Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-11-20
The LANDsTREETs.
A STORY OF THE PEACH COUNTRY
BY
OSCAR DALE.
Copyrighted by The Every Evening Publishing o.
CHAPTER XII.
A cossERHEcz AT MR. LArDsrnKEr's

looked f0rWRrd during school hours on the
day after the party to the visit he was to
make that afternoon at Mr.. LAndstreet's.
Work had cleared his brAin and he saw
that there was really something remark.
able In the fact that old Tom had seconded
his daughters invitation. Barlow won.
dered and wondered till he seemed past
all wondering as TO the cause OF the old
gentleman's sudden change. he had
read the expression Of surprise on KRtis's
oountenanoe, and even had he not done
30 he would have known that she had
had no opportunity to exercise any infu-
enoe over her father between the time Of
her acceptance Il himself and the event
that surprised him. AT times his refieo-
tions took q gloomy turn and Barlow
imagined . scene in which old Tom over
whelmed him with abuse aad insult, and
he rehearsed In his mind the dignifled
sentences In which he would assert his
own manhood without doing unnecessary
violence to Kstis's natural affection for
her father, which he knew to be strong.
Then, again, his thoughts would take a
brighter hue, and acknowledging, as ne
did, TOMS natural goodness OF heart and
his warm love for his daughter, Barlow
would indulge In Q day dream OF the
withdrawal Of all opposition and Of
smooth sailing for himself into the de-
lightful haven Of marriage with Katie.
suoh was his thought as he wsnd, d his
way home from school at noon and hastily
dispatohing his dinner he shut himself
up in nis library to dream OF blissful
future. The academy was prosperous
and he had found time to add to his In.
come by considerable literary work, so
that he felt that II would be safe for him
10 sell ont and quit teaching. This was
his intention, come what might. He
was weary Of the round OF school duties
and tired Of giving so much attention to
the mere primary stepa of knowledge
The experience had doubtless been Of
use to him In fixing permanently In his
mind many things which even literary
men are apt TO forget and for Barlow II
must ever after be easy to refer to the
grammatical rule which sanctioned the
usage on which most writers alone de-
pend. But, on the other hand, Barlow
WAS not impressed as were those he met
from time 10 time in ''teschers' institutes''
with the ennobling influence on the
tesoher's own mind and nature of that
which the "institute" enthusiasts de-
lighted to speak Of as their "proiession. +"
He had quietly studied tesohers as a
class and he was convipotd that their con-
slant contact with minds inferior to their
own In development was not wholesome
for them. II tended to narrow their own
range Of vision, he thought, aud to estab
ligh In them didaotio manner In their
intercourse even with those who were
their superiors In knowledge and expert.
enoe. He, himself, had had ample leisure
for reading and had kept himself system
Atioally informed Of events throughout
the world, but even for himself he some-
times feared that spending 80 large q
proportion Of his time In the attitude OF
Instructor in necessarily limited range
Of knowledge was narrowing. at any
rate he knew that 80 far as his own
growth aud development were concerned,
1t was time thrown away aud he intended
to get out Of II. II Katie had refused
him he had iatsndsd to return TO iurnal-
ism, let the effect on his health bs what IL
might, but, now that she had consented
to be his, life and health wers doubly
precious In his eyes and he returned to .
design he had formed long before to settle
down permanently in the region that
had first given him health and then the
Joy which made health doubly desirable.
He had brought some money with him
aud bad added 10 1t, and he had at one
time dreamed Of buying Rsnseilasr, but
he had given up that idea because Of the
necessary expense of keeping up so large
an Establishment, and he accordingly had
fixed hie mind on small plRo just over
the county line between Iron City and
Mr.. Curtis' which offered q ready shA ed
site for the roomy cottage he had already
In his minds eye erected on It, There
he could work more steadily with his
pen, he thought, and have enough land to
give him an interest In farming and
inoite him TO the out doors exercise he
needed. 30 filed was Barlow with this
idea that hs jumped up and started
back toward the academy In time to
enable him to msks . brief call on
Lsmuel Marks who held the tarm in
question for sale. He obtained the re-
iussl Of the place for two weeks at price
agreed on.
As soon as school was dismissed Barlow
mounted his horse and started for Mr..
LAndstrse's. He was q great walker
and would have preferred walking now,
despite the weather, but he felt that II
would look better to arrive mounted on
the occasion Of his first visit 10 the house.
Walking was not exactly "the thing''
for white people in that neiRhborhood
and Barlow used sometimes lauRhin. ly
to say that he kept q horse in order that
he might be able TO indulge his taste ioI
walking with ont comment. As he rode
up to the house old Tom was not vIsibl :,
but Mrs. Landstreet tat, Is was heI
oustem, on the porch and she gave him e
kindly welcome, calling Billy to "pui
mp" the gentlemau's horse.
"How did you enjoy the party :" she
asked him.
~ was delighted" he replied. "Mr.
Carswell deserves the gratitude OF the
whole neighborhood,
eyes," said Mrs. LAndstreet, she will
be valuable addition TO It think. W.
have all grown very fond OF him here. y
"HAs your son gone home 7" ask ed
Barlow.
"Yss." she replied, "he aud the girl
from Wilmington went home = httl,
while ago Katie drove them over TO th,
station and she has Just got back. Sh,
is up in her room brushing of the dust
and maybe you would like 10 do tn,
BAms.h
Thinking there might possibly be som
need OF It Barlow accepted the oustomAr,
invitation and Mrs. Laudstrest hersel
showed him 10 room telling him to stsJ
into the pArlor when he came down
adding 81 must look after supper, Il
which you will, Of course, stay
The young man hurried through hi
nwanaWnktana aud f., h
parlor, q room little used In summe
Katie's desire TO modernizs It's someWha
stiff and formal appearance.
A step on the stairs, rustic Of gar
ments in the hall and In another momen
Katie Was in ths room coming towAr,
him with suffused and smiling face an
outstretohed hand. The happy love
merely took the latter to enable him
draw her to him and feveral seconds wer
appropriated to the old but never wear
some responsive service In the ritual {
young love, and then the two settle
down TO more serious business.
Sand now, Katie" said Barlow, ste
me to what miracle / owe your father
invitation to me To come here 10 day 2"
Thereupen Katie told the story Of he
sisters flight and disappearance, an
with some heightened color admitte
that they had never known till Ii
night before whether or not Maggie WI
married. How quickly the coming rsll
tion makes itself felt, when love hi
onoe been acknowledged Katie Lane
street could not have mentioned tn
doubt to Barlow or any man the day b
fore. The young man listened intent
and said st the conclusion, "You del
ahtIA hnur khla aad huaioasa ,,ousk l. =,