The Osceola times., 1879-11-08
THE CRANBERRY SWAMP (;
Or DR.. Bedling's Mistake.
ny HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

to.S
"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 you had consulted me as to your
affairs" went on the young man, I'm
stead of taking this very extraordinary
step. entirely without advice or eoun-
sslw" % , ,., 4, ,,,r;.a,v ;n,sroosod
Judith; "but it's over and past now, SO
perhaps We had better not talk about
The red winter sunset was blazing
with sullen fire above the cedar coPse In
the west, the leafess woods he'd up
their black arms in a sort of wrestling
agony toward the sky as the bleak wind
tossed them to and fro, and solitary
raven uttered his ominous croak in the
woods at the back of the house.
DIR. Dedling shuddered as. he looked
around him and glanced out toward the
dreary swamp that extended toward
the east.
"Euch a place." said he, "for woman
to elect to live in ,
at isn't very cheerful" said Judith:
but I've lived here all my life you
"The more reason for wanting to get
out of 1t now," said the Doctor, impa-
tiently. -.
Judith was silent. She looked at the
blazing logs on the old-fashioned hearth,
and tried to keep back the fast-rislng
tears.
Doctor Dedling rose and took up his
hat.
"Then am to consider that our en-
Ragement Is quite at an end?' said the
doctor.
"Yes," said Judith. -.
: II shall always wish you well, said
the doctor, affably.
~ thank you," said Judith.
SGood-bye," said Doctor Dedling.
"Good.bye," responded Judith.
The next moment she was alone with
the blazing logs and the cricket chirping
on the hearth, and the strange wierd
shadows that came and went on the
wainscoted walls.
II was a month tonight since they
had buried old Miles Grey out of sight.
Little Judith, who had worn herself
out in taking care Of him, had dropped
few sincere tears on the cheap colin
that encased his remains, but no one
else had seemed particularly to grieye.
Mrs. Pytchley, her eldest sister, who
was married to Il New York grocer, had
boldly declared that II was high time
the old man took himself off the stage
Of this world, and had made no secrect
of her disappointment when 1t was dis.
covered that thousand dollars in gold
pieces represented all his boarded
wealth; with the exception of the cram
berry swamp, upon whose dreary verge
stood the house. and this dreary prop
erty by the terms of the will, was to be
divided between his two nieces, Judith
Grey and Maria pytchley, as they them
selves might agree.
an take the ready money" said Mrs.
Prytchley, hastily. "What could do
with three or four miles of cranberry
swamp" "a.
"Or what could Judith do with it,
either?" siid Hobart Prytchly, who sat
whiting beside the fire,
81 dare say she could manage very
nicely,n said Maria. "Tvc heard Uncle
Miles say that he sold sixty dollars
worth of crenbcrries one year out Of that
swamp"
"Humphp grunted Mr.. Pytchley..
"And that's legal interest on thou
sand dollars, you know" added his wife
"What do you say, Judith
at makes no difference TO me-" said
Judith quietly.
at does to me, them" said Mrs.
Pytchley. Because, Ms you know very
well, Hobart's BUSINESS is in the city, and
we could do nothing at all with lot OF
swampy land, down here in the back
woods
So Mrs. Pytciley had taken the lions
share of the old mans bequest, and gone
back to her city home, over Hobart's
grocery store; and young Doctor Dedlinp
who had confidently calculated onat least
ave hundred dollars, to buy surgical in
struments and fit up an office in the vii
lage adjoining-five hundred dollars as
the dowry of his bride-elect-broke his
engagement in fit Of pique that Judeth
should have so deliberately flung hei
fortune away.
IA set of harpies!" cried he with dis
"Stop, Doctor DedIing" said Judcth,
coloring up. "You forget that you are
speaking of my sister and her hus-
band"
"But they had no business TO impose
on YOU thus" exclaimed the doctor i'm.
patiently.
II agreed to the plan, without rcmon'
strances.
Doctor Dedling gave shrug to hi:
shoulders.
"In that" said he, sharply, "you show
ed your lack OF common sense. III you
had no regard for yourself, You might
have had some for me!'
"Was it for money you wanted me?'
demanded Judeth, stung to the very
quick.
Doctor Dedling colored high and hest
tated.
"A man must take monetary natter
into consideration" said he.
And il came about that the engage
ment was Cancelled, and Judith Grey wa,
sitting there, .alone in the wintry twi
iRht, with clasped hands and hea,
dropped upon her breast.
Doctor Dedling plodded home to tn,
village, and as he passed the brillian
windows of the little hostelry, he pauset
remembering the bitter cold of the
winter air, the frosty influences of tho
breeze.
II may as vel 80 Ia and warm my
eelf" he thought.
Nine host met him with very.cheery
cir. =,
aWalk in, doctor-walk ii.l" said he.
sNot that room," as Dedling laid his
hand mechanically upon the door-knob
a The apartment he usually entered.
The Railway Committee Is a-settln'
there. This way pleaseT
.srhe Railway Committee?' echoed
Dedling. "What Railway Committee?