The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-05-04
MR.. WOOpBRIDGE'S INVESTMENT.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

The fiery crimson of the stormy No
vember sunset was staining all the hills
with its lurid glare-the wind, MUIR
muring restlessly among the dead leaves
that lay heaped over the wood paths,
seemed to mourn, with an almost hui
man voice. But the antumnal melan-
choly without, only served to heighten
the cheerfulness of the roaring wood
fire, whose rudy glow danced and
uuivered over the rough rafters OF
Farmer Woodbridge's old kitchen,
sparkling on the polished surfaces OF
platters and glimmering brasses, and
sending a stream of radiance through
the uncurtained windows out upon the
darkening road.
"Yes,-as l was sayin' afore," OBJ
served the old farmer, rubbing his toll
hardened hands together, and gazing
thoughtfully into the fire, ''it's been
capital harvest this year. [ wouldn't
ask for no better. Sh, wife, you jlst
pick out some O them yaller pippin APP
plies, and put 'em into Jessie's basket
when she calls arter it.
won't the little red 'uns do as well
[ calculated to keep them pippins for
market Squire Benton says they're
worth"
81 don't keer what they're worth,
interrupted the farmer, as his help
mate spare, angular woman with a
face ploughed with innumerable little
lines of care, fingered the yellow-cheek-
ed apples obviously. {" tell you what
it Is, Ketury-folks never vet lost any
thing by dom kind thing / never
I l. L. l.,
pay came right III, in hard cash Now
here's Jessie Moreton, as likely gal
as ever breathed, teachin' school day in
and day out, and her marin SEWN to
hum earnln' livin' by the hardest
born ladies, both on 'em. Don't you
s'spose these apples II be worth more
to them, if you give EN- with kind
word, than they would be to that pesky,
tight listed agent, up to Hardwiche
Hall, if he gave a dollar a bushel ~
CHARITY begins to hum,' said Ket-
urah, Jerking out the supper-table with
an odd twist OF the face. mot but
what Jessles well enougll-but you'd a
plaguy sight better scratch your pen
MES together to pay up that mortgage,
if you don't want the Hardwiche agent
foreclosing on you. And them pippins
is Just as good as SO much money
There they be, anyhow, i'll the basket
one af your Investments, / guess !"
One Of you Investments then, if
you like to call it SO, ketury," said the
farmer, with a good-humored laugh
banIshing the annoyed expression
which had overspread his face when she
alluded to the mortgage" Come
long in Jessie, my gall he added
cheerily, as a light touch sounded on
the door latch. Here's the basket; al
right and some o them goltien pippins
tucked IN tor. Maybe they'll tempt
Your mothers appetite"
Jessie MOreton was a slender, grace
full girl Of about seventeen, with satin
smooth bands of chestnut hair, parted
above low, sunny forehead, large
liquid eyes, and cheeks which Farmer
Woodbridge always declared g set him
to thinkin' of them velvet looking
Jarsy peaches that grew on the tree
down in the south medder." She took
up the little basket, with grateful
smile, that went even to the finty heart
Of Mrs Ketury.
80, Mr. Woodbridge, how kind you
always are 10 US If | were only rich
If | could only make some return"
"Don't you say word about that
are, " said the farmer, rubbing his nose
very hard. Jest you run hum as
fast as ever you can put, for it's getting
most dark, and the November winds
amt no ways healthy as [ ever heerd
on And L say Jessie, if it rains to-
morrow so you can't get to school
handy, just you stop here, and I'll give
youa lift in my Vaughn.
Dear Mr.. Woodbridge, sollloquized
Jessie Moreton to--herself, as her light
foot8tep battered along on the fallen
leaves, chow many times [ have had
cause 20 thank his generous heart j
And to think that he should be so dis
tressed about the mortgage by the agent
at Hardwiche Hall, .
She paused for a moment to look up
to where the stately roofs and gables
of the Hall rose darkly outlined against
the crimson that still burned stormilv
III the sky. On commanding height, |
and nearly hidden in trees, many of /
whom still retained their brilliant au-
tumn foliage, it seemed almost like an |
old baronial castle.
"There it stands, . she unused, 'tshut |
up and silent, year after year; its |
magnificent rooms untenanted; the |
flowers blossoming ungathered in its
Conservatives. Since Mr. Hardwiche
dled-twenty years since, mamma SAYS
the family have been away and now
the only surviving heir is travelling, no
one knows where. | wonder If he
knows how grasping and cruel his
agents are? Oh dear she added
softly, money does not always come
where it is most needed. IF were the
mistress at Hardwiche Hall Z"
She started with slight scream the
next instant, as a tall figure rose UP
from messy bo,der by the roadside.
front of her.
Pardon me, - said voice that in
stantly treasured her, for it was too ,
gentle to come from any but gentle
man, "but [ am not certain that have ,
lot lost my way. Is this the Eden |
,oad9 was waiting for some one to
,ome and direct me.
"This is Elden,,road, said Jessie, all
unconscious that the last CLEANS of the
aiding sunset were tightening up her t
air innocent face with an almost angel /
C beauty, as she stood there among S
he fallen leaves. t
"And can you tell me the shortest e
ootpath to Hardwiche Hall l have t
OF been in this neighborhood since I v