Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-09-18

and expense Tor s0methtn' that's n D rel
use"
"well, I'm used 10 IT," said Carswel
"and do not think could live oomiortabl
without some green grass TO lie down O.
now and then. tell you what" b
continued, ~ like this place and dom
know how much the grass has to do wit
II. What do you think Of the land 2"
"0h, know the land" said Land
street. "fps purity fair and could easil
be brought up into fret class condition
and the orchard is only six years old an,
got several years purity good bearin' In
yet. I'd give $50 an acre for IL ss /
stands with ordinary buildin's on It 4
say nothin' Of the big house. That
worth whatever fellow thinks. Their
amt many people around here tha
would like to pay for house like that
Ye see there's 200 acres in the place ant
II ye value 1t at only $40 an acre withou
the house that makes $4,000 and as
understand that MoSorley up at vii
mibgton has $12, 900 mortgage on tn,
place that makes the house stand al
"a 600 which seems good deal jist for q
house. suppose howsomsver old Mo
Sorley would let part Of IL lay"
'0h, IL L buy want NO mortgage on
the place." answered Carswell greatly Ia
old Toms delight, for he had taken de.
cided liking to the Young man and did
not want to see him come TO grief as too
many northern settlers had done by try
ing peach raising with too little capital.
The two went over the house and Cars
we'll was we'll pleased with It's arrange.
ment, but the outbuildiugs were not Of
corresponding exoellencs. The young
man pointed ont improvements he would
make and told Tom he would be content
II he could buy the farm, put 1t in order
and stock II for any sum under $40, 900.
The two then entered eagerly into oaloula-
tions as to the cost Of management and
possible income in which the young fellow
displayed more knowledge than Tom had
expected, and by the tims their examina
tion was completed Carswell showed an
eagerness to possess the farm which Tom
cautioned him to suppress before they
called on Marks who had 1t for sale.
In this humor our two friends drove
into the little village ambitiously called
"Iron CITY," because years before forge
tor working bog ore had been set up
there, and established quite an important
industry for time till tue little ''pooket"
was exhausted, some years before the
civil war. But this brief period OF pros.
peritY had called into existence tavern,
two country stores, q blacksmith,
wheelwl ight and shoe.shop and several
similar establishments, and in course OF
time several farmers bad built rather
neat houses and taken up their residence
there, aCd as northern immigrants bought
up surrounding farns tie place became
ambitious onoe more and hat not only
the ususl two story Methodist church,
but hall Of its own with number OF
Offices beneath 1t. One OF thess was
by Lemuel Marks, a land agent;
another by Mortimer W. Gibbs, a young
lawyer who found IL cheaper 10 live there
than amongst his gay associates at
Durham, the county town, while the two
remaining offices we're occupied by Squire
Vandever, justice Of the peace, and
probably the last Of family bearing the
pstrioian name Of Van de We're who had
the Atlantic two centuries bsfore.
The latter was character in his way
aud held his office as o dignity which
him for poverty and the
loss OF one eye, the empty socket OF which
was concealed by a ground glass In his
speotacles or "specs," aB he called them.
He had one vaultipg ambition, however,
aud that was TO be elected coroner OF
Durham county, an ambition which the
Democratic party had, With singular In
gratitude and obtuseness 1t seemed to
him, denied.
As Lsndstreet and Carswell drove up
TO the hall all three Of the occupants OF
the offices were sitting In front OF 'Squhe
door discussing politics TO no
purpose since VAndsver and Gibbs had
not the slightest idss that any talk Of
sheils could convert Marks, a Pennsyl-
vania Republican, to their way OF think
lDg, while he, In turn, had long ago
abandoned them 80 Ignorant Buor.
bons" on whom reason wss
wasted. They stopped their disous..
sion as Tom Landstrset and the stranger
drove up, and sll saluted Tom as Mr.. Land
street. The old man di6 not accord the
people of Lincoln district the privilege
which those OF TOngueoteague enjoyed ss
a natural right (provided they we're
whit to call hiuI Tom. The negroes
might call him Mass' Tom, but since the
war they apparently preferred "boss" as
a title CT respect. Universally as he
was called "Old Tenn Lsndstreet" in h,s
own neighbOThood, it iniuriated the old
man to sse himself thus alluded to in tie
newspapers now and thet,
and he wished to be distinctly recOgniz d
20 Mr.. Lsndstreet in the Democrat
,ounty meetings at Durham aud In all
public assemblages outside Of Topgueo
league.
Landstreet and Carswell sliehted, the
latter taking care to jump out frs from
that oatapult Of wagon. The old gentle
man introduced his friend and after q
general hand shaking the whole party
sat down out doors and began talking
about the probable peach crop ard other
rural topios.
81 noticed that the trees up at Bar
lows Folly "--suoh was the name of the
place In the Language Of the country eide
-'were'nt over full" said Tom to
Marks.
"Guess they're full as anybody slse's
trees this year." tartly answered Marks
"Mayba, maybe" said Tom musinsly,
but ye see they're Citing along, them
trees, over six years old now. wouldn't
give much for that orchard three or four
years from now. Why the devil don't
you aell the place for MoSorley 20
why the devil don't you buy II :"
etorted Marks.
"Humph |" said Tom, )" Idon't want It. |
What use have l for house like that.
II you'll move that fine mansion into
your Iron City for your mayor to live in,
I'll give you $40 an acre for the land and
other buitdin'a."
''Yes, the honse is the trouble" an
sweIed Marks ignoring the snesr at Iron
City. 81 told the old man was afraid
for once he'd have to sacrifice something"
sdded the unsuspecting agent.
sid like to see him do 1t, the d-n old
skinfllntl" ejaoulated Tom. He then
went on 10 tell Marks that he
had hoped at one time that he could have
bro1Rht him his friend Carswell as q
customer despite the fsot that the farm
was located in "this internal Radical
distriot," but he said "Carswell can't
affOrd to buy palaces and besides that
Sam Beokwith got hold Of him and offered
him place over in Rssex county as big as
this and with younger orchard, but
only moderate buildings for $5, ,O00."
"That man will sacrifice an owners
any day to enable him t. braR
about q sSle," declared Marks and turn.
ing to Carswell he said inquiringly, "I
suppose you haven't closed with Book
with yet"
"No," answered Carswell, somewhat
astonished at The turn the onversation
had taken, since he had no idea Of taking
the place offered him by Beokwith.
"WhAt will you give me for Barlow's
Folly then Z" asked Marks.
NIiI oiva fuat what nv Iandafraak