Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-01
THE LANDsTREETs.
A STORY OF THE PEACH COUNTRY,
BY
OSCAR DALE.


NWO bAhhhA NOTOhtbb'
Eleotion day had come and gone, an
Frank Broughton's confidence in his SUI
cess had bean justified in the result, bu
his triumph WAS almost lost sight Of 4
the wild Joy Of his party over th
announcement that the Democratic csndi
date for the Presidency had been elected
Rejoicing soon gave way to alarm, how
ever, as the result OF Chandler's advio
to 'claim everything" began to Appea
aud the excitement that had precede,
the election seemed a. nothing TO tha
which followed in the little oemmunit,
whose story wehave been telling "A feelinI
ofsavage bitterness animated both side
and the common talk was such as ofteI
becomes the precursor Of civil war. Il Il
needless to repeat here the familiar stor1
OF the events that preceded the seating
Of Mr.. Hayes Ia the Presidential oh air
No American has forgotten IL and n,
patriotic man will ever forget the dread
Of disaster shat filed thinkirg art
observant men as the crisis spproacl sd
II Is almost needless to say that old
Tom Landstreet was In a constant state
Of blazing fury. He cursed his tpponents
individually and collectively. BE divided
the community and the country broa lily
into two Glasses, "the honest people,
who opposed "the great frauds" and
"the d-n sooundrels" who upheld Il,
and he utterly refused to number amor gsi
his aoquaintsnces any Of the latter.
Fortunately for the domestic peace Of all
concerned, Barlow, who had voted she
Republican Presidential ticket, had no
doubt of Tilden's election and he bitterly
condemned "the attempt to set aside the
expressed will Of the people, as he
termed II, and Tom, who had grown fond
Of the young man, declared with profsne
emphasis that Barlow was the one honest
Republican In the whole United Ststes.
YounR Tom had attended meetings with
his grandfather, with whom he, OF course,
sympathizsd and he talked politics al.
most as freely "a q man. On ons occasion
the boy even swore about the Republicans
In his grandfAther's presence. bat the old
man CURSED him with such savage vigor
for irdulging In Language which he told
him "would break your mothers heart
and turn her against her old daddy for
settiu' her boy bad example," that the
youpgster found other words thereafter
III WRtcu W ouuO OAu Aoh WIhbu anu
Margaret was able TO congratulate herself
on the success Of her efforts to impress on
her boy . sense OF the uselessness and
bad taste Of profanity. She did not
venture to take high moral grounds as
she was not willing to teach her son that
his grandfather was really wicked, and
In fact she did not believe 80.
Mics Noroross went home early in
November, Carswell accompanying her.
He had succseded In securing her oons ,ntto
have the marriage take place Just before
Christmas and Lutte hAd accepted an
invitation to be one Of the bridesmaids.
Mr.. Curtis was greatly excited over the
political situation, and, aroused ont Of
his retirement, was frequently of TO New
York and Washington to talk the matter
over with the older men In politics who
we're his friends aud associates. OF
course Frank Broughton shared the
general excitement, but he was dominated
by another and strictly personal one that
more thoroughly engrossed him. The
time had come, he felt, for carrying out
his resolution TO demand definite answer
Of Lutte, but variety Of things inter
vened TO prevent him from obtaining q
suitable opportunity. That young lady
herself somehow managed to render II
almost impossible for him to. see her
alone. She went over to New York with
her father to do some shopping in Antioi-
patton Of Lily's Wedding, and when she
returned not only her father but Col,
Butler cams back with hlr. BroughtOn
drove over TO LAndstTeet's quite fre
quently, talking over his hopes and fears
with Margaret, Katie having become
thoroughly sngrossed in the progrsss Of
the new home. Somehow Lutte head OF
these visits and she had brAvely made
up her mind 10 triumph over her own
selfshness as she called II and TO smile
at the wedding Of Frank aud Margaret,
an event she now felt sure was inevitable.
She thought she had convinced herst II
that she Was reeouoiled 10 It and she Ts,
proached herself for having permitted a
desire for the continuance OF Franks
devotion to stand In the way Of
desiring his happiness. By way Of assist
ing herself to msintAin her good resolu
tion she listened with more interest than
she had ever before shown TO the many
gallant little speeches by which Colonel
Butler showed his growing regard for her,
which she now saw was the chief oRule
Of his great intimacy with her father,
who was much older man than himself.
Shortly after the family's return from
New York, Frank Brought N, alternately
elAted with hope and depressed by fear,
rode over 10 Mr.. Curtis determined 10
know his fate. Col. Butler was still there
and Frank, for the first tim, gained from
the handsome elderly gsntlsmAn's looks
and manner an inkliDg Of his feelings
toward Lutte, and his attention being thus
once aroused, he was distressed and
almost Mortified to See Lutte blush or
avert her glance oDoe OF twice as the
colonel uttered SONS fattering or defer
entiAl remark. Atter supper the colonel
retiring to the library with Mr..
Curtis as had formerly been his
custom, AID he unhesitatingly took his
place by Lu.ie's side al the piano and
turned over her music for her In quite
gallant fashion. B;oughton became more
and more silent and mgrose and his heart
was filled with bitterness against the
presumption OF this "old, white haired
man" In attempting to play the lover,
yet rs Frank watched them 1t gradually
dAwned ON him that the colonel was not
q rival to be despissd. True, his hair
l0as quite white, yet there was nothing
inarm about his appearance, he was as
erect as youth, sat horse as though
he had been crsdied In the saddle,
dressed with care aud elegance, had
most distinguished air and to what
seemed still almost youthful vigor added
the oourtly grace OF manner Broughton
had heard Lutte commend In her father.
Moreover Col. Butler was not merely
member Of Congress, but = most distin-
Ruished member and leader, and Brough.
ton felt the new aud blushing honors
that sat on his shoulders pale to insignif
canoe beside those worn by the man he
must henosforth recognizes as rival.
Presently the two at the piano Joined
in duet, which even Frank was forced
TO admit they sang beautifully and which
attracted Mr.. Curtis from his papers and
finally even Aunt Jane who took post
by the piano with her ear trumpet
directed toward the singers. The even
ing was now dotmed 80 far as Franks
object was concerned and when Col.
Butler and Lutte dropped into one OF
those musical chats interrupted by the
trying Of verse or line here and there
without finishing anything, the young
man who was at the time talking to Mr..
Curtis said he must 60. Mr.. Curtis
raised his voice in protest against under.
taking so lorg q ride at that time Of
night which attracted Lutie's attention.
She came from the piano TO second her
fathers invitation and quite devoted her.
self to her cousin for the remainder Of
the evening, but she managed to turn
the talk in channels that made the con-
versstion general, so that Frank finally
went to bed with all that he had come to
say unsaid and . great fear upon him