The Springdale news., 1889-06-28
[Copwightsd, fssa.l
CHAPTER XI. LOVE TRIUMPHANT.


 CHAPTER XI
 LOVE TRIUMPHANT.
 For a moment the quartette stood dumb and stupeiied with amazement. At glance LiIlie Neff recognized her lover. She tried to speak, to move, but tongue and limbs seemed paralyzed, and she conld only stare in speeches. amaZement. Albert Neff need not have been astonlshed at meeting the friend of his boyhood here, for he knew he was i'll Grants division; so might Luke ex- pect to meet Albert, but the presence of Lillie, 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, Lukein and staggered toward him. He caught her in his arms just as she swooned, and pressed the insensble girl for a moment to his heart. His crimson blade fell to the carpeted floor, and raising Lillie in his arms he carried her to a sofa, where he laId her down.
 
 had uttered his name, not another word had been spoken. The sounds of struggle Tn other parts of the house were becoming 2 hnshed. Tenderly the young officer bent over the insensible sir, pressed kiss upon her marble check, and, seizing a water pitcher from stand near by, bathed her face until she began to revive When her recovery was assured he arose and, turning upon the brother who, sword in hand, still stood in the center of the room. he said:
 .iThls is the saddest meeting of all. VI
 "I will not surrenderr' the Confederate hissed for answer. Elsie, throwing one arm about his neck, chung to his sword-arm and sobbed bitterly.
 "Albert, this is folly,n 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 1 will never give up my sword to a Yankee. The house that covered my head when a child has been burned"
 "What, burnedr" gasped Luke.
 "Yes; burned by Lincoln s hirelings, and my old father in his feebleness rendered homeless"
 My God the house burned and with it the old wooden cradle in the attic" Luke gasped. "The last elew to my identity is gone" Albert, not noticing the effect of this revelation upon Luke, went on
 "Father and sister both made homeless wanderers and banished from their coun- try, and you ask me to surrenderl No, so help me God, neverl Elsie, leave the roomr'
 ''No, no, mo-" the pale, beautiful girl cried cinging closer to him, 'I will not leave you, | .ia hhr
 Luke was in a dilemma. To bring his troops into the room would be Albert's death in the presence of his sister whom Luke loved dearer than his own life. To screen hlm would ruin Captain Mason's chances for promotion at the very moment when he had the Colonelcy almost in his reach.
 Albert, think what position your conduct places me in Luke began.
 You placed yourself in this position Luke Mason, we have carried this hollow sham of friendship in war as long as we can. We are besligerents, and it's useless to pretend to be friends If you intend to make captive of me pick up your sword winch 1 see is already stained with the blood of my comrades, and we will have it out.n
 Lille, who had partially recovered, start ed up, and, iinging her arms about her lover's neck, cried:
 ''oh, dear, darling Luke! Spare him for my sake"
 In second love had triumphed over duty What cared he for promotion as compared with the happiness of that dear girl who chung to his neck. But he knew he must find some means of keeping the presence of Albert from the soldiers, for they might insist on killing or capturing the Confeder ate, despite all he could do. Their blood was up and they were furious.
 There came knock at the bolted door. Whatever he did must be done quickly, for some one was demanding admittanee.
 Spare him, Luke, oh in heavens name, save my brotheri' sobbed Llllie, clinging to her lover's neck
 Il will, darling; but we must be discreet,n n he answered.
 Rap, rap, rap! came louder and more de- termined knocks at the door,
 II can't git in,n said one of the troopers. Bring an axe an I'll bust the door down" There was not moment to lose.
 Albert Neff, for the sake of these young ladies, help me to save yourself. You know full well what the result will be when that door is broken down, n said Luke, in an undertone.
 What do you mean, Lukef' Albert asked, considerably moved by Captain Mason's earnest manner
 "Conceal yourself somewhere, where you can not be found until I get my men away from the house."
 The next question was where could he find concealment. Elsie Morgan's quick