Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-06-01
With Interest
Accrued
By WILLIAM MCLEOD RAINE
Copyright, 1904, by Daily Story Pub. Coz


l young man, one might better say
boy, crawled YEARLY to the rail fence
against which two armies had charged
and recharged in their efforts to dis
lodge each other earlier in the day. The
lad pulled himself with difficulty to the
top rail, rested there a 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 a screaming shell
had exploded and worked havoc. He
passed the grim sight without the least
emotion, for in the past "a hours his ca
pacity for feeling had been strained to
the limit.
For some miles he followed a 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
wistfully, envying those within the
good cheer and comfort they were en-
joyfng. He was cold and stiff, and the
throbbing pain of his wound had Slapped
not a little at his nerve He knew of
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 inconsistencies
swept over the lad, and he leaned against
tree and gave way to his self-pity.
1t 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 a
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 %
asked the child.
YES" returned the man in the blue
uniform.
Amt you feelin' peart, Yank?''
The young man summoned rather a
wan smile. mot very. I'm about tuck
cred out"
you were in the fight You're wound
ed" cried the girl, with eyes dilated.
my wound isn't much, but it has
grown stiff"
you must have it attended to- You
must come to the house, she cried. i'm
pulsively. He stared; but she waited
for no answer "Can you Walk" she
demanded
1t was several seconds before he spoke,
81 guess I'll not go to the house"
Not 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 carelto risk a rebuff
by her people.
You forget I'm a Yank"
mo l don't When you are we'll I'll
hate you, because / hate all Yanks But
now you're sick. l 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 is
Rowena. What's yours?"
Robert Shively," returned the Yank
limping along with them toward the
house
Rowena noted for a 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 limpe6
to the house of Capt. Moseby of tht
Third Arkansas confederate volunteers
1t is possible that Mrs Moseby was no
exactly delighted at first to have &
wounded Yankee foisted on her hospi
tally by her impulsive daughter, bu
her motherly heart soon warmed to hi.
i forlornness. She would not hear of hi:
leaving next day, but with southern
| warmth Insisted on his remaining till hi
was quite rested and recovered The
war had denuded them of many of the
comforts of life, but the best they haC
they lavished on him. In order to avoid
the chance Of detection, they fitted Out