Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-12-18
ute d.uzled by her then and told Cars.

we'll with laugh that he had imagined
himself quite heart-broken when she raj
away with GrAntley. He had subfsqu sDtl
gone south and Joined the fou,hern ARM
himself, and had for q time Il dulged II
romantic dreams OF meeting the Yankee
who had robbed him OF his love, in battle
Both men laughed heartily at the story
80 characteristic In some Of Its features o
the evanesoent passion Of youth a
twenty one. Considering their long SO
quAintRnoe, however, Carswell saw moth
ing remarkable In the fact that the two
called each other Ffauk and Maggie from
the frat, aud found many subjects fol
private conversation.
Calling next day on Lutte Curtis, Cars
we'll talked with much enthusiasm OF the
beauty and accomplishments .of tn,
"young widow" aud assured Lutte she
would be delighted with her. However
he declared he himself would not 20 there
any more with Broughtop, for Frank who
confessed himself an old lover OF Mrs
Grautley's monopolizsd her 80 completely
that no other fellow had any chance 81
sll. "Aotuslly," he said, "Frank
monopolizes Maggie IS he calls her,
more completely than Charley Barlow
does Katie"
"Poor fellow" said Lutte, "shall i
write and ask Lily TO hurry down and
put her lover In good humor, because
that selfish cousin OF mine won't give him
. chance to devote himself to q charming
young widow 2"
But though Lutte laughed at Carswell,
when she went over next day TO call at
LAndstreet's she resolved 70 inspect Mrs.
Grantley critically and determine whether
or not she was the sort Of woman 70
whom she would be willing to surrender
her cousin Frank. Lutte made her
appearance early In the afternoon and
was warmly received by the whole family
iuoludlng Mars sAret. The latter remem-
bered Lutte as young girl and did not
conceal her admiration Of the brilliant
roupR lady into which the child had
developed. This naturally tehded to in
spire Lutte with q good opinion Of Mar.
garet's taste and judgment She was
greatly impressed with the charm Of
MsrgArst's manner and pressed her as
far as politeness would permit TO give
"reminiscences Of her life in New York.
"Do you think you will be able after
all this to endure our quiet life here ~
asked Lutte
81 have no fear on that eoore," an
swered Margaret. 81 shall have plenty
to occupy me. Katie intends leaving
us next spring, you know, and
father would forgive me II l
In the household. fear shall prove q
poor substitute however, for l cannot
quite give up work with my pen, and
when get my books around me oncs
more / fear may prove 9 somewha.
negleotful house. e.kseper."
"Something Of . blue stookinR"r r. isotsd
Lutte but she said, "oh, rather prid
myself on my housekeeping and YET
find plenty Of time for reading"
"Does Aunt Jane 2" asked Katie
smiling.
'she might II she wanted to-" an
swered Lutte q little tartiy, but In
moment she addsd-"Yes l suppose Is
would be much harder on me were II not
for Aunt Jane, but then Mrs. GrAntlsy
will have Aunt Maria"
"But who will poor I have Z" asked
Katie ruefully.
"oh, you will have Charlie" replied
Lutte.
"Lot's OF use he'll bel" exclaimed his
future spouse, "Be'll have farm on his
hands aud at the same time be busied In
his books worse than Maggie"
"It's q blessed thing, then, that it's you
and not y ur sister he's going to marry"
said Lutte, "for though II Ia written that
man cannot live by bread alone, expert
ence shows he cannot live without
bread
Margaret frowned at this suggestion
tnat abe was amongst the mArrisgeable,
and lutte said no more.
Presently young Tom made his appear.
anoe and WAS presented to Lutte, for
whom he conceived an extrAvagRpt
admiration. She was the sweetest aud
prsttiest girl he had ever seen he de
oared to his mother, AID as he was a
bright, handsome bov Lutte permitted his
harmless worship and thsn ssforward the
black pony's head was very frequently
turned toward Mr. Curtis where the boy
was made much Of by all members Of the
family. Katie had no longer to bother
her head as how 10 get q note to Lutte
Curtis, IS henosforward Q most willing
poatman WAS ever at her service.
AS Lutte drove slowly home after
supper she carefully considered the ques-
tiop OF MsrgAret's fitness to be Frank
Broughton's wife. That she was both
handsome and charming Lutte admitted,
but did she care enough about house
keeping TO take the head Of an establish
ment like Franks, where great dest OF
company would have to be entel tanned
after her oousin had bsen elected TO Con-
gress Frank did not need literary
wife she thought. Mrs GrAntley was
probably younger than Broughtou but
with that big boy by her side she Ap-
psared mu III the older Of the two. "How
ridiculous II would sound for that big
boy to bs calling Frank Broughton
father" exclaimed Lutte aloud as she
mentally rendered Judgment that this
Hing would not do at ali.
But quickly on the heels OF all this
excitement Of the past few weeks at
Lsndstreet's usually quiet house came
smother. letter arrived addressed TO
"Mrs. Margaret Leland Landstrest
Grantley," and proved to b, from the
lawyer of old Mr.. GrAntley. Il announced
the death OF the old gentleman, which
gave shock Of sincere sorrow to all who
had through the recent correspondence
with him come TO appreciate the kind
ness and delioaoy OF feeling on the part
of one who confessed himself tlene In the
world. ard hopeless invalid and yet
showed q kindly interest in people he
had never seen. The latter went on TO
say that Mr., Grantley was an English.
man by birth and no longer had any
relatives In the country and mo near ones
anywhere. After the announcement Of
the discovery OF his son Harry's wife and
child he had made q will dividing the
bulk Of his fortune equally between
them. A copy Of the will was enclosed
as was brief letter to Margaret dictated
by the dying man. He said that he had
disposed OF his property as he felt his
dead son would have desired. 1t might
have eemsd natural, he said, to have
left all to his grandson, but he had
thought the matter over often during the
sea- oh for Margaret and ii seemed 30 him
that she had derived 30 much OF bumilis.
tiou and sorrow rather than OF Joy or
content from her marriage with Harry
that II was but fair that some repsration
should be made her, and he had resolved
to do what little mere money could do In
that direction by leaving her half the
fortune which she wcnid bavs shared had
his poor boy lived. She was still young
woman, he added, and might very prop.
erly marry again and therefore he would
leave his grAndson'a share directly 10
him and give Margaret absolute control Of
her own.
1t would be folly to pretend that
Margaret did not feel sincere satisfaction
| Ia the generous libsrAlity with which