The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-11-13
THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.

"Of course said young Doctor
Dedling, man has his own fortune to
look to-"
"Of course" said Judith Grey; and
as she spoke the words cold chill
seemed to creep like slowly congealing
ice. around her whole heart.
"If ,ou had consulted me as to your
affairs" went on the young man, "in-
stead of taking this very extraordinary
step, entirely without advice or coun-
sci -"
eyes. know" hnrriedIy iiiterposed
Judith: "but it's over and past now, so
nerbons we had better not talk about
it,"
The red winter sunset was blazing
with sullen fire above the cedar copse
in the west. the leaf .ss woods held up
their black arms in sort OF wrestling
agony toward the sky MS the bleak
yiud tossed them to and fro, and sol
itarv raven uttered his ominons croak
in the wooks at the back of the house.
Dr. Dedling shuddered as he looked
aronnd him and glanced out toward
the east.
"Such "A place." said he, "for wo-
man to select to live in.
"It isn't very cheerful, said Judith
.bnt Pve lived here all my life, you
know.
"Tne more reason for wanting to get
ont of il now," said the Doctor, impa-
tientlv.
Judith was silent. She looked at the
b,azipp logs on the old fashioned
hearth, and tried to keep back the fast
rising tears. >.
Doctor Dedling rose and took up his
hat.
"Then I am to consider that our en-
gngement is quite at an end?' said the
doctor.
"Yes," said Judith.
II shall always wish you we'll. said
the doctor. affably.
"I thank you," said Judith.
"Good.bv," said Doctor Dedling.
"Good by" responded Judith.
The next moment she was alone with
the lazing logs and the cricket chirp~
ing on the hearth, and the strange
wierd shadows that came and went on
the wainscoted walls.
1t was a month tonight since they
had buried old Miles Grey out of sight.
Little Judith, who had worn herself
ont IN taking care of him, had droppad
a few sincere tears on the cheap coffin
that encased his remains. but no one
else had seemed particularly to grieVe.
Mrs Pytchley, her eldest sister, who
was married to a New York grocer. bad
boldly declared that it was high time
the old mar took himself off the stage
of this world, and had made no secrect
of her disappointment when it was
discovered that a Thousand dollars IN
cold pieces represented all his boarded
wealth: with the exception OF the cram
berry swamp. upon whose dreary verge
stood tbe house, and this dreary prop
ertv bv the terms of the will. was TO be
divided between his two nieces. judith
(irey and Maria Pytchley. as they
themselves might agree.
"I'll take the ready money" said Mrs.
Prytchley, hastily. "What could do
with three or -four miles of cranberry
swamp" -, :,
cor what conld Judith do with it,
either?" said Hobart Prytchly, who sat
whiting beside the fire.
II dare say she could manage very
n;celv" said Maria. "I've heard Uh~
Gle Miles say that he sold sixty dollars
worth of cranberries one year out OF
that swamp"
"Humph!' grunted Mr.. pytchley.
"And that's legal interest on thou-
sand dollars. yon know, added his
wife. "What do you say. Jniitll? :,
1T makes DO difference to me, saId
Judith quietly. :, ~,
PvtcbIey. because, rs you know
yery we'll. Hobart's business is in the
CITY. and we could do nothing at al
with lot of swampy land. down here
in the back woods.
So Mrs. Pytchley had taken the lion'i
share of the old mans bequest. and
gone back to her city home. over Ho'
bart.a grocery store; aud yonng Doctor
Dedling who had confidently calculated
an at least five hundred dollars, to buy
surgical instruments and fit up an ofiict
in the village adjoining- five hundred
dollars as the dowry of his bride -elec,
broke his engagement IN a NJ o.
nioue that Judetll should have 80 de'
Iiberately flung her fortune away j,
IA set OF harpies!' cried ne viii
aStop. Doctor Dedling" said Judith.
co,oring up. ,.Ysu forget that you are