Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-10-24
A NEWSPAPER FILE.

1t was two days after Aunt Priscilla's
funeral, and Sue and [ were sitting to-
gether by the kitchen fire, with that
hush over our spirits still which follows
a death and burial All the afternoon
we had been busy IN getting the house
to rights, not meddling with the things
which had been hers, and were now
ours, but by dint of open windows, sun
shine, and furniture busted and rear
ranged, trying to restore to the rooms
that familiar look which they had lost
during these weeks of anxiety and
trouble. A few days more. and we must
face a future which was full of terrors.
Meanwhile custom as well as inclination
accorded brief respite in which to
think Of her who was gone, and Of each
other, with the clinging fondness of those
whose lives. never before parted, were
about to separate.
Sue sat on a low stool, her head
against the chimney jamb. 1t was the
chimney of Aunt Priscilla's youth; she
never would alter it-one Of the wide
old-fashioned kind, with pot-hooks, and
blazing logs, and bake-oven at one
side. The soot-blackened bricks and
faint red glow made a background for
my sisters head, with its great twist of
fair hair, and lily-like slender throat
Sue is very pretty, prettier than any
body I ever saw. [ recollected a pic
ture as [ looked at her-a picture of
Cinderella sitting IN just such an atti-
tude by the chimney-side. She was
equally picturesque at that moment; so
far. as looks go, equally worthy of a
prince: but, alas! no fairy godmother
was likely to emerge from the apple
room for her benefit Aunt Pris, who
in small way had enacted that part to-
ward us, was gone, and her big rocking
chair, which we had no heart to sit in,
swung empty in its accustomed place,
type of like emptiness which we were
conscious of in other things, and would
feel for long time to come.
Neither of us spoke for while. We
were tired and spiritless, and John Slade
was coming presently to talk over things,
so we saved our words.
DIR. Slade-John-was Sues lover
Their poor little engagement had been
formed two years ago. How many
years it was likely to last, nobody could
guess; but they held on to it bravely,
and were content to wait Pretty soon,
as we sat waiting, his step sounded with
out on the gravel, and with a little tap
courteous but unnecessary, for the
door was never locked-he entered, gave
Sue a gentle kiss, me another, and sat
down between us IN aunty's rocking
r. Voc n oop, fort fn horo hin,
do that, The house seemed less forlorn
at once.
"Wen children, how has the day
gomez" he asked.
Pretty WE'LL" replied Sue. awe
have been busy, and are tired tonight
[ think. I'm glad you are come, John
dear We were getting lonely and dis
NAL, Cree and l."
Lucretia is my name; but Sue and
Aunt Priscilla always called me "Cree. "
John adjusted a stick on the embers,
and with one daring poke sent a tongue
of bright flame upward before he an
swered. Then he took Sues hand in
his broad palm, and patting it gently
said, "Now let's talk over matters. We
ought to decide what we are to do, we
three"
That " three" was very comforting to
me, but John always is a comfort. He
was made So" Aunt Pris said And
he certainly carries out the purpose Of
his creation
Did your aunt leave any will?' he
went on.
"Only this" and I brought from be
tween the leaves of the big Bible, where
we had found it, half sheet of note
paper, on which dear aunty had stated
in her own simple form, that she left al
she had to be equally divided between
her nieces, Susan and Lucretia Pendex
ter. Squire Packard's name and Sarah
Brackets. our old washer-WOman, were
written below as witnesses.
Very WE'LL" said John That's good
in law, | fancy; or if not, you are the
nearest relations, and it's yours anyway
What property did your aunt own be-
sides this house?"
She had an annuity Of two hundred
and fifty year, and fifty dollars more
from some turnpike stock. That's all
except the house and furniture, and
there is mortgage of three hundred
uOilarS on lllaC. squire Idckatu nOlds
it. The annuity stops now, doesn't it p
John looked as though he wanted tc
whistle, but RETAINED.
Your aunt was a clever manager,
he said" capital manager. She made
q very little go great way, didn't she
| don't know any one else who coulo
live so nicely on three hundred year
with mortgage interest taken out. You
have always seemed coy and comfort
able"
1--WE always have BEEN But we haG
the garden, you know, aud the cow; tina
gave us two-thirds of our living. Aunty