The Iola register., 1889-05-24

Coor, though evidently reluctant to give III
feastlng her eyes on the fast approaching
stage coach. The groan had issued from
the lips of her invalid father, dyspepti'
and hypochondriac. who seemed to delight
only in the misery by which he surrounded
himself
But there was beauty in the landscape
as the rays of n summer sun fell on the hill
Top, and she turned again to gaze mo
nent upon the bright picture. The old
fashioned si8-horse stage-coach was rum
bling down the turnpike hill, and her
cheek flushed just the faiutest tint OF
crimson as she murmured, half audibly:
"Oh-I wonder if-'' but seeming to be
come suddenly aware of the fact that she
was about to reveal something which to
her was a precious secret, she closed those
cherry red lips, and blushing still deeper
crimson, entered the sitting room. where
her father reclined OF an old-fashioned
black sofa.
"Do You want any thing, fatherr' she
asked.
Look over the papah-It huis 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, IS his dialect would in
dicate, was Southern man. He was born
in South Carolina, but had removed to Mis-
souri, when young. At the time our story
opens he was wealthy Missouri farmer,
O widower with two children and over a
score of slaves. Mr.. Neff, not unlike a
great many others inhabiting the bor-
der States during the dark days of 1861,
found il difficult TO espouse either cause.
Like the father, his only son Albert, a
promising young man of twenty-one,
seemed fuctuating between love for his
sunny South and patriotism for his country
That which many peaceful citizens of the
border States had hoped would only prove
a speck on the political horizon, was grow
Ing day bv day INTO a most terrible var
cloud and threatening to shut out the light
OF human happiness. Neighbors began to
mistrust neighbors, and friends of 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 be deluged with blood.
Lille drew the old-fashioned armchair to
her fathers side, and taking the paper
glanced over its columns. Il was filled with
war rumors and the movements of vast
armies
What d. We see?'' Mr.. Neff asked.
Price ana McCuIlOuSn are moving on
Lexington"
''Ohl 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-
naming 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.
Hes come, he's come" cried Lille,
sprInging to her feet and running to the
door in burst of joy which betrayed her
anticipation and anxiety.
WHO'S comm, Lille? What's tn mat
ter with yea Idecla' 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 a young man descending the
steps. His only baggage was a small hand
sachel, which was slung by a leathern strap
over his shoulder.
''Oh! Luke, Luke, have you Gomez" cried
the pretty girl, swinging coquettishly upon
the gate. The stage rolled on, and by
the time Luke had reached Lilies side it