Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-23
With Interest
 Accrued By WILLIAM MCLEOD RAINE
foopyrlght, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Col
TT WAS the night of the battle.

TT WAS the night of the battle. A young man, one might better say a boy, crawled wearily to the rail fence against which two armies had charged and reeharged in their efforts to dis lodge each other earlier in the day. The lad pulled himself with difficulty to the top rail, rested there minute in the shine of the moon, then slipped into the shadow of the woods beyond
 He went painfully. with drag to one of his legs that told of wound. Once in the woods, he came on little huddle of dead men where screaming she'll had exploded and worked havoc. He passed the grim sight without the least emotion, for in the past 24 hours his ca pacity for feeling had been strained to the limit
 For some miles he followed cow path through the woods, which took a gradual rise that led towards the hills. The forest opened to large clearing, near the front of which was big. ramb- ling southern house. From the windows a cheerful light cut into the gloom of the night. The young man looked at it WlSLl CANy1uS lHOSC W1lulA@ LIlC good cheer and comfort they were en- toying. He was cold and stiff, and the throbbing pain of his wound had sapped not 8 little at his nerve. He knew of a homestead up in Illinois where the lights were shining at that moment, where his mother and his younger brothers sat about the fireplace, and re- membered the father and the son who had answered their country's call to arms. A great wave of homesickness swept over the lad, and he leaned against tree and gave way to his self-pity.
 It 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 child clinging to her hand. The girl was perhaps IS, and the other lad of about nine. They looked at him with grave concern, taking in with big eyes the young mans haggard face and disheveled appearance.
 Then after a silence. "You Yank ?a asked the child.
 "Yes," returned the man in the blue uniform.
 1sAin't you feelin' peart, Yank?"
 The young man summoned rather a wan smile. Mot very. I'm about tuck cred out"
 You werein the fight You're wound ed," cried the girl, with eyes dilated.
 My wound isn't much, but 1t has grown stiff"
 You must have 1t attended to. You must come to the house" she cried, irn- pulsively. He stared; but she waited for no answer. "Can you walk?" she demanded.
 It was several seconds before he spoke T guess I'll not go to the house.
 Mot come to the house? Why, of course, you will. If you can't walk, I'll send the boys for you"
 Her quick insistence, her sweet south ern intonation. were both charming to him, but he did not care to risk a rebuff by her people.
 "You forget I'm a Yank."
 NO, I don't. When you are we'll I'll hate you, because hate all Yanks. But now you're sick reckon don't hate any sick people,"
 "But your people ?'i he suggested.
 "I reckon my people have got hearts" she said, indignantly.
 Come along, Yank" said the boy. "My names Willie Moseby Hers is Rowena. Whats yours?'
 Robert Shively." returned the Yank, limping along with them toward the house.
 Rowena noted for minute the diff ficulty with which he walked
 You might lean on me-" she urged, presently.
 And so with hand on the shoulder of the friendly enemy Shively limped to the house of Capt Moseby, of the Third Arkansas confederate volunteers.
 It is possible that Mrs Moseby was not exactly delighted at first to have a wounded Yankee foisted on her hospi- tality by her impuisive daughter but her motherly heart soon warmed to his forlornness She would not hear of his leaving next day, but with southern warmth insisted on his remaining till he was quite rested and recovered The war had denuded them of many of the comforts of life, but the best they had they layished on him. In order to avoid the chance of detection, they fitted out