Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-09-11
The LANDsTREETs.
A STORY OF THE PEACH COUNTRY,
OSCAR DALE.
Copyrighted by The Every Evening Publishing 90.
CHAPTER II,
EArfu f.ArnarpRpT


Az all turned toward the new conner
Mrs, LAndstrset said, "My daughter,
Katie, Mr.. CarswelI.' The young man
bowed and murmured his pleasure at
making Miss Landstreet's acquaintance,
but Katie, remembering the lift Of that
curtain as he drove up, perhaps, with q
little more color than the occasion called
for stepped forward and frankly offered
her hand, saying, 'I'm glad TO meet you.
You've chosen remarkably hot day for
the season for your drivs."
"I did not exactly choose It," he
answered. 81 came out on business and
had no idea that should find II pleasure
till reached this hospitable mansion"
"Yeu are disposed to fstter," said
Kate.
"oh, no." he declared, "no stranger
was ever treated more Hospitality than !
have been here"
"Perhaps not" she replied, "but
don't you grossly flatter us when you
oAll this old house mansionH"
Before the young man could
defend himself old Tom roared
ont, with q mighty laugh, "She's
got ys there my boy, she's got ys
there and by = she's Citing at me with
the same lick, for she's always Fostering
me for bay windows and all sorts Of Jim
cracks about the old place and wants the
kitchen moved behind the house. For
my part think it's well situated now.
Il reminds people, bein' the first thing
they see, that II they'll stay long enough
they'll git somethin' to eat. p"
To she accompaniment Of Toms
laughter, which greatly embarrassed
poor Katie, they passed into what Tom
called q tssettin' room" where luscious
country supper Of fried chicken, hot
bread pone, and excellent coffee awaited
them.
Mrs. Landstrset had introduced Katie
as 'smy daughter" Her husband would
have had no need TO do so--the girls re.
semblanoe TO him would have rendered
the statement unnecessary. She was
large, handsome and fair, despite her
resemblance to her father, whose face
hardly suggested itself as model for
female beauty. She appeared to be about
40 and was unquessionably q oomeiy
young woman, pleasant to look upon.
Her clear gray eyes had frank, sincere
look about them and the Equare brow,
straight nose and full lips she had In.
herltsd from her father were so toned
down as to be almost beautiful, the
mouth being undenisbly so.
Aa they passed through the hall Katie
snatched up 9 linen duster with per
emptoiy, there, put this on" and her
father msekly obeyed and so did not sii
down to the table In his shirt sleeves.
Katie was clearly his we'll beloved and
had pretty much her own way with him.
Az ha Aat N In h No a
q momentary hush and all heads welt
bowed, none more reverently than Toms
a. Mrs. Laudstreet uttered brief prayer
for Gods blessing on their meal. HI
spologetioRlly remarked to CarBwell after
wards that he did not take much stoch
in religion himself, but 1t was q grehi
comfort to the women-tolks and he had
"a mighty poor opinion of the d.
soouudrsl who would try to take 1t ava,
from them"
The meal passed off pleasantly ant
Carswell was nothing 10th after his early
dinner and warm ride to accept th'
bounteous share OF good things pressed
upon him, including the hot bread ant
honey with which the supper wound mp
aud he was encouraged to prove himself
tvAliant trenoherman" by the health.
xest with which the whole family re
sponded to old Toms mandate, "Fall to
and help yerselves."
Kstie's brief embarrassment caused b,
her fathers boisterous triumph on &C
count OF her slight victory over thei
guest passed away, and she talked pleas
antly and we'll. The neighborhood, sh
informed Carswell was quiet one, bu
there were several nice families aroun
them and 1t was quite lively over a
Basdad. "No," shs said In reply to
question, "ths:e are mot many psrtie
and dancing is not very common, OWN
to the large number OF Methodists :"
ON 'em," interjeoted Tom, "a
black Republicans.
"Pap," replied Katie, "you know th'
ain't so."
"Well, the preachers are" he Growlet
sand they run the church and the nigRel
for their party"
s.You,do not seem fond Of the Meth
dists," said Carswell to the old man.
"No, ,I'm an EpisoopaliAn, "he answere
and after q moments pause he add
with q laugh, sat least Maria and Kat
are and stand by 'em."
"You must not be ejudiced by father
said Kate. tYou know he judges ever
thing by politics and as most the Meth
dist preachers about here are Republican
and rather active ones, he is down on t
whole set"
UYou are mot so deeply intereste
then, in politics as he is" said Carswe
isOf course not" she replied, "and I
glad to say know some very nice Repr
licans in this neighborhood."
Old Toms face got redder than eN
when he heard this declaration and
was apparently about to break ont II
some Unusually violent denunciation
somebody or something when his wifi
soft nTom ~ arrested the torrent, q
Katie created diversion by addii
''you know my own brother Ia almoa
Republican" :.
6If none Of them were no worse Il
him" answered Tom, and then stopp
Mr.. CRrswell felt that somehow ori
had been passed and took care TO IL
the conversation 10 Boston. Kstie's
quiries were now eager. She had ne
been there, but one Of her school friel
at Wilmington had married and 9
there and she had written Katie mi
letters and sent her newspaper slips Q
tanning criticisms on musical peifj
ances, plays, picture galleries, &c.,
which the young girl took great inter
Katie said she had visited New York
Philadelphia now and then with
brother, and got 10 know those oi
pretty well in that way. "But O
saw the outside" she added. "0ne
10 know people, 10 have friends there
get at the heart Of city. only X
one city so, and that is Whining
vzhara I want TO sOhOol and that
small one." "To be sure," abe adj
"pve spent few weeks in Washing
but as they change the whole popula
there every two or three years that
not count" "0h,n she exclaimed,
should like to know Boston, as you
know It,"
"Ars you weary, then, Of country II
asked Csrswell.
"Oh, no ~ she declared with Q
sagerness, stI am not, and never shal
IdelIsht in 1t. Besides pap and ma
oouldn't get along without me-"
Both parents looked toward her
an exprsssion that seemed to ratii
earnest her lightly uttered declara
and both laughed good-nsturediy a
went on to inform Carswell that her
sion IN life was to stand by her m.
and relieve her Of the great work Of !
ing her father in order, "keeping
outlet and pleasant and gentle spt
Won know" she added, looking to
him with q oheery laugh TO whic
responded in like spirit.
But though good humor was rest
there was still slight air OF ress
and young carswell could not
xvondar what Il YEAS that called fort