Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-03-22
VOL. XIII.
A STORY FOR THE DAY.
Nh. wOoDBRrDGEs INVESTMENT.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

mathis seemed 20 mourn with an almost human
voice. But the autumnal melancholy without
only served to brighten the cheerfulDess of the
rearing wood fire, whose ruddy glow danced
and quivered over the rough raffers of Farmer
Woodbridge's spacious old kitchen. sparkling
on the polished surfaces Of platters and glim-
mering brasses, sending long stream of ra-
dance through the nncurtained windows out
upon the darkened road.
"Yes, as was saying afore." observed the
old farmer, rubbing hin toll hardened hands
together, and gazing thoughtfully into the fire,
IRIS been capital harvest this year, l would
not ask for better So wife, you just pick
out some of them yaller pippiR apples, aud pat
them into Jessie's basket agin she calls after
Them
Wont the little red oues do as well 1
calculated TO keep them pippens for market
Squire Benton says they're worth"
II don't keer what they're worth" inter
rupted the farmer, as his helpnate square,
angular woman, with face plowed with in
Vulnerable little lines of care, fingered the yel-
low-cheeked apples obviously, 81 tell you what
it is Keturah folks never yet lost anything by
doing kind thing. / never could make you
believe that. unless the pay came right in in
hard cash! Now here's Jessie Morton, as likely
girl as ever breathed, teachin' school day in
aud day out, and her marin sewin' to home,
earning living by the hardest toil-bOrn la
dies. both on 'em. Don't you 'spose these appl-
es will be worth more to them, If given with
kind word, than they would be TO that pesky
tight fisted agent up to Hardwiche Hall, if he
give a dollar u bushel?
Charity begins to hum" said Keturah, jer-
king out the supper table with an odd twist
of the face mot but that Jessie's well
enough-but you had better scratch your pen
nies together and pay rp that mortgage, If
you don't wan. the Hardwiche agent foreclo-
sing on you. And then the Pippins are just
as good as so much money. There they be,
ANYHOW, in the basket, one Of your investments
I guess"
"One of my investments, then if you like to
call it so, Keturah,' said the farmer with u
good humored laugh, banishing the annoyed
expression. which had oversprcad his face
when she alluded to the mortgage. come
long in Jessie my gall" he added cheerily, as
light touch sounded on the door latch
Here is the basket, all right and some of these
golden pippins tucked into it. Maybe they'll
tempt your mothers appetite"
Jessie Morton was a slender, graceful girl
about seventeen, with satin-smeoth bands Of
hair, parted above low, sunny forehead, large
liquid eyes,and checks, which Farmer Wood
bridge always declared "sot him to thinking
o them vclvet-lookin Jersey peaches that grew
on the tree down in the south meadow" she
took up the basket with graceful smile that
went even to the finty heart of Mrs. Keturah.
"Oh, Mr. Woodbridge, how kind you always
are TO US. If were only rich-ifI could only
make you some return"
"Dun't say q word about that" said the
farmer, rubbing his nose very hard. Jest you
run home as East as ever you can put, for it s
getting most dark, and the November wind
amt no ways healthy as ever heard on. and
say Jessie, if it rains tomorrow so you can't
go to school handy, just you stop here, and I'll
give you q lih in wagon"
Dear old Mr. Woodbridge" soliloquized
Jessie Morton to herself, as her light footsteps
paltered along on the fallen leaves, show
many times l have had cause to thauk his
generous heart. And to think he should be
so distressed about that mortgage, by the
agent ut Hardwiche Hail."
| She paused for moment to look upnot
where tue stately roofs aud gables of the
| Hall rose darkly outlined against the GRIM
son that still burned stromily in the sky
! On commanding height, and nearly hidden
in trees, many of which still retained their au-
tumnal foliage, it seemed almost like old
baronial castle.
'Fhere it stands" she mused, "shut up and
silent, year after year, its magnificent rooms
untenanted, the flowers ungaihered in its con-
servatories. Since Mrs. Hardwiche died
twenty years since, mamma says-the family
have been abroad, and now the only surviving
heir is travelling no one knows where Won
der if be knows how grasping and cruel his
agent is Oh, DEAR" she added softly, "mon-
ey does not always come where it is most
needed. If I were the mistress of Hardwiche
Hail."
She started, with slight scream, the next
instant, as a tall figure rose up from the mos
sy boulder by the roadside, directly in front oi
her.
pardon me-" said voice that instantly
reassured her, for it was too gentle to come
from any but a gentleman, "but am not GER
tain that have lost my way. Is this the
Eldon road? was waiting for some one to
come along and direct me-"
"This is Edon road" said Jessie, all uncon-
scious that the last CLEAN of the fading sunset
was lighting up her fair, innocent face with an
angelic beauty as she stood there among the
fallen leaves
"And can you tell me the shortest footpatt
to Hardwiche Hall? have not been in this
-, 7 har 4
now am completely at fault"
Jessie hesitated a moment. Il could show
you better than could tell, for it is rather q
complicated road" she said, ''and if you will
accept my services as guide, it will not b6
much out of my way"
"I shall feel much honorcd," said the stran
ger, "and meanwhile let me carry your bas
ket."
It was a wild and lovely walk, winding
among moss-garlanded trees and hollows swee
with aromatic incense of dying leaves. Jessi,
could not help admiring the chivalTic manner.
) and polished courtesy of her companion, anC
he was more than pleased with the blooming
leveliness and girlish dignity of his youns
guide.
a few adroit questions about Hardwich
; Hall and its neighborhood sufficed to draw
from Jessie a spirited abstract of the charac
ter of the Hardwiche agent, and the imposi
d tions he was wont to practice upon the ten
!; ants as well as an arch description of tn
u characters thereabOuts. Then he continue,
: to learn all about Jessie's little school, and he
ailiDg mother, and iIe smiled to himself. in tn
; twilight, to observe the pride of her meir
: when she alluded to the high position fror
which unforeseen reverses had caused he
mother to descend.
5, "1here," she said, suddenly pausing, with
feeling as if she had been almost too commuu
NEGATIVE, IF we could only cross yonder lawr