Evening journal., 1908-12-26
|ANiqhtmareYanke
Observation-Disclosures

vania Infantry, escaped prisoner Of
war, stood at the edge 3 a wood look
ing at house standing in the center
of a plantation. Bnls stomach was
as empty as a haversack at The end Of
two weeks campaign, and he was
wondering If he dare go to the house
and ask for something 70 eat. Would
he rather starve OF run the risk of go
ing back to that frightful prison pen?
Then he looked himself over. He had
no head covering whatever, and the
last time his hair had been cOmbed
was before the fight in which he had
been captured three months agOne.
Half a leg Of h. trousers was missing
as well as the right sleeve Of his coat
and a part Of the left sleeve. AS to
the Coats skirt, 1t hung in rag fes-
toons. One old rubber shoe and bit
of blanket constituted his foot cover
ing. 1t was not danger alone that
caused him to hesitate. It was pride.
However, hunger conquered both
pride and prudence, and he went 10
the house. Passing through a flower
garden, he suddenly came upon a girl
making up a bouquet On seeing Bill
she dropped a pair Of big scissors, CIV
ing slight scream at the same time.
Bills hand naturally went up to his
head; but, not finding any hat there
TO doff deferentially, he attempted to
propitiate the girl with an admiring
smile. II produced an effect similar
to that of a dirty faced grinning skel-
eton. The girl shrank back.
"Don't be afraid of me-" pleaded Bill.
"rm harmless, quite harmless" He
paused a moment to arrest the ravage
OF a grayback. 81 might as well own
up that I'm an escaped prisoner OF
war"
"a Yankeew
'Yes, a Yankee, but not a dangerous
one just now unless for vermin, and
I'd be ever SO obliged if you'd give me
a bit Of corn pone or something to
keep me from starving"
Bills tone was sad, and by this
time the girl began to take in the pitt
full situation. She was very young and
her sympathies easily touched She
stood for a moment thinking, then
said:
'We're all loyal to the south up at
the house, and If you go there we'd
have TO give you up. Get under that
rosebush, where you will not be seen,
and I'll bring you something"
Bill gave her a grateful look, which.
though grewsome, didn't frighten her
so much this time. She went toward
the house, and he crawled under the
bush. Presently she came back with
some scraps she had gathered from
the breakfast table rolled in a napkin,
gave them to Bill and told him he'd
better be off. Bill, in his gratitude
forgetting himself, advanced to clasp
her hand, but she darted back with a
Bit Of a shrek, then, seeing that she
had hurt his feelings, said:
ut isn't you I'm afraid Of; it's the
vermin."
Wen, Bill backed away from her so
as not to show the remains Of his pro.
trudIng shirt tail and went on his way
When the war ended Bill got a com,
mission in the regular army. During
the administration Of President Grant
he was on duty in Washington, which
meant that he lounged most Of the
day and attended social functions in
the evening 1t was not long before
he married the daughter Of n southern
congressman, and a very happy match
he made
ono t,,crpfnor I,o IrFecoI Ifp x,-ffo m I
went to his Office in the war depart
ment, as usual. About II o'clock Mrs
Meacham was informed by maid that
there was q tramp at the door who
insisted on seeing the lady of the
house. "But / wouldn't advise you tC
60 down; he's the worst lookin' beast
ever saw" Mrs. Meacham sent the
maid back to tell the man that she
was busy, and the maid returned Will
the information that the man wal
bound to see the lady. and if she
didn't come down he would 60 up. Il
; there had been telephones in thos,
days Mrs. Meacham would have called
the police But telephones had not ye
been invented, and there was no mar
I'm the house. Mrs. MeaCham finally
determined to go down. There in tn,
hall stood the tramp. He wore no ha
on his uncombed hair, but little morl
than half of his clothing was availa
BILE, one foot was incased in a piec,
Of blanket. the other in a rubber shoe
: Mrs. Meacham's terror was somewha
q Modified by seeing one or two bras
buttons on his coat.
b 'My husband is in the war depart
ment," she gasped. "Go to him. Hell
provide for you and see that you ar
taken care Of by the government"
The man suddenly put his hand t,
his hair and clinched something.
''For heavens sake" cried the lady
''don't bring vermin into this house
Go awayl Call on Major Meacham
He'll attend to your case"
Its hard lines" whined the tramp
''when a man can't get crust in hi
own house"
"Good gracious, ma'am," exclaimed
the maid, "he's madw
The tramp looked at Mrs. Meachan
and smiled, a horrible grin which
once seen, would never be forgotten
''Don't you remember the Yankee yor
fed one day in the flower garden dow
IN DixieT
Yes, Mrs. Meacham remembered hin
She had never forgotten him.
"Oh, heavens" she walled, "have