The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-09-04
THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.

len fire above the cedar cOpse in the west, the
leafless woods held up their black arms in a
sort of wrestling agony toward the sky. as the
bleak wind tossed them to and fro; ana soil
tary raven uttered his ominous croak in the
woods at the back OF the house.
Doctor DedlinC shuddered aS he looked
around HIM, and glanced out toward the dreary
swamp that extended toward the east.
"Such place." said he, ''tor woman to Sc
lect to live IN"
at isn't very cheerful" sad judith; but
I've lived here all my life, you know"
"The more reason for wanting to get out OF
it now" said the doctor, impaiently.
Judith was silent She looked ut the blaZ
ING logs on the old-tashloned hearth, and tried
10 keep back the fastrIslng tears.
Doctor Dedlng rose ana TOOK MS nat
Then am to consider that our engage
ment is at an end - said the doctor,
Yes" said Judith, IN a low tone,
81 shall always wish you welI,' SAID the
doctor, atrably.
II thank you" SAID Judith.
"Goodby !' SAID Doctor Dealing.
"Goodby!" responded judith.
The next moment she was alone with the
logs, and the cricket chlrping on the hearth,
and the strange, weird shadows that came and
went on the walnSc"ted walls.
1t was just month tonight since they had
buried old Miles Gray out Of sight. Little
Judith, who had worn herself out by taking
care Of him, had dropped few sincere tears
IN the cheap coffin that encased his remains,
but no one else had seemed particularly toI
grieve.
Mrs Pytchley, her eldest sister, who was
married to New \ ork grocer, had boldly de
clared that ii was high time the old man took
himself oil the stage OF this world, and had
made secret OF her UlsaDDDlDtmpDt when IL
was discovered that thousand dollars in gold
pieces represented all his hoardeu wealth, with
the exception OF the cranberry swamp, upon
whose dreary verge stood The house; and THIS
property, by the terms OF the VII, was to be
divided between his TWO nleces, judith Gray
and Maria l'ytchey, as they themselves might
agree.
"l'll take the ready money" SAID Mrs.
Fytchley, hastily what could l DO with
three or four miles OF cranberry swrmp?'
or what coald judith do with 1t, elther:'
said Hobart Pytchiey, who sat whiting pine
stick beside The iire.
Il dare say she cold manage very nicely"
said Maria. i've heard Uncle NJ les say that
he sold sixty dollars worth Of cranberrles one
year out OF the swamp"
"Humph.' grunsed Mr. fylchley
AND THAT'S legal interest on thousand DOL,
lars you KNOW added his wife. What do
you say, judith
III makes no difference 10 me, SAID judith,
quietly.
at does to me, them said Mrs. Pytchley.
Because, as you Know very well, Hebarts
business IS IN the city, and we could do moth
ing at all win lot OF sWampy land, down
mere IN the backWoous.'
SO Mrs. Pytchley had taken the lions share
)i the old mans heques and gone back to her
city home, over liooart's grocery store: and
young DR.. Dedling, who had confidently cal
culated on at least five hundred dollars, to buy
surgical instruments and 81 up an office III the
village adjolning-ilve hundred dollars as the
doWry OF his BRIDE elect-broke his engage
ment IN MT OF plque that judith should have
50 deliberately flung her fortune away.
"A set OF harples!' cried he, with disgust
stop, Doctor Dedling :" said judith, color
Ing up. You forget that you are speaking of
my sister and her husband"
but they have no business to impose on
you thus exclaimed the doctor.
Il agreed tothe plan without remonstrancc,"
Dr. Dcdllng shrugged his shoulders.
I'm that, sald he, sharply, you show lack
OF common sense 1t you have no good re-
gard forge slf you might have had for me!
Was il money you wanted 2" de
manded j tn, stung to the quick
Doctor ding colored and hesitated
"A mai must take monetary matters into
consideration said he.
And so it came about that the engagement
was cancelled, and judith Gray was sitting
there alone In the wintry twilight, with clasped
hands and head dropped low upon her breast,
Doctor Dedllng plodded home to the vii
lage, and as he passed the brilliant windows
of the little hosiery he paused. remembering
the bitter cold of the wintry air, the frosty in
huence OF the breeze.
II may as well 70 in and warm myself" he
thought
Mine host met him with a CHEEKY air
walk In. Doctor-valk in ~ said no "No,
that ROOM" as Dedling mechanically laid his
hand upon the door-knob of the apartment he
usually entered. The Railroad Committee is
a-sittng there, This way, pleasen