Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-12-18
The LANDsTREETs.
A STORY OF THE PEACH COUNTRY,
BY
OSCAR DALE.
Copyrighted by The Every Evening Publishing 90
CHAPTER XVI.

Charlie Barlow had abandoned Journal
ism, but he had been engaged in II to
long to allow him to become utterly In
different to its obligations toward tn,
public. The newspapers had helped hin
10 his search for Margaret and thei
readers had in many ways shown th ell
interest In her story, and Barlow insisted
that the papers and the people had SON,
right to know it's happy ending. "Ir
faot," he said, 81 should never be able Il
look my friends Of the press in the fao,
again II l should try to deprive them o.
this piece Of news" Margaret somewhat
reluctantly gave in to this reasoning and
IL was agreed that the sequel TO the story
already SO widely published should
appear. Accordingly Barlow sent fol
such reporters as had assisted him in the
earlier stages Of his search and told th en-
that the missing one had been found. BE
suppressed all mention Of the soene al
the hotel which had destroyed Marsaret'a
faith In the validity Of her marriage, and
simply told them that Mrs. Grsntley had
lost her husband In the war after she
had been married but few weeks, and
that some persons having questioned she
validity Of the marriage Of which all
evidences had been lost the widow had
for the honor Of herself, her family and
her unborn child quietly assumed her
grAndmother's name and lived an indus
trious and successful life In the great
metropolis till the missing evidence came
accidentally into her fAther's hands,
whereupon the latter and her husband g
father had instituted the search for the
missing woman that had finally been
successful. The facts about the discovery
Of the missing certificate were given In
full and Col. Buffers agency in the
matter gave the story currency and
interest in Washington as we'll as New
York, and 1t 10 needless TO say that the
reporters made the most Of the opportunity
thus afforded them by romance in real
life. Margaret winosd under all this, but
Barlow assured her that her discovery
was sure TO be known and that the trutu
thus openly offered would be infinitely
preferable TO the stories ths. would ap-
pear II the reporters were left to pry into
the affair and supplement such meagre
facts as they could discover by drawing
on their imsginssIons for the reason OF
her long disappearance. He WAS proven
to be right for nothing unpleasant ever
appeared In any Of the papers in oonneo-
ton with the matter and the whols OF the
facts never having been discovered, Mrs.
Jimmy Gross Of Michigan escaped bsing
interviewed and the readers OF our story
will have to remain In ignorance as to
what use she was able to make Of Harry
Grantley's affidavit that he had married
her-to Jimmy. This publication also
saved Margaret great deal in the way
Of explanation, though she could mot
escape being hailed as the heroine Of q
romance as Phe went around on Friday
morning to bid some Of her more intimate
friends good by. Amongst the number
was Mrs. Hicks who had given Barlow
the information that enabled him to find
Mrs. Grsntley, to whom tie latter offered
something more substantial than thanks,
since she proposed that Mrs Hicks should
occupy her own pleasant rooms till she
aud continue for She present the
work which Margaret had already turned
over TO her before going on her recent trip
north. This nearly doubled Mrs. H;oks'
Income and would while Il lasted ba OF
immense service 70 her In helping pay off
q debt which she had contracted for @
great opportunity she did not fully
appreciate Of buFyine drunken husband.
But better luck still was In store for her.
Both Grantley and Landstreet had offered
8 reward Of 81 900 for information of the
whereabouts Of the missing woman, and
this sum Barlow insisted on awarding to
Mrs. Hicks, despite some protest on her
part. Barlow found that he etill had
some money on hand that he had drawn
for expenses and he went 10 Jack Gray OF
the Courier and gave him this balance
with which he charged him to give as
good spree IS the money would pay for
to dozen or more journalists he namsd
on condition that the affair was not to be
reported. Jack did his duty gladly and
sent Barlow q manuscript report of q
dinner at Cjney Island, 10 which un-
limited ohsmpsgne was consumed and
tossts were drank to "Lsndetreet Of
Lsudslreet," "The MissIpg Bride"
"BArlow inventor Of Knives, desr to the
heart Of boybood," 60, while every song
that had Maggie In It was uproAriously
sung. Barlow subseqently read this
manuscript to old Tom and the old man
alternately swore and shouted his delight,
and never stopped oosxing till he got Bar
low to agree to try to have q repetition
Of the banquet during the following
summer with himself (Tom) as host.
This whole matter was for q long time
kept secret, however, from the family.
Mrs. Hioks and her daug hter came down
on Friday afternoon aud took possession
Of Mss. GrAntley's roims and with the
good-byes and congratulations Of Mra
Jobson aud the whole household Margaret
bade adieu TO the home In which
she had lived for nearly thirteen years q
quiet life iu the very heart OF the great
city. New York was to be NO Longer her
home though it would never cease to be
pleasant to her memory. However stony
hearted 1t msy be to many who an ually
throw themselves into II, It had bssn to
Margaret q city Of refuge where she had
known. content II not entire happiness
ind gained experience and strength Of
character only wop by some sort Of battle
with the world. She looked back on It
with feeling of real affsoion as the ferry
boat carried her across the North river.
That evening" the little party stopped
at wilmington aiighting at the same old
station where Margsret's young husbsnd
had Joined her fourteen years before on
her flight nOrthwnrd from that childhood
home to which she was now returning.
They had time for a good look at the
pretty little city before taking the train
next morning for Tongueoteague, q name
which young Tom oonsiisead 90 funny
that he slways Ian. he'd whenever 1t was
pronounced. Woarisome as was the
journey the boy never went to sleep or
ceased asking questions till It ended.
Meanwhile MArgsret'J and Barlow's
letters had arrived and been read by all
the family with the most eager interest.
MaIRaret's letter was 10 her mother and
was q full and detailed account OF her
life pinoe leaving home and gave Of course
the story Of the incident that had led her
to believe she was not Grantley's wife.
After that she said sbe was restrained al
first by shame from letting her parenti
know her whereabouts, but after her boy
came she declared there was another and
higher motive. "Ah mAmms you know
what . mothers heart FEELS" she wrote
sand you will understand that l wsi
determined that my own sin against you
should not 10 visited on by son. l longsd
for you and my father even as now 40
tehu Win oARoEutbb every ilttl6 bcIhp y
news could find in the local paper, AUD
looked every week with terror at tn,
desth column to see II you were still
alive. / often saw iAther's name bu
rarely saw anything about you, unit
that long report Of Mr.. Csrswell's party
appeared and / found you were well snt
strong enough to be there. Then die
rejoice. That is the last / heard from
Bagdad till Mr.. Barlow found me. Bu
much as longed to see you both ooult
not then do so without aoknowledg ging {,
my boy that he did not bear his father
name, and when you come to see ant
I..n.u him xnaI .uIll L AhInh- I..naIa..