The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-09-18
EStelle Martindale's
PloW
Story Of a Duel That Did
Not Come Off
By RUTH GRAHAM

from northern university and. hav
ing heard a great deal about planta'
ton life in the south. concluded to &C
there with a 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, he felt that
1t 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 he
would have time to familiariZe himself
with the workings Of plantation. He
was not long in finding position in
the family Of Colonel Southgate in
South Carolina. The Southgate planta
ton was very large one. including
some sou negroes. Swift found he haC
not made mistake in assuming tina,
there was great deal to learn in run
ming plantation. One Of them was IL
itself 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-
ton of the day riding about on the
plantation observing the methods used
and asking questions. He volunteered
beside to handle the coloners accounts.
to which he 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 source of
trouble to him. fearing that when he
declined one OF them it would be SET
down as slight.
Not far from the Southgate planta-
ton resided Miss Estelle Martindale
Her father was supposed by many to
be the owner of the plantation he man
aged. He had married its owner. who
had died and left him with little girl.
EStelle. Martindaie had contrived to
get into debt to his wife tor a con-
siderable sum. and she had made a
will leaving him an amount equal to
his Indebtedness, bequeathing the resi-
due to their daughter.
Estelle was about Adelbert Swift's
age. She had inherited from her moth
er not only the plantation. but practi-
cal nature, and was principally occu.
pied in checking IN 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 ii and her finances in her
own hands. In managing her father
she was very adrolt. Nothing hurt his
pride so much as to have any one
think that he was his daughters en-
ployee. Consequently she always spoke
of the plantation as his and consulted
him about everything. though. match.
Ing her own good against bis 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 t.
any Of the young men of her nc.
quaintance.
When Albert Martindale noticed that
III intimacy was sprilging up between
Swift and his daughter he fancied he
saw the end of his administration. He
was not bad man. Indeed. he was
IN honorable man. but il was lmpus-
sible for him to contemplate with
since her husband must learn that his
wife's father had no right in law Ia
the plantation or its management II
is very easy for one to find reasons for
preventing what is not to his interes,
ana oftentimes to believe his reasons
to be sound.
Martindae said nothing to his danGh
ter about the prospect before him
but showed-he could not help showing
his antagOnism to Swift. When they
met. except at the Martindale home
he bowed to the young man cOldly. In
his home he would have scOrned tu
treat any guest except. with an ap.
pearance at least. of cordiality. 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 al
the Martindale home. Then came flow
ers. sure sign that there were inten.
tons. Martindale watched the process
with disquictude.
Martindale. himself IN ardent south.
erner. had friend. a Major Marston
who was much pr-jndiced against the
north. AlarstOD. meeting his friend
one day. spoke of Swi.ts attentions IL
Estele and asked Ii Martindale were
going to give his daughter to north
erner This was the straw that broke
the camels back. Martindnle made an
evasive reply. But the die was cast.
From that time he began to lay plans
for breaking up the impending match
He could not attack swift on politi.
cal grounds, for the young man had
no political views. But Martindale
must find some ground of objection 10
the man who. by marrying his daugh
ter, would doubtless make an inrOad