The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-03-25
|ANiqhtmareYan

of a plantation. Bills 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 to eat Would
he rather starve or run the risk of GO
ing back to that frightful prison pen7
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 well as the right sleeve Of his coat
and a part Of the left sleeve. As to
the coats skirt, it hung In rag fes-
toons. One old rubber shoe and a bit
Of blanket constituted his foot cover
ing. 1t was not danger alone that
caused him to hesitate 1t was pride.
However, hunger conquered both
pride and prudence, and he went to
the house Passing through a flower
garden, he suddenly came upon a girl
making up a bouquet. On seeing Bill
she dropped pair of big scissors, Civ
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 1t 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
I'm harmless, quite harmless He
paused a moment to arrest the ravage
Of a grayback. Il might as well own
up that I'm an escaped prisoner Of
war"
"a Yankeew
Eyes, 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"
| Bill's 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:
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 viii not be seen
and I'll bring you something"
Bill gave her a grateful look, which
though grewsome, didn't brighten 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 fro,z
the breakfast table rolled in a napkin
gave them to Bill and told him he'd
ketter be off. Bill, In his gratitude
forgetting himself, advanced to clasI
her hand, but she darted back with (
bit of a shrek, then, seeing that shC
had hurt his feelings, said:
at isn't you I'm afraid. of; it's The
vermin."
Well, Bill backed away from her S,
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 regular army. Durin,
the administration of President Gran
he was on duty in Washington, whicl
4. meant that he lounged most Of tn
< day and attended social functions il
the evening. 1t was not long befor
he married the daughter of q southern
congressman, and very happy mate
he made
One morning he kissed his wife an,
went to his Office in the war depart
ment, as usual About II o'clock Mrs
{ Meacham was informed by maid tina
there was a tramp at the door VIII
insisted on seeing the lady Of th
house. But | wouldn't advise you t
go down; he's the worst lookin' beas
ever saw" Mrs. Meacham sent tn
maid back to tell the man that sh
was busy, and the maid returned wit
J the Information that the man wa
bound TO see the lady, and If sh
didn't come down he would go up.
e there had been telephones in thos
d days Mrs. Meacham would have Gale
., the police. But telephones had not "
y been invented, and there was no ma
e In the house. Mrs. Meacham FINAL
determined to go down. There IN ii
= hall stood the tramp He wore no b;
e on his uncombed hair, but little mol
than half of his clothing was avail
BILE, one foot was incased In a piet
Il of blanket, the other in a rubber sho
n Mrs. Meacham's terror was somewh;
j. Modified by seeing one or two bras
lie buttons on his coat
d my husband Is in the war depaI
T. ment," she gasped go to him. He
= provide for you and see that you a
7 taken care of by the government"
le The man suddenly put his hand
1 his hair and cltnched something.
For heavens sake cried the lad
n "don't bring vermin into this hous
Il Go away! Call on Major MeachaI
1t He'll attend to your case
If Its hard lines" whined the tram
IS when a man can't get a crust in b
A. own house"
re Good gracious, ma'am," exclaim,
'e the maid, hes madr'
The tramp looked at Mrs. Meacha
and smiled, a horrible grin whic
once seen, would never be forgotte
h. Don't you remember the Yankee y
re fed one day in the flower garden dow
in Dixie?''
Yes, Mrs Meacham remembered hi
she had never forgotten him.
OIL ooh, heavens" she walled, have
: married that horrible nightmare Of