Connecticut western news., 1909-01-07
|ANiqhtmareY Yankee

Van1a 1nIantry, escaped prisoner o1 war, stood at the edge of a wood look Ing at a house tstanding in the center of q plantation. Bnl's stomach was as empty as a haversack at the end of a two weeks campaign, and he was wondering If he dare go to the house and ask for something to eat. Would he rather starve or 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 leg of his trousers was missing as we'll 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. It was not danger. alone that caused him to hesitate. It was pride.
 However, hunger conquered both pride and prudence, and he went to the house. Passing through a flower garden, he suddenly came upon girl making up a bouquet. On seeing Bill she dropped pair of big scissors, giv- ing a, slight scream at the same time. Bxrs 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. It produced an effect similar to that of dirty faced grinning skel- eton. The girl shrank back.
 Don't be afraid of me-" pleaded Bill. "I'm harmless, quite harmless" He paused a moment to arrest the ravage Of a grayback. 'I might as we'll own up that I'm an escaped prisoner of war"
 "A Yankeew #.aa. 4-a@
 "Yes, a Yankee, but not 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" .r--...
 Bilps tone was sad, and by this time the girl began to take in the pitt ful situation. She was very young and her sympathies easily touched. She stood for a moment thinking, then said:
 Were 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 q 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 shriek, then, seeing that she had hurt his feelings, said:
 ''It isn't you I'm afraid of; it's the vermin" ,#
 We'll, 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 com mission in the regulF 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 a southern congressman, and very happy match he made.
 One morning he kissed his wife and went to his office in the war depart ment, as usual. About II o'clock Mrs. Meacham was informed by maid that there was a tramp at the door who insisted on seeing the lady of the house. "But wouldn't advise you to go down; he's the worst lookin' beast I ever saw" Mrs. Meacham sent the maid back to tell the man that .she was busy, and the maid returned with the information that the man was bound to see the lady, and if she didn't come down he would go up. If there had been telephones in those days Mrs. Meacham would have called the police. But telephones had not yet been invented, and there was no man in the house. Mrs. Meacham finally determined to go down. There in the Lo1l SlOCu tue lTdulp. lie wore no Hdl on his uncombed hair, but little more than half Of his clothing was availa- ble, one foot was incased in a piece of blanket, the other in a rubber shoe Mrs. Meacham's terror was somewhat modified by seeing one or two brass buttons on his coat
 My husband is in the war depart ment," she gasped. "Go to him. Hell provide for you and see that you arc | taken care of by the government"
 The man suddenly put his hand tc his hair and clinched something
 'For heavens sake," cried, the lady don't bring vermin into this house l Go away! Call on Major Meacham Hell attend to your case"
 Its hard lines," whined the tramp when a man can't get a crust in his own house."
 Good gracious, ma'am," exclaimed the maid, "he's madr'
 The tramp looked at Mrs. Meachan
 and smiled, a horrible grin which once seen, would never be forgotten Don't you remember the Yankee yoI ! fpd ono dow In fho HorroV- r5o,, sJoxx-r