The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-09-14

uoor, tnougD evidently reluctant 10 give up
Teasing her eyes on the fast approaching
stage-coach. The groan had issued from
the lips of her invalid father, dyspeptic
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 a summer sun fell on the hill
top, and she turned again to gaze mo-
ment upon the bright picture. The old
fashioned six-horse stage coach was rum
bling down the turnpike hill, and her
cheek flushed just the faintest 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 precious secret, she closed those
cherry red lips, and blushing q still deeper
crimson, entered the sitting-room, where
her father reclined on an oId-fashioned
black sofa.
do you want any thing, fatherl' she
asked
"Look over the papah-lt hu'ts my eyes
to read-and see if thar's any wah news.
decla' the seccsh an abolitionsts are
gwine to tar the country t pieces. Pears
T. me that things get wuss every day"
Mr.. Jordan Neff, as his dialect would in
dictate, 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
a widower with two children and over 8
score Of slaves. Mr.. Nelf, not unlike &
great many others inhabiting the Dor
der States during the dark days of 1861
found il difficult to espouse either cause
Like the father, his only son Albert, {
promising young man of twenty-one
seemed huctuating between love for his
sunny South and patriotism for his country
That which many peaceful citizens of thu
border States had hoped would only prove
a speck on the political horizon, was grow
ing day by day into a most terrible wal
cloud and threatening to shut out the ligh
of human happiness. Neighbors began t.
mistrust ncighbors, and friends of a life
tlme became suspicious Of each other, whilt
even brothers took up the sword on oppo
site sides, and no one knew at what tim,
the land might be deluged with blood.
Lille drew the old-fashioned armchair t.
her fathers side, and taking the pape
glanced over its columns. It was filed witt
war rumors and the movements of vas
armies
what q ye see!" Mr.. Neff asked.
"Price and Mccullough are moving o.
Lexington"
"Ohl they're jest gwine e hev awfu
timesn
He was interrupted by the opening Of tn
door. A woolly head and black face wa
thrust in, the body, for the most part, re
manning outside.
''De stage am gwine ter stop" said tn
darkey; and III confirmation Of his assertio
there came the soft, mellow blast of tn
drivers horn.
''He's come, he's come" cried Lille
springing to her feet and running to tn
door in burst of joy which betrayed he
anticipation and anxiety.
"Who's q comm, Lille, What's tn ma
ter with yea Idecla' We act like We war
but she was out Of sight and hearing, an
the old man did not finish the sentence. Sh
was out on the lawn, hurrying toward th
gate, before her father could shuttle to hi
feet
The old stage-coach had stopped almos
directly in front of the gate, the door wa
opened and a young man descending tn
steps. His only baggage was a small hanC
sachel, which was sluug by leathern stra
over his shoulder
"Ohl Luke, Luke have you comeN erie
the pretty glrl, swinging coquettishly upo
the gate. The stage rolled on, and b
the time Luke had reached Lilies side