The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-04-20

!oor, though evidently reluctant to give up
eastlng her eyes on the fast approaching
,tage- coach. l'he groan had issued from
sle lips Of her invalid father, dyspcpt'c
4na hypochcndriac, who seemed to delight
,nly in the misery by which he surrounded
himself.
But there was a. beauty in the landscape,
Is the raya Of q summer sun Eel! On the NIL
up, and she turned again to gaze g mo-
nent UPON The bright picture The old
fashioned six-horse s.age-coach was rum
sling down the turnpike hill, and her
heck flushed just the faintes5 tint of
crimson as she murnured, half audlDy:
ssCh-l wonder if but seeming to be-
come suddenly aware of the fact that she
was about to reveal something which to
.er was & precious secret, she closed those
cherry red lips, and blushing g still deeper
crimson. entered the sitting room, where
,er father reclined on an old-fashioned
lack sofa.
$40 YOU want any thing, father?' she
asked.
look over the papah-lt hu'ts my eyes
o reilt.-apd see if thal's any wah news. !
lecla' the secesh an abolitionists are
ywine to Tar the country T pieces. Pears
!; me th;l5 things get wuss every day.
Mr. Jordan Neff, us his dialect would in
{icate, was 81 Southern man. He was born
n South Carolina, but had removed; to Mis-
,ouri when young AT the time our story
spens he was Il wealthy Missouri farmer,
F, widower vita two children and over a
tcore of slaves. Mr.. Neff, not unlike q
great many others inll,ybiting the Dor
ier States during the dark days Of 1861.
sound il difficult to espouse either cause.
Like the father, his only son Albert, a
promising young man OF. tWenty-one,
seemed fuctuatipg between love for his
,nnny South and patriotism for his country.
THAT which many peaceful citizens of the
border States had hoped would only prove
speck on the political horizon. was grow
mg day by day il to a noso terrible war
slOi1d aud threatening TO shut out the light
,E11umau happiness. NeiGhbors began TO
m;strust neighbors, and friends OF q life
hulsa became suspicious OF each other, While
sven brothers took up the sword on oppo-
tite Sides and nc one knew at what time
ha land might be aeluged with blood.
Lille drew the cld-fashioned arm chair to
her fathers side, and taking the paper
glanced over it's columns. 1t was titled with
war ,,lmors and she movements OF vast
armies.
stWtat a. We sees" Mr.. Nef asked
"price and Mccullough are moving on
lexington
':Oh they're ,sst gwine t hey awful
fiznes."
He was interrupted by the opening Of the
aoor. 4 wooly head and black face was
thrust in, the body, for the most part, re-
naming outside.
sDe stage ann gwine ter stop" said the
larkey: and in confirmation Of his assertion
lnere came the soft, mellow blast OF the
drivers horn.
"EIe:s come, he's COME" cried Lille,
springing to her feet and running to the
aoor in a burst Of joy which betrayed her
anticipation und anxiety.
ssWho's comm. Lillie8 WHAT'S tn mat
ter with ye? Idecla' We act like ye 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 g. young man descending the
steps. His only baggage was small hand
sachel, which was sung by a leathern strap
over his shoulder.
"Ohl Luke, Luke, have you come!' cried
the pretty girl, swim ging coquettishly upon
TIE gate. The stage rolled on, and oy
the time Luke had reached Lilies side II