Oxford Democrat., 1914-08-25
Estele Martindale'S
Plow
Story ot a Duel That Did
). Not Come Off
8, ruth GRAHAM

i<Ol SOule Oil
8 8, RrTH GRAHAM !
s><~>r~%+><><%>>>>>>>><><>
Ii wns snnewhere between 1850 and
ISI5 that Adelbcrt Swift graduated
from, northern university and. hav-
luz heard great deal about planta-
uon life in The south. concluded to 90
there with view to becoming a plant.
er. He had Inherited some means with
which he might buy and stock plan
tation; but. realizing his ignorance OF
the art Of tilling the soil. be felt that
it was prudent for him to gain some
knowledge ON the subject before max.
ing an investment
In order to do this he conceived the
idea Of obtaining position as tutor
In the family of some planter. The
hours he would be required to teach
would not be many each day. and be
would have time to familiarize himself
with the workings Of plantation. he
was not long in finding position In
the family Of a Colonel Southgate IN
South Carolina. The Southgate planta
don was a very large one. Including
some 800 negroes. Swift found he had
not made q mistake in assuming that
there was a great deal to learn in run.
ming q plantation. One Of them was in
itself q community consisting Of two
main branches. the planting branch
and the business branch.
Swift, being young and not yet ener'
waited by the climate. occupied a por'
don Of the day riding about on the
plantation observing the methods used
and asking questions. he volunteered
beside to handle the colonel's accounts.
to which be devoted himself during
the evenings.
The south has always been noted for
the hospitality Of its people. and Swift
was made at home in the families Of
the planters In the vicinity Of Colonel
Southgate's manor house. Indeed, he
received more invitations than he had
time to accept. which was a source Of
trouble to him. fearing that when he
declined one of them It would be set
down as a slight.
Not far from the Southgate planta.
tion resided Miss Estelle Martindale.
Her father was supposed by many to
be the owner of the plantation be nan.
aged. He had married its owner. who
had died and left him with a little girl.
Estelle. Martindale had contrived to
get into debt to bis wife for con-
siderable sum. and she had made a
will leaving him an amount equal to
his indebtedness. heQueathing the resi-.
due to their daughter.
Estelle was about Adelbert Swift's
uge. She had inherited from her moth
er not only the plantation. but pracu.
cal nature. and was principally occu.
pied in checking an impractical father.
whose chief idiosyncrasy was to sink
money. She had learned as her moth.
er had learned before her that to save
her property from being wasted she
must keep 1t and her finances In her
own hands. In managing her father
she was very adroit. Nothing hurt his
pride SO much az to have any one
think that be was his daughters EN-.
ployee. Consequently she always spoke
Ut the plantation as his and consulted
him about everything. though. match.
Ing her own good against his poor
judgment. the consultation always
ended In her views being carried out.
Swift having been highly educated.
made an impression upon Estelle Mar
tindale. He found her particularly
cOngenial, and she preferred him to
any Of the young men OF her ac-
quaintance.
When Albert Murtindale noticed that
all intimacy was springing up between
Swift and his daughter he fancied he
sa " the end Of his administration. he
was not bad man. Indeed. he was
an honorable man. but 1t was impos.
sible for him to contemplate with
equanimity bis daughters marriage,
since her husband must learn that his
wife's father had no right in law to
the plantation or its management 1t
Ia very easy for one to find reasons for
preventing what is not to his interest
and oftentlmes to believe bis reasons
to be sound.
Martindale said nothing to his daugh.
ter about the prospect before him.
but showed-he could not help showing
bis antagonism to Swift. When they
met. except at the Martindale home,
be bowed to the young man coldly. In
his home be would have scorned to
treat any guest except. with an ap.
pearance ut least. of cordiallty. Es-
telle saw what was in her fathers
mind. though Swift did not.
What began between Swift and Miss
Martindale with friendship developed
Into love. Swift called frequently at
lhe Martindale home. Then came How-
ers. sure sign that there were inten.
lions. Martindale watched the process
with disquietude.
Martindaie. himself an ardent south.
erner. had a friend. Major Marston.
who was much prejudiced against the
north, Marston. meeting his friend
nne day. spoke Of Swift's attentions to
l,stelle and asked II Mart1ndale were
going to give bis daughter to north
,rner. This was the straw that broke
be camel's back. Martndale made an
fvasive reply. But the die was cast
From that time be began to lay plans
Tor breaking up the impending match.
he could not attack Swift on politi.
.al grounds. for the young man had
no political views. But Martindale
must lind some ground Of objection to
the man who. by marrying bis daugh
ter. would doubtless make an inroad
upon bis authority as manager Of his
Manhattan II annoypd him TINT ht