Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-08-01

CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII
LOVE TRIUMPHANT.
For 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 speechless 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 astonish-
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" and staggered toward him.
He caught her in his arms just Is she
swooned, and pressed the insensible girl for
a moment to his heart. His crimson blade
fell to the carpeted floor, and raising Lille
in his arms he carried her to a 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 becoming
hushed. Tenderly the young officer bent
over the insensible girl, pressed kiss upon
her marble check, and, selling water
pitcher from a stand near by, bathed her
face until she began to revive When her
recovery waSassured he arose and, turning
upon the brother who, sword In hand, still
stood in the center of the room. he said:
This is the saddest meeting OF ALL"
81 will not surrender" the Confederate
Missed 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.
Its useless to argue You have it in
your power to kill me. Do it if you want to,
for have sworn that l will never give up
my sword to a Yankee. The house that
covered my head when child has been
burned"
'.What, burned" gasped luke.
eyes; burned by Lincolns hirelings, and
my old father in his feebleness rendered
homeless"
'.My God! the house burned and with it
the old wooden cradle In tho attic" Luke
gasped. "The last clew to my identity is
gone" Albert, not noticing the effect of
this revelation upon Luke, went on:
ssFather and sister both made homeless
wanderers and banished from their coun-
try, and you ask me to surrender! No, so
help me God, neveri Elsie, leave the
roomi'
..No, no, no." the pale, beautiful girl cried,
rciinging closer to him, 81 will not leave you,
Alhert-no. never. Let Us die together"
Luke was in dilemma To bring his
troops into the room would be Alberts
death in the presence Of his sister whom
Luke loved dearer than his own life. To
screen HIM would ruin Captain Mason's
chances for promotion a. the very moment
when he had the Colonelcy almost in his
reach.
ALBERT, think what position your conduc,
places me in" Luke began.
s.You placed yourself in this position
Luke Mason, we have carried this hollow
sham of frlenGshipn war as long as we
can. Weare belligerents, and it's useless tC
pretend to be friends. If you intend t.
make captive of me pick up your sword
which see is already stained. with the
blood of my comrades. and we will have j,
out"
Lille, who had partially recovered, start
lovers neck, cried:
''Oh, dear, darling Lukei Spare him TO,
my sake
In q second love had triumphed over duty
What cared he for promotion as compared
with the happiness of that dear girl wht
chung to his neck. But he knew he mus
find some means Of keeping the presencs
of Albert from the soldiers, for they might
insist on killing or capturing the Confeder
ate, despite all he could do Their blood wa
up and they were furious.
There came a knock at the boitcd door
Whatever he did must be done quickly, fol
some one was demanding admittance.
''Spare him, Luke. OIL in heavens name
save my brotherw sobbed Lille, clinging t,
her lovers neck
twill, darling; but we must be discreet
he answered.
Rap, rap, rap! came louder and more de
termined knocks at the door.
81 can't git it," said one Of the troopers
~Bring an axe an I'll bust the door down
There was not . moment to lose.
..Albert Nen, for the sake Of these younf
fades, help me to save yourself. You know
full well what the result viii be whe,
thxt door is broken down." said Luke. in Q,
undertope
sswhat do you mean, Lukei" Alder
asked, considerably moved BY Captain
Nason's earnest manner.
s.Conceal yourself somewhere, wher,
you can not be found until I got ny me.
sway from the house"
4The next question was where could b