The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-07-09

You don't mean that they're actually
taking any steps about that old idea of
railway between here and GlassEille?"
"Yes, do" said the landlord. ssIt's
q committee of rich capitalists as are
building factories close to the falls; and
they mean to put up rows of tenement
houses all along, and lay down a line of
rails, and don't say mentioned it, Doc
tor, because I only caught snatch here
and there, when was carrying in the
plates, and setting on the fruit, and nuts
and wine-but it's to go right through
old Miles Gray's cranberry swamp, the
new railroad is! And the chairman of the
committee is goin' to offer Miss Judith
five thousand dollars in good, clean, hard
money for her share of it!'
Doctor Dedling stared.
'sFive-thousand- -dollars!" repeated
he slowly.
Could it really be a fact? IF so-and
there seemed very little reason for doubt
ing it-what fatal mistake had he made
in rejecting bride who could bring the
rich portion of cranberry swamp as
her welded dover. If he had known this
half an hour-one little half hour-ago!
"Don't fret about him, Judith dear;
he isn't worth it!' urged honest Marina
duke Redfeld, who had stopped on his
way to the postofice to bring message
to his mother. s'He was always pre-
territorial sort of fellow, all for outward
show, with heart like a stone, and
nature as shallow as Deacon Doler's
brook!'
Judith looked up at the clumsy, good
hearted, hard-handed farmer, and won
dered that she had never before noticed
what a true face. and what clear frank
eyes he had.
Forget him, Judith pleaded Red
field; and she began seriously to think
that she would at least make the trial.
"Come over to our house, and stay with
mother. It's too bleak and lonesome for
you here-for the present, at least spring
will be here time enough for you to come
back to the cranberry swamp"
Judith Gray looked round at the soli-
tary room, and thought of Mrs. Redfeld's s
big cozy kitchen, with it's bright colored
rag carpet, its windows lined with bloom
ing geraniums, and it's shrill voiced
canary bird hanging over the workable.
'sDo you think" she hesitated, 'sthat
your mother would be willing to be
troubled with such visitor as me ?"
Duke Redfeld's 3 face grew radiant.
stOnly try her," said he. 'sDear
Judith, you'd be as welcome as flowers
in MayP'
And the next day Mrs. Redfeld came
over in the old farm carryall to claim her
guest, and the Swamp House was left
to it's own dreary desolation and the driv-
ing SHOWS of January.
Scarcely three weeks had elapsed,
when young Doctor Dedling came to the
Redfeld farm in his new gig, with the
old roam horse, that really made quite
good appearance when you didn't hurry,
and the road was tolerably good, and he
was free from a visitation commonly
known as the "heaves.''
s'There amt nobody sick here" said
julius, the hired man, who was splitting
wood at the side of the house, as he eyed
the Doctor rather suspiciously.
s'No, I know it. said Doctor Dedling;
"but I've called to see Miss Gray"
''Miss Gray amt noways ailin' as I
know Of, persisted julius, feeling at the
edge of his ak, and still staring hard at
the medical representative of Glassville.
ST haye called" said Doctor Dedling,
with dignity, 3sas a friend"
s'Ohp' said Julius.
''Win you be kind enough to let me
in ?" persisted the Doctor.
'Taint no use" said julius, rolling
prOOlSlOuS pine kuOt uoWu IrOm Ine pie,
and preparing himself for stupenduous
effort; ''there amt nobody at home"
Nobody at home ?" echoed the
Doctor.
They've all gone to church," ex-
planned Julius.
''To church, man? Why it's only
Tuesday"
ssWho said it wa'n't?" retorted
julius. s"They amt gone to hear sar-
vice-they is gone to be married p
"Who p demanded Doctor Dedling.
"Our Marmaduke and Miss Judith
And down came the ak upon the pine
knot, with crash that made the man of
medicine start back.
4 4
The new railroad was duly constructed,
directly across the boggy depth of old
Miles Gray's Gran pberry swamp, and the
five thousand dollars was placed to Mrs.
Marmakuke Redfield's account in the
nearest National bank; and Mrs. Pytch-
ley thinks that she has made a mistake
in taking the gold eagles instead of the
cranberry swamp-but young Doctor
Dedling thinks his mistake was greater
still.