Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-01-08
MIR. WOODE3REDGE'S INVEST
HsENT.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

The fierv crimson of the stormy Novem-
Der sunset was staining all the hills with
its lurid glare-the wind, murmuring
Iestlossly among the dead leaves that lay
heaped over the wood paths, seemed to
MOURN with an almost human voice. But
the autumnal melancholy without, only
served to brighten the cheerfulness of the
roaring wood fire, whose rudy glow danced
and ouvered over the rough raiters of
Farmer Woodbridge's spacious old kitchen,
sparkling on the polished surfaces of plat
tiers and glittering brasses, and sending a
long stream IF radiance through the IN
curtaiued windows out upon the darkening
read.
Yes-as | was sayin' afore," observed
the old farmer, rubbing his toll hardened
hands together, and gazing thJughtiully
into the fire, it's teen Il capital harvest
this wear, | wouldn't ask for no better. So.
wife, You just pick out some o'them yai!er
plPHIn apples, aud put 'em into Jessie's
basket agIH she calls after it,"
" ont the little red 'ucs do as well
| calculated to keep them pippins for
market. Squire Benson says they are
worth -"
- l don't keer what they are worth, "
interrupted the farmer, as his helpmate,
square, angular woman with a face plough
ed with iruumerable little lines Of care.
figured the ycllJw checked Grrlcs obviously
II tell yuu v hat it is, keturah-folks
never yet lost anything by doing a kind
thing. | never could make you believe
that, unless the pay come right in. in hard
cash Now here's Jessie Moreton, as likely
a gal as ever breaihed, teachin' school day
in and yU, and her marin sewing TO home,
earnin' living by the hardest toil.-born
ladies, both on EN-. DONE YOU 'spose these
apples iii lie worth more to them. if you
give 'em with kind word ihau they would
be to that Iesky, tight listed agent. up 10
liaTdwlche Hall, II he gave a dollar Il
buShclG"
Charity begins to hum" said K eturah,
jerking out the supper table with an odd
twist Of the face Il" Not but what ,Iessie's
well enough, but you'd pleaguv sight
better scratch your pennies together TO paw
Up that mortgage, If you don't want the
uardwiche agent loreclosing on you. Aud
them piFFirs is jest as good az so much
money. There they be, anyhow in the
basket-0Ue Of your Investments ] guess. :"
= Une Of my investments, then, if YOU
like to call il so, he;urab. d." said the farmer.
with good humored laugh, bunishIng the
annoyed expression which had uyersuread
his face when she ailude to tie mortgage
Como long in Jessie, my gal, =" he added
cheCriiy, as Il light touch sounded on the
door latch Here's tie basket, all right,
and some o'them golden pipyins tucked
in TT. May be they !. tempt your mother
appetite"
Jessie Moreton was slender, graceful
girl about seventeen, with satin smooth
| bands Of chestnut hair, parted above Il low.
sunny forehead, large liquid eyes, and
checks. which Farmer Wuolhritge ALWAYS
| Ceaiared, 'sCt him 20 tlink;n' of them
velvet looking Jersey peaches that grew
on the tree down liz the south medder p
She took up the basket with a grateful
smile, that went even to the hlnty heart of
| Mrs keturah.
oh, Mr.. Woodbridge, how kind you
always are to us. Ii | were only rlch-il
| could only make you some return"
| Don't you say IL word about that" said
! the farmer, rubbing his nose very hard
"Jest you run home rs fast as ever You can
! put, for it's getting most dark, ard the
| November wind amt no ways healthy as |
ever heerd on. And say, Jessie, if it rains
/ tomorrow so you can't 20 to school handy,
jest you stop here, and III give you a lit
in Vaughn"
Dear old Mr.. Woodbridge, soliloquized
| Jessie MoretOn to herself, as her light foot
I steps battered along on the fallen leaves.
how many times have had cause to thank
| his generous heart. And TO think he should
! be 50 distressed about that mortgage by the
sgeut at Hardwiche Hall"
She paused for q moment to look up ia
where the stately roofs and gables of the
Hall rose, darkiy outlined against the
crimson that still burned stormily in the
sky. On commanding height, and nearly
hidden in trees, many Of whom still retained
their brilliant autumn foliage it seemed
almost like an old baronial castle
There it stands" she unused, "shut UT
and silent, year after year, its magnificent
rooms untenanted, the flowers blossamine
ungathered in its Conservatives. Since
Mrs. Hardwiehe died-twenty years since
mamma says,-the family has been abroad
and NOW the only surviving heir is travel
ing, no one knows where. | wonder if be
knows how grasping and cruel his agent IS
e Oh, dear" she added softly. money
does not always coIuP where it is mos
l13fu-
wiche Hall"
She started with slight scream the mex,
instant as a tallfgure rose up from moss7
boulder by the roadside directly 10 front .
her.
Pardon me-" said voice that Instant,
treasured her, for it was TOO gentle to CONS
from any but gentleman, g but am 20
certain that / have not lost my way. L
this the EiGon road? | was waiting fol
some one to come along and direct me-"
This is the Eldon road, said Jessie
all unconscious that the last CLEANS of thu
fading sunset was lighting up her fan
innocent face with an almost ANGEL,
beauty, as she stood there amor the :alleI
leaves.
And can you tell me the shortest foo
path TO Hardwiehe Hall? have rot beer
IN this neIghborhood since ] was it'll,
boy, and now | am completely at fault"
Jessie hesitated a moment. Il coulC
show you better than | can tell you, for il
is rather complicated road, she raid
land if you will accept my services a,
guide. it Will not be much out of M
way"