. I had means
TO make the life of a soldier as COM
Portable as IL could be made, and while
my mind longed for literary and peace
full scenes, / still felt that I owed my
country a duty. Ii was but a 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 we'll rewarded as
I could wish. for I was soon advanced
10 the command Of my company.
"YOu remember the time when we
went south OF the Rappahannock, and
were Quartered in that queer little viii
lage. where, even though we were foes.
the people treated US so kindly You
must also remember the large house
back Of the village, the one that
crowned the hill on whose sides were
so many orchards? Well I had been
but a day in the village when l found
out that it was the native place of
Harry Wyune. my college chum. and
also the house on the Hill was his
home.
For a few days I refrained from
calling. thinking that my uniform
might be distasteful 10 Harry's 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