Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-12-25
THE LANDsTREETs.
A STORY OF THE PEACH COUNTRY,
BY
OSCAR DALE.
Copyrighted by The Every Evening Publishing 90
CHAPTER XVII.


Copyrighted by The Every Evening Publishing oc
CHAPTER XVII.
MISS NoRoRoss ARRIVES.
October the most beautiful Of our
months on the Atlantic coast had come
and the pesohes had all been picked and
sold. II had been, on the whole, q
poor year for fruit, though - usual here
and there some individual or district had
enjoyed good yield and prohted by the
higher prices caused by diminished
crop In the region as whole. The peach
country stretches nearly hundred
miles from north to south between the
Chesapeake and Delaware bays, and the
trees In some portions Of II are severely
damaged every year. Spring is time Of
apprehension and alarm to all who are
deeply interested In the crop. Some
always suffer though the extent Of the
region Of late years usually assures q
sufficient yield TO give fair supply to
the northern markets. This fact how
ever, does not tighten the burden OF
failure TO those who suffer and TO many
Of whom the loss of one years crop too
often means serious embarraeament or
actual ruin. The we'll to-do farmers such
as old Tom Lsndstreet avoid this danger
by not trusting to the fruit crop alone.
"Fair to middlin'," was old Toms
verdict on the crop around Bag
dad that year, bat the thrifty
orchard at Rensselaer, deserved 3
higher enoomium, and its fruit had
brought In sufficient cash TO put Csrswell
In excellent humor with the world and
himself, % befittsd young man who was
looking forward to months enjoyment
Of the society Of beautiful young girl he
was soon 10 call his wife.
His expectations were we'll founded for
one afternoon early In October, Lily Nor
oroba arrived at Bsgdad and was warmly
welcomed by Lutte Curtis who had
stsrnly forbidden Carswell 70 put In an
appearance at the station. 81 want her to
have chance TO break the hearts Of some
conoeited young men who don't know she's
engaged" declared the little tyrAnt,
"and II you come there, your face beam.
ing with Joy and kiss her before every
body, you'll give the whole thing away
and no one will come near her,"
i'But Lily don't want to break any
body's heart," declared Csrswell.
That's all you know" soornfully
answered Lutte. "She shall have the
chance to decide for herself, anyway"
"But l wouldn't kiss her At the STA
tion," Carswell went on.
"Then she'd never forgive you," per-
sisted Lutte. "Young man." she CON-
tinued, ~ have q profound conviction
that the frat meetings Of lovers separated
for Q time should never take place In
public, and az am responsible for this
coming meeting Of yours with Lily IL
must take place In accordance with my
ideas of propriety."
"But what will Lily think ?" he
asked.
''She will think you are q dear, good,
sensible fellow for not making her appear
before you covered with dirt, dust and
confusion In . village railway station
with . crowd Of gsping loafers looking
on" said Lutte ooaxingly.
swell, I'll think about Il" said Cars
we'll.
''No you mustn't" answered Lutte
with some heat, "you must do as / say.
I'll have Lily home at a O'Clock. By 8
she will be presentsble. At 8 wen have
supper. You may come at and / will
be very busy about supper till 10 minutes
before 8 Do you see
"Yes but" began CArswell.
"There are no Ifs or butts about II, !"
fercely continued the little maiden.
"Ycu are rather fond Of my society are
you not, Mr.. CArswell 7" she asked.
"Yes, oertainly-why Of oourRe," he
replied in surprise at the question.
f'Very we'll, SIR" she went on, '1f you
ion't do what ssk Of you now you shall
have more Of my society during the
present month than You have had in all
the rest Of your life before this"
"oi course, / shall be delighted" he
Rallsntly replied.
sMany thanks" responded the player
Of this trump card with 9 courtesy, and
so II happened that Lutte alone met Miss
Norcross at Bsgdad. She promptly
guarded CArswell against all blame, how
ever, by telling Miss Noroross that she
had had TO fairly bully him into staying
home, being opposed to letting him see
her friend while covered with dust and
oinders. "This is q matter Of principle
with me-" Lutte said. can the old
religions were smashed up by letting the
worshippsrs see into the mysteries, and
the worship Of gomen by men will never
survive too much knowledge on the part
Of the devotees." But despite all THU
Lutte drove home by way Of Rensselaer,,
which she pointed out to Lily as they
passed, and she shrewdly suspected thai
the impatient lord OF that fair domain
was on the watch somewhere TO Het
whether or not there were two ladies' In
Lutie's pony carriage. A light wagon
carrying the baggage had taker
the shorter load and got home ahead o.
the ladies 90 that when O'Clock ar
rived Miss Noroross was almost dressed
when, on the minute, Carswell arrived,
Lutte met him with the sAlutAtion--
''Good boy--she'll be down In minute
and ushering him into the pRrlor she rAI
back TO her friend. In 1--WE minutes, o
the most, she had pronounced Miss Nor
GROSS perfect and told her TO 90 rlgh
down into the parlor where she woult
shortly Join her, aud the unsuspectinI
stranger did as she was bid aud so walket
Berenely into CArswells outstretohet
arms. We will initiate their youpl
hostess and give them 1tly blesset
minutes TO themselves. What they sal,
would doubtless sound very hAokneye'
II reported, but to them II was just q
new and fresh and sweet As was th
mama to wandering Israel each morning
There is nothing more stupid than tn
complaint that all lovers talk ia alike
30 In q general way, and to indiferen
observers are breakfasts, babies, roses
sunsets, springs. summers, music En
all else that sstisiss, delights and elevate
mankind. Lovers talk WAS onoe ne
enough to all except the prematurel
blaze as all emotions must sometimes hay
= nrst time In the souls Of sll capable
feeling, and when that hrst time ooms
they are as new to him who feels the
As they were TO Adam. ....
''The miracle fades out OF history,
But faith and wonder and the primal earth
Are born into the world with oVery child"
Supper was announced by Lutte
pei son and merry meal II was, happ
ness, like grief, being contagious. M
Curtis who had known Miss N0yor0ss
Washington was 80 particularly graciol
and gallant that Lutte sauoily comp
mented him on It, and declared that 81
had often wished that he was not b,
father as then he might conclude
make love to her In that stately and o
fashioned but charming way. "There
nothing OF the kind nowadays" d
said With profound sigh.
"No," replied her father, SIT died o.
when young ladies hegan TO talk slang
"ThAt's the way he always doubl
me up when I'm particularly sweet
him. lent Il horTid," moAned Lui
evidently determined to justify h
reputation and she added in loud ssid
"Ths only way to keep men in order
70 bully them all the time, and never