Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-07-11


Teasing her eyes on the fast approaching
stage coach. The groan had issued from
the lips of her invalid father. a dyspeptic
and hypochondriac, who seemed to delight
only in the misery by which he surrounded
himself.
:. But there was a beauty in the landscape,
as the rays of q summer sun fell ON the hill
top, and she turned again to gaze mo-
ment upon the bright picture. Tho old
fashioned six-horse stage-coach was rum
bling down the turnpike hill, and her
cheek flushed just the faintest tint Of
Grim son as she murmured, half audibly:
COIL wonder if" but seeming to be-
come suddenly aware of the fact that she
was about to reveal something which to
her was precious secret, she closed those
cherry red lips, and blushing a still deeper
crimson, entered the sitting-room. where
her father reclined on an old-fashioned
black sofa.
do you want any thing, fathera" she
asked.
Look over the papah-lt hu'ts my eyes
to read-and see if thar's any wah news. /
decla' the secesh an abolitionistS are
gwine to tar the country t. pieces. Pears
T. me that things get wusS every day"
Mr. Jordan Neff, as his dialect would in
dictate, was a Southern man. He was born
in South Carolina, but had removed to Mis-
souri, when young. At the time our story
opens he was a wealthy Missouri farmaS,
O widower with two children and over a
score of slaves. Mr.. Neff, not unlike a
great many others inhabiting the Dor
der States during the dark days of 1861,
found il difficult to espouse either cause.
Like the father, his only son Albert, q
promising young man Of tWenty-one,
seemed fluctuating between love for his
4
That which many peaceful citizens of the
border States had hoped would only prove
a speck on the political horizon, was grow
ing day by day into most terrible war
cloud and threatening to shut out the light
of human happiness. Neighbors began to
mistrust neghbors, and friends of II life
time became suspicious of each other, while
even brothers took up the sword on oppo-
site sides, and no one knew at what time
the land might oe deluged with blood
Lille drew the old-fashioned arm-c chair to
her fathers side, and taking the paper
glanced over it's columns. 1t was filled with
war rumors and the movements of vast
armies
What d. We see?" Mr.. Neff asked
'.Prce and Mccullough are moving on
Lexington
ooh! they're Jest gwine t. hev awful
times"
He was interrupted by the opening of the
door. A woolly head and black face was
thrust in. the body, for the most part re-
manning outside.
''De stage am gwine ter stop" said the
darkey; and in confirmation of his assertion
there came the soft, mellow blast of the
drivers horn.
''He's como, he's come" cried Lille,
springing to her feet and running to the
door in a burst of joy which betrayed her
anticipation and anxiety.
who's a comm, Lilliel What's tn mat
ter with We! decla' We act like we war"
but she was out Of sight and hearing, and
the old man did not finish the sentence. She
was out ON the lawn, hurrying toward the
gate, before her father could shuttle to his
feet.
The old stage-coach had stopped almost
directly in front of the gate, the door was
opened and young man descending the
steps. His only baggage was Il small hand
sachel, which was sluug by a leathern strap
over his shoulder.
'Oh! Luke, Luke, have you comet" cried
the pretty girl, swinging coquettishly upon
the gate. The stage rolled on, and by
the time Luke had reached Lilies side it