The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-13
[ANiahtmareYankee
Observation-Disclosures

war, stood at the edge Of q wood look
Ing at a house standing in the center
OF plantation. BIls stomach was
as empty rs haversack at the end OF
two weeks campaign. and ne was
wondering II he dare 60 TO the house
and ask for something to eat. Would
he rather starve or run the risk of 60
Ing back to that frightful prison penn
Then he looked himself over. He had
no head covering whatever, and the
last time his hair had been combed
was before the light IN which he had
been captured three months agone.
Half a 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 II 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. II 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 mp bouquet. On seeing Bin
she dropped pair OF big scissors, Civ.
Ing a slight scream at the same time.
BDrs hand naturally went up to his
head; but, not finding any hat there
to doff deferentially, he atten.p to
propitiate the girl with an admiring
smile. 1t produced an effect similar
to that Of dirty faced grlnning skel-
eton. The girl shrank back.
Don't be afraid Of me-" pleaded BIZ.
"rm harmless, quite harmless He
paused a moment TO arrest the ravagc
of grayback. 81 might as well own
up that I'm an escaped prisoner OF
war"
"A Yankeer
yes, Yankee. but not a dangerous
one just now unless for Vermin, and
I'd be ever so obliged II you'd give me
a bit Of corn pone or something to
keep me from starving"
BiIfs 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 Q moment thinking, then
said.
We're all loyal to the south up at
the house. and II you 20 there we'd
have to give you up. Get under that
rosebush. where you willanot be seen,
and I'll bring you something"
Bill gave her grateful look, which.
though grewsome, didn't frighten her
so much this time. She went toward
the house, and he crawled under tho
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 of. Bill. in his gratitude
forgetting himself, advanced to clasp
her hand. but abe darted back with a
bit Of q shrek, then, seeing that she
had hurt his feelings, said:
1T isn't you I'm afraid Of; it's the
vermin."
Well, Bill backed away from her 30
as not to show the remains of his pro-
truding shirt tail and went on his way.
When the war ended BAl got 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 a southern
congressman. and very happy match
he made.
One morning he kissed his wife and
went to his office I'm the war depart
ment, as usual. About IL 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 Iookin' 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 IL she
didn't come down he would 80 up. IL
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
hall stood the tramp. He wore no hat |
on his uncombed hair. but little more |
than half of his clothing was availa-
BILE, one foot was incased In piece |
Of blanket, the other In rubber shoe,
n ,..fr< xxyau Sal ftnk
Modified by seeing one or two brass
buttons on his coat.
"My husband Is in the war depart /
ment," she gagped. go to him. He'll |
provide for you and see that you are
taken care of by the government"
The man suddenly put his hand to
his hair and clinched something.
"For heavens sake" cried the lady,
.don't bring vernin into this house!
Go awayl Call on Major Meacham.
Hen attend to your case"
sTt's hard lines" whined the tramp,
~when man can't get crust in his
own house"
"Good gracious, ma'am," exclaimed
the maid, "he's madr'
The tramp looked at Mrs. Meacham
and smiled, a horrible grin which,
once seen, would never be forgotten.
s.Don't you remember the Yankee You
fed one day in the flower garden down
IN Dixie7"
Yes. Mrs. Meacham remembered him.
She had never forgotten him.
"Oh. heavens she walled, have l
married that horrible nightmare of
ventaa1 Whv didn't Won tell me9'