Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-08

les accustomed corner, and the same
room despite sill the improvements. Best
Of all he caught glimpses Of bare floor,
saw q rug that reminded him Of rag
carpet and good hickory fire crscklinR
on the hearth, all as he remembered IT in
his fathers days and he thsreupon sat
down In the easy chair that WAS to be
thenosfor his own and with tssrs in
his eyes declared his pleasure with
several and various mighty osths.
"By - this ia the real old style,
Maggie" he said, 'tnothin' fashionable
about this" whereupon he was aston
ished with the assertion that II there WAS
one room In the house more superlstively
fashionable and In the latest style than
any other that was the room, to which
astounding assertion the old man could
only answer, swell I'LL be d."
This naturally became the family sit
ting room even for Barlow and Katie who
usually could find all the privacy re-
quired for so advanced q stage Of court
ship as theirs In the deep bay window,
and old Tom sat every night In front OF
the fire where he smoked his Cigar with
out rebuks and WAS even permitted to
have his pet dog at his feet. "Well this
10 livin'" he declared one evening, 81
began rather late but I advise you
young 'uns TO start this way and not
keep ali yer purity things in room ye
never use and only do as ye please when
yer 10 some d. barn-like barren place"
And so the E,shetios gained another
adherent.
The State Legislature met at the begin
ming of the year and old Tom rushed off
to IL to have one Of his cherished schemes
carried out, and one Of the very first
bills passed at the session WAS a
ssprivate' one enaoting that the name OF
Thomas Leland Grsntley, for 30 the
mother had secretly had her boy
christened, should be changed to Thomas
LRndstrest. Margaret had yielded to her
fssher's persuasion in this matter. Young
Tom had really never been called by his
father's name, for from the day Of his
arrival at his erandfathsr's house he had
been called young Tom LandBtreet, and
he Joined his persuasion to that OF the
old gentleman to secure his mothers
consent to the change. Margaret finally
surrendered on two conditions, one that
she was TO have absolutely her own way
about the alterations in the house. and
secondly tha. the place was to bs called
Grantley, the village Of the station having
appropriated that Of Landstreet. The
treaty was concluded on this basis and as
old Tom had leng been known rs Tom
LAudssrest Of Landstreet, those who
hesitated to speak Of the grandfather
and grandson as Old Tom and young
Tom Disseminated between them as Tom
Landstrest Of Lsndstreet and Tom Land
street OF Grautlsy, and thus the young
soldiers name still adhered In some
fashion tn his boy.
Katie had, Of course, frequently heard
from Lutte during the long absence o.
the latter and she learned from her
letters how much Lutte saw Of Colonel
Butler. What surprised her WAS tina
despite all their frequent sllusIons to
him Lutte never said q word about
engagement. When, therefore, the
announcement Of Col. Buffers sudden
death reached Katie's ears she felt that
she must write TO Lutte oondoling with
her and was greatly embarrassed as to
the terms In which she should offer her
sympathy. Another thing to embsrrass
her arose ont Of this. Lutte was to be
her first bridesmaid and 1t was altogether
probable that she would not serve In
that capacity II she had besn engaged to
Colonel Butler. Katie finally concluded
that as Lutte had never chosen to say any
thing to her about her engagement she
must herself ignore II as we'll, and 80 she
wrote letter saying tive were ali
shocked and greatly grieved by the news
Of Colonel Buffers death and OF course
we sympathizs deeply with you and your
father in this great sffliotion." Then
she went on to ask Lutte when she ex-
pected TO return home and incidentally
mentioned the date OF her wedding, at
which In any event she knew Lutte
would be present, but she omitted any
Rllusion to this or to her promise to be
bridesmaid.
She was both relieved and perplexed
by Lutis's response, which stated that
she WAS coming home very soop, asked
Katie TO send her q full des riptiou and
sample Of her wedding dress and any
suggestions abe might choose to offer for
her own dress as bridesmaid, and said
she was looking forward TO the event
with great pleasure. Concerning Col.
Butler's death she said "PApa is now
here and Joins me In thanking you for
your expression Of sympathy with us In
our sorrow over Col. Buffers death. !
cannot tell you how shocked and grieved
l was. He has been In New York great
deal this winter and l never was more
fond OF him than at the time Of his death.
He seemed like 3 second father or an
elder brother 10 me, and were 1t not for
you, dear, / think should say he WAS
my dearest friend. Even row thus
| u AZ hpttnno hao m fao1tn0
Of sadness which for time completely
overwhelmed me-"
Katie read this again and again. 1t
was perfectly open and proper express
sion Of grief for the loss OF friend but
not such as she would have expected
from warm hearted girl who had lest
by death lover to whom she had been
engaged. In reading the letter second
time she was struck with the expression,
"were 1t not for you dear think should
say he was my dearest friend." Katie
was very fond Of Lutte but she felt very
certain that 1t would never enter her
own head to use such an expression as
that in writing Of Charlie Barlow to Lutte
Curtis. She finally showed the letter to
Margaret who promptly declared that
Lutte had certainly never loved Col.
Butler whether she was engaged 70 DIN
or not "How do You know she Uas en-
gagged" che asked
81 don't know" answered Katie, 81
had an idea You told me "
81 only know that Frank Broughtor
believed so," said Margaret. "Did Lutte
never tell you she was engaged" shs
asked"
'No,n answered Katie.
"Well then maybe che was not engaged
at all. Let us rive her the bentfi OF th'
doubt" said Margaret who had gottsI
over her irritation somewhat.
81 wonder how Frank will meet her,
said Katie. "You know he is to b.
: Charles groomsman."
, aLike q man, hope" answereC
i Margaret sentsntiously.
I FRO Be CONTINUED