The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-06-24
With Interest
Accrued
By WILLIAM MCLEOD RAINE


II AS The Night OF the hAiiIt.
| young man one might better say a
boy, cfawicd YEARLY TO the rail- fence
against which Two armies had charged
and rechargcd IN their efforts 10 dis
lodge each other car,lcr In the day The
lad pulled himself with difficulty 10 the
top rail. rested there minute In the
shine Of the moon then slipped into
The shadow Of the woods beyond
tie went painfully with A drag to one
Of his legs that told pf A wound once
IN the woods, he came on little huddle
Of dead men whore screaming shell
had exploded and worked havoc He
passed the grim Sigh, without the least
emotion, for IN the pas, "a hours his ca
pacity for feeling had been strained to
the knit
For some miles he followed q cow
path through the woods. which took
gradual riae that lod towards the hills
rhe forest opened 10 a large clearing.
near the front Of which was q biz, ramb-
ling southern house, From tho windows
cheerful light cut into the gloom OF
the night The young man looked at It
wistfuliy, enyyinE those within the
good cheer and comfort they wore en-
Toying He was cold and stiff. and the
throhhng pain Of his wound had Slapped
DOT little NJ his nerve He knew of
homestead NJ in Illinois where the
tights were shining at that moment
whore his mother and his younger
brothers Aat about the fireplace. and re-.
memhercd the father aud tho son who
had answered their country's call to
arms. great wave Of uncsickness
swept over the lad and he leaned against
tree and gave way to his sclf-pity.
II must have been some minutes later
that there came To him an intangible
sense Of another presence He slowed
his head round then swung his body
with pistol In hand But the weapon
was quite unnecessary for defense since
those who gazed at him were only
girl and a child clinGing to her hand
The girl was perhaps rs. and the other
lad Of ahOu, mine They looked AZ him
with grave concern. taking in with big
eyes tho young mans hagGard face and
dishcvecd appearance
Then after silence. You Yank ."
asked tho child
"Ycs, returned the man in tho blue
uniform
Amt you feelin' pcart, Yank2"
Tho young man summoned rather
wan smile mot very I'm about tuck.
cred out"
You were in tho fight You're wound.
ed. cried the girl. with eyes dllated.
My wound isn't much, but it has
grown stifH
You must have It attended to You
must come to the house, she cried. i'm.
Dulslvely He stared, but she waited
Tor no answer Can you walk" she
demanded
II was several seconds before he spoke
II guess III not 60 to the house
mot come to the house? Why. OF
course, you will II you can walk. III
send the boys for you"
Her quick insistencc. her sweet south
ern intonatton were both charming 10
him but he did not care to risk a rcbufT
by her people
You forget I'm n Yank"
No, | don't When you are well III
hate you, because hate all Yanks But
now you're sick reckon | don't hate
any sick people"
but your people ," he suggested
Il reckon my people have got hearts"
she said. Indignantly.
Come along, Yank." said the boy
MY names Willie Moseby Hers IL
Rowena What's yours"
Robert shively." returned tho Yank
limping along with them toward the
house
Rowena noted for a minute the dif. |
fculty with which he walked.
you might lean on me" she urged |
presently.
And SO, with a hand on the shoulder |
Of the friendly enemy. Shively limped |
to the house OF Capt Moseby. OF tho |
Third Arkansas confederate volunteers |
II Ia possible that Mrs Moseby was not |
exactly delighted at first to have n |
wounded Yankee foisted on her hospi-
tality by her impulsive daughter. but
her motherly heart soon warmed to hts |
She would not hear Of his
leaving next day. but with southern
warmth insisted on his remaining TIL he
was quite rested and recovered The
war had denuded them OF many of the
OF life, but the best they rad
they lavfshed on him In order to avoid
Ii. oh a r.,., Of A.lnatIa< A.. a..-l -. |