The Van Buren press., 1861-03-08
SDgis!t!e!llang. d!
Mr. Woodbridgeis Investment


The fiery crimson Of the stormy Novem-
Der sunset was staining all the hills with
its iurid glare-the wind. murmuring rest
less'y among the dead leaves that lay heap
cd over the wood-paths, seemed to mourn,
with an almost human voice. But the au-
tumn melancholy without. only serve,l to
heighten the cheerfulness Of tho roaring
wood fire. whose ruddy glow danced and
qnivered over the rough rnstsrs of Farmer
W0odbridge's spacious old kitchen. spark
ling ON the polished stirfarcs or pfntrers anu
giimmering brasses. and sending long
stream OF radiance through the uncurtained
Windows cut upon the darkening road.
Yes. AZ was sayin' store." observed
the old farmer, rubbing his toll hardened
hands together. and gazing thoughtrnlly
into the fire. it's been = capital harvest,
this year. L wouldn't ask for no better.
80. wife, You just pick oat some O. them
yaller pippin apples. and pu, 'em into Jes-
SEES basket again when she calls arte. it,"
/" Won't the little red 'uns do as well +?
calculated to keep them pippins Cor market /?
Squire Benson says they are worth
81 don't keer what they. worth" inter
rupted the farmer. as his helpmate, spare
angular woman, with face ploughed with
lnnumcrable little lines of care. fingered the
yeliow-cheeked apples obviously. 81 tell
you what II Is ketury-folks never yet lost
anything by doin' kinde thing. l never
could make you beiive that unless the pay
came right in, In hari cash Now, here's
Jessie Moreton, as likely gal as ever
breathed, teachin' school. day in and day
out, and her mann scwin'to hum, earnin' a
liyin' by the hardest-born ladies, both on
em. Don't you s'posc these apples'll be
worth more to them, if you give 'em with
a kind word, than they would be to that
pesky tight fistcd agent, up to HarIwichc
Hall, if he gave dollar bushel ?''
Charity begins to hum" said Keturah,
jerking out the supper table, witt, an odd
jerk oil the face. Not but what Jessie S
well enough-but you'd plaguy sight bet
ter scratch your pennies together to pay up
that mortgage, ii You don't want the Hard
wiche agent iorecloslnS on you. And them
pippins Is just Us good as 50 much money.
There they be. any how, in the basket-one
Of your investments, 1 guess -
Zone OF my Investments, then, if you
like to call it SO, Ketury." said the farmer.
with good humored laugh, banishing the
annoyed expression which hal oversprea,l
hia face when she alluded to the mortgage.
latch. "ltcre's the basket. all right and
some o them golden pippins tucked IN
tot. Maybe they'll tempt your mothers
appetite"
Jessie Moreton was n slender, graceful
girl of about seventeen, with sa;ins Doth
bands of chestnut hair. parted above low,
sunny forehead, large. liquid eyes. and
cheeks which Farmer Woodbridge alway
declared 6. sot him to thinkin' OF those vel
We; looking Jarsey peaches that grew on the
tree down in the south medlcr ~ She took
up the little basket with grateful smile
that wcnt even to the hinty heart of Mrs
keturah. s9
go. Mr.. Woodbridge, how kind you al
ways are to us. If were only rich-if
could only make some return
Don't you say a wold about that are, >
said the farmer rubbing his nose very hard
Jest you run home AS fast as ever you car
put, for it, getting most dark. and the No
vember wind amt no ways healthy as
ever hcerd on. And l say. Jessie. If j
rains, tomorrow, 50 you can't get to schoo
handy, you jest stop here. AMI I'll give yo,
a lift III my Vaughn
Dear old Mr.. Woodbridge" soliloqui
zed Jessie Morton to herself. as her high
| fuot-step pa,tered on the fallen leaves, 'hnw
many, many times I have had cause t.
thank his generous heart. And to thin
that he should be SO distressed about tn
mortgage by the agent at llardwiche Hall.
She paused tor u moment to look ny t
where the stately roofs and gables OF til
Hall rose darkly outlined against the erin
sou that still burned stormily in the sky
On commanding height, and nearly hit
den in trees, many oil whom still rctaine
their brilliant foliage. it seemed almost lik
an old baronial castle.
"Therc it stands sEe unused, "shut u
and silent, year after year; its magniiices
rooms un,enanted the flowers blosS omin
ungathercd in its conservatories. Sin'
Mrs. HardM iche died-twenty years sine
mamma says-1he family have been away
and now tine only surviving heir Is trave
ing no one knows where. | wonder ii
i. knows how grasping anu cruel his agent Is
: OH, dear" She added, softly. Z" IN onev do
3 mot always come where it is most needle
| Ii were the mistress Of Hardwiche hall.
:, Sne started the next instant with slig
scream, as a tall figure rose up from mo
sy border by the roadside, directly in fro
OF her.
"Parpon me-" said a voice that instant
reassurred her, for it was too gentle to con
from any but gentleman, d" but am II
:. certain that have not lost my way.
+ this the Elden road was waiting
k some one to come and direct me-"
: "This is Eden road" said Jessie, {
: unconscious that the last CLEANS Of the ia
Or ing sunset were tightening up her fair. j
lnocent face with an almost angelic beaut
n as she stood there among the fallen leave
e "And can you tell me the shortest foe
path to Hsrdwiche Hall ? have not be
lin this neighborhood since was lit
child, and I am completely at fault.
Il Jessie hesitated moment. cou
p you, better than tell you. for it
sho" -aplicated road. she said, a
= !. if you will aeoeP- - nay way
n n " I shall fesI very much .c."nofea s.
j !, ii. s,ranssr s .Msaatime. lie: mo ca'
. your basket" !" ..,.k -, ;.
II was a wild and lovely walk, wlndi
: through moss-garlanded Trees and hoiio'
= svee, with aromatic incense Of dying leav
8. u Jessie could not help admirins tho chis
% ric manners. and polished courtesy Of
r<Inn