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


the house, and Mr.. Neff and the new conner
were seated, the farmer resumed: eyes.
Luke, it's been quite leetle spell since ye
war here, and Pm glad We thought enough
o. us to come. But it'd a been safer'n Ohio;
We hain't got as much trouble thar ez we've
got here.''
'sNo, sir, think not. Though they are
raising armies all the time in Ohio, it's all
for one side; while here you seem divided"
eyes: didn't 'spect when We left Us last
summer, boy, that you'd find us in SIGH
FIX when ye came back. Oh, Itell ye it's
swful--we don't know ons hour what'u
happen next"
The new conner bowed his head for mo-
ment and strange look of sadness swept
! over his face. At last, after many efforts
to clear his throat, he began:
;'Mr. Neff, the distracted state of the
country has more than any thing else de-
ter1nined me to make this VISIT
The old man sighed pressed his hand upon
his forehead, and uttered a half suppressed
groan, as if he dreaded what was coming.
Luke cast glance about them. They were
alone on the porch, as Lille had not re-
turned, and only the negro boy rolling
upon the lawn was in sight. Luke con-
iiIiued:
"Mr. Nef, owe my very existence at
this moment to you. You, have been in
formed, snatched me when al infant from
| the destroying food. You it was who gave
me q place in the home Of your brother
where lived until reached mans estate
It IS to you that owe my education and the
blessings which enjoy; but, Mr.. Neff. there
is one thing you have kept from me--the
secret of my life. Only that I YVES the wait
81 some great flood do ( know of myself.
You have promised to tell me all you know
cf me, and we know not in these distracted
times what an hour may bring forth. Can't
you, won't you tell me all noW?"
Lille had carried the visitors hat in the
hail and hurried through to sec that the co..
ored cook was attending to her duties, that
| q suitable dinner would be prepared tor the
visitor. Mr. Neff almost lost his breath, so
sudden was the question propounded. After
q moment, however. he said:
:Van, Luke, reckin II tell you now all
know about We. rdhoped that the time ID
come that could cleared up the mystery,
but can't. It's been twenty two y ars ago
this spring since was with my brother Oh
the Missouri river, Il few miles below Lex
ington. We had farms thar then am was
both younger than now. The river war
very high that spring, ail lots G. the bottom
lands war overfowed. We l1noWed many
neorle were drowned out, and had our
slzift tryin' to help lem git their goods
saved, when one day we saw so1nethln
floatin' down the river Il warnt uncom-
mon ter see things a hoatin' down the
river; but this war somethin' uncommon,
as we could see. Somehow It peared t.
me IS I orter go out N see what it war, an
/ tole my brother t. pull out to t. We both
laid to our oars, N soon kim near 'nuff t.
see what II war.
'ssIt's a cradle,' said my brother, lockin'
over his shoulder. We got nearer an suah
n7.ff 'tw;tr cradle an had bed in It, an
baby war in tn cradle. That ar baby
| war you, Luke
IS lis that all You know OF me!"
"Yas. that's about all"
"Did you find nothing by which I might
have been able to trace my parentage!"
"Nuthin but q big, yaller handkerchief
sch as the niggers war. 1t had en-
broidered on one corner Luke Mason
An expression of agony and disappoint-
! rnent swept over the young mans lace, and
he heaved & sigh. That for which ne had
hoped was disappointing at last, and the
| mystery of his life was as far from being
solved as ever. Could he, nameless
waif. an unknown child of the flood, press
his claim for the hand of the fair girl
whose heart he had already won The old
farmer, who had noted his disappointment,
in order to change the subject said:
.sHave We gone into business yet?"
;sYes, sir, opened an Office, but have
done very little, owing to the distracted
condition OF the country" Lille Nef now
came from the house, her pretty cheeks
glowing with pleasure, and her eyes spark"
| ling happiness. She seated herself upon
rustic mat near her father and the visitor.
| uO' c'ose We can't do no business in
! these times; decla' I never knowed the
like. Pears like every body's goin' crazy"
nWhere is Albert?n Luke asked.
! event after tn mail; he'll be back
! Soon"
"He hasn't gone in the ar1ny yet?'
emo, but jest look fur him t. do it."
A question trembled on the lips OF Luke
| Mason. He wanted to ask in which army his
schoolmate would enlist, but for fear the
| question might crate harshly on the ears OF
his friends he refrained. In the border
! States men were liable to take either side,
and to change their views any day, for 1861
| was the beginning of transition period,
| and men were as yet unsettled in their con-
victions. It was quite relief to Luke
when Lille, with one OF her most winsome
glances from the darkest of eyes, said;
''Brother is Union"
| clam glad of that, he answered. SThough
the South may have some real, or imaginary,
grievances it does not justify any man in
taking up arms against his country
ooh, dear me! I dun mo-" groaned Mr.
Nen. ''Pears t. me like all the peoples
gwine crazy, They er jest er tarin' the
country to pieces an its no tellin' when
they'll burn our house an hang u.s."
ssYou have no cause to fear Union SOL
diers, hope:"
Dun mo-; N such times as these pears
like We can't trust no ~"
~ think that Price will soon be driven
from the State. and then you will be all left
at peace"
oval, hope so; but dun 'no'," and the
sigh which followed this remark was inde-
cis1ve From Mr.. Nef's remarks one could
not have told how his sympathies We're =,
| .Heah come Massa Albert now" cried
Tom, raising his wooly head from the grass
which grew under an apple treein the yard,
where the African had been idly lolllng
about.
A young horseman, mounted on splen-
| Ala e+oad came palloDing no the road from