The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-04

ished the buckles Of his shoes an1
sword belt. he DreakfaStpd and salied
forth to make his calls Frau Van Bus
kirk having noticed IL Speck on Il NET.
platter. removed it and got herself
ready To receive visitors. while Lena
sat up stiff as Il ramrOd. her pptticoat.
protecting her from any near appruach
on the part of any Dutchman whc
might have imDibed too much SrhnappS
Whether or no her heart was tiuttelin4
with the hope that JacObuS Hard"',
brock. the SuitOr Of her choice wOub
call before the other two. there is un
record; for in those days no Dutch glri
ever was known to show emotion. The
only sign Of interest in the matter ap.
parent was her sitting In a window that
gave her vision clean sweep of the
north face of the fort. the windmill! and
the Hudson river. There she sat WA II
ing those who approached the house.
1t was about IL o'clock that Cornel
ius Van Kortlandt appeared. Van Kort-
landt'S height measured exactly eT2
feet four inches and his girth four feet
five inches. as in the case Of Governor
Van Twiller. He came up the roadway
that is now Il street between the Gus.
tom house and the Bowling Green.
looking like a humming top standing
upright on its peg. and hammered with
Buskirks' front door. A rosy red it,
duced by Holland gin decorated his
nose and cheeks. and he was very gar.
rulOus. He said that he had been cali.
ing at the OnderdonkS'. where he had
met Van Buskirk. who was drinking
with Van Zandt. whom 1T was evident
he was trying to put under the table
This information brought a scowl to
the brow Of Frau Van Buskirk. and
Lena gave evidence Of being Interested
Van Kortlandt passed on to other calls
and young Peter Van Corlear took his
place at the refreshment table. where
he and the lady of the house were alone
together. Frau Van Buskirk said to
him in low voice:
Peter. If you will go to the Onder.
donks' and bring Winant Van Zandt
here / will throw all my influence to
you that you may have our daughter
to wife,
Peter put the forefnger Of his right
hand against his nose to indicate that
1t was bargain and left the house.
At the time Of this agreement Lena
was receiving the call Of Carolus Van
dergrieft. and she. too, made a bar.
gain. She agreed that If ne would find
Wouter Ten Eyck and keep him away
from the house till set Of sun she
would marry Carolus. provided her
parents would give their consent.
Thus it fell out that Van Buskirk by
trying to delay his wife's favorite for
their daughters hand started a contest
between himself and his wife and their
daughter, each in behalf of the suitor
favored. While the father and mother
were playing. the one to delay, the
other to hasten Van Zant's coming, the
daughter was scheming to delay Ten
Eyck. Lena knew that 50 long as her
father would continue to put schnapps
before Van Iant the young man would
yield to no other persuasion. If. there
fore. she could delay Ten Eyck quite
likely her own choice. JacObus Harden
brock, might come along in good time
and win her
Unfortunately for the success of her
plan Jacobus took il into his head to
have Il game of bowls on the bowling
green. There was an inn directly op-
posite. and after every game either
beer or Schnapps was served and.
though Jacobus was a temperate man.
he was exceedingly fond Of bowls. ana
since 1t was New Years day was not
averse to a smali celebration. 1t was
4 O'Clock in the afternoon when Lena.
looking out through window, saw
the man of her choice just about to
roll a ball on the bowling green.
Throwing up the sash. she cried out to
him:
"Jacobus. are you not making calls
today?"
Yes" replied Jacobus. II am going
to begin when | have finished this
game Of bowls"
You had better hurry Our last bot
tie is on the refreshment table. and
there Is no more in the cellar
IL don't care for schnapps." he re-
piled. poising another ball to roll it, |
II prefer bowls"
Lena shut down the window. much !
put out with her lover. whom she did |
not wish to tell openly Of the tripartite |
agreement between herself and her !
parents.
1t was soon after this that Peter Van !
Corlear returned and admitted that ;
Van Lant was not to be withdrawn !
from the Onderdonks. and CaroluS !
Vandergrieft sent word by negro !
slave that while he was doing his best !
to keep Ten Eyck away he feared ev- |
cry moment that he would resume ,
the list Of calls he was making and |