Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-08-29
Copyrighted, 1881
CHAPTER XII.


CHAPTER XII
LOVE TRIUMPHANT.
For q moment the quartette stood dumb
and stupefied with amazement. At glance
Lille Neff recognized her lover. She tried
to speak, to move, but tongue and limbs
seemed paralyzed, and she could only stare
in speeches. amazement. Albert Neff need
not have been astonlshed at meeting the
friend of his boyhood here, for he knew he
was in Grants division; so might Luke ex-
pect to meet Albert, but the presence of
Lille, whom he supposed to be safe in her
Missouri home, filled him with astonisn-
ment.
Elsie Morgan recognized him as the brave
Union soldier who had saved her house
when the recruits would have burned it.
Luke, comprehending the situation, bolt
ed the door which he had closed on discover
ing who the occupants of the room were.
Lille having regained her voice murmured {:
Luke, Luke 70 and staggered toward him.
He caught her in his arms just as she
swooned, and pressed the insensible girl for
q moment to his heart. His crimson blade
fell to the carpeted floor, and raising Lille
in his arms he carried her to q sofa, where
he laid her down.
Since Lille in love, fear and amazement
had uttered his name, not another word had
been spoken. The sounds of struggle IN
other parts of the house were becomin g
hushed. Tenderly the young officer bent
over the insensible girl, pressed a kiss upon
her marble cheek, and, Selling water
pitcher from stand near by, bathed her
face until she began to revive. When her
recovery was assured he arose and. turning
upon the brother who, sword in hand, still
stood in the center of the room. he said:
''Thls is the saddest meeting of all.''
~ will not surrenderr' the Confederate
Kissed for answer. Elsie, throwing one
arm about his neck, chung to his sword-arm
and sobbed bitterly.
ALBERT, this is folly" Luke began, but
Captain Neff interrupted him.
"It's useless to argue. You have it in
your power to kill me. Do it if you want to,
for have sworn that I will never give up
my sword to a Yankee. The house that
covered my head when a child has been
burned"
"What. burned!" gasped Luke.
eyes; burned by Lincoln's hirelings, and
my old father in his feebleness rendered
homeless
ssMy God, the house burned and with it
the old wooden cradle in the attic" Luke
gasped. 1.-THE last clew to my identity is
gone" Albert, not noticing the effect of
this revelation upon Luke, went on:
''Father and sister both made homeless
wanderers and banished from their coun-
try, and you ask me to surrender! No, so
help me God, never! Elsie, leave the
roomr'
mo, no, no." the pale, beautiful girl cried,
clinging closer to him, 81 will not leave you,
Albert-no. never. Let US die together"
Luke was in dilemma. To bring his
troops into the room would be Albert's
death in the presence of his sister whom
7 IL how hi 70 Tn
screen HIM would ruin Captain Mason's
chances for promotion at the very moment
when he had the Colonelcy almost in his
reach.
albert, think what position your conduct
places me i'm Luke began.
You placed yourself in this position
Luke Mason, we have carried this hollow
sham of friendship in war as long as we
can. We are b&ligerents, and it's useless to
pretend to be friends. If you intend to
make captive Of me pick up your sword,
which 1 see is already stained with the
blood of my comrades, and we will have it
out"
Lille, who had partially recovered, start
ed up, and, fliaging her arms about her
lovers neck, cried:
sob, dear, darling Luke! Spare him for
my sake.''
In second love had trumphed over duty.
What cared he for promotion as compared
with the happiness of that dear girl who
chung to his neck. But he knew he must
find some means of keeping the presence
of Albert from the soldiers, for they might
insist on killing or capturing the Confeder-
ate, despite all he could do Their blood was
up and they were furious.
There came knock at the boited door.
Whatever he did must be done quickly, for
some one was demanding admittance.
''Spare him, Luke, oh! in heavens name,
save my brother!' sobbed Lille, clinging to
her lovers neck.
81 will, darling; but we must be Discreet"
he answered.
Rap, rap rap! came louder and more de-
termined knocks at the door.
Il can't git in" said one of the troopers.
'Bring an axe an I'll bust the door down."
There was not moment to lose.
ALBERT Neff, for the sake of these young
ladies, help me to save yourself. You know
full well what the result will be when
that door is broken down. said Luke in an
undertone.
''What do you mean, Lukca' Albert
asked, considerably moved by Captain
Mason's earnest manner.
Conceal yourself somewhere, where
you can not be found until l get ny men
away from the house."
The next question was where could he
find concealment. Elsie Morgan's quick