Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-06-03
ESTHER's FORTUNE.

How cold it isl / say Marcia, put
on some more wood, and close the win
dow blinds. Pears to me the winters
are colder now than they used to be-"
You are older now, Aunt Phoebe,
and old folks feel the cold more than
when they were young" replied Marcia
a tall. handsome girl of twenty. with a
decided look and carriage; adding,
"pll close the shutters, Esther, while
you bring the wood"
1t was always thus; the most difficult
or disagreeabie task was Invariably put
upon Esther, slender. delicate looking
girl, year younger than Marcia.
Aunt Phoebe Keeling never perceived
it-she had no thought but for herself
and her ailings-snd if Esther was
aware oi il she made no opposition.
Now she went out to the woodpile
and filed her basket with chips, and
gathered some wood ready to carry
into the house. There was no servant
on the Keeling place, except an old
negro man and woman who occupied
the outer kitchen, and were expected
to do the rougher work of the little FAM
lily.
She stood for moment in the chilly
November air, looking round her at the
negle ted little gray farmhouse with its
moss-grown roof, tianked by aged ard
half dead trees; at the stony field be.
tween the house and the river, sprinkled
with stunted cornstalks and patches of
yellow broom; and of the rocky hill be-
hind the house, clothed with somber
pines, whose low, monotonous murmur
mingled with that of the river, and
sounded day and night like a moaning
dirge.
No more lonesome or dreary place
could be imagined than this barren
remnant of the old Keeling farm.
And yet, here had the greater part of
Esther's life been passed. Ten years
go her mother had returned, penni-
less widow. to the aunt who had been
to her a. mother, and with whom she
had again found home. On her death
bed she had said to Esther, Take care
of Aunt Ph@be in her old age"-an in
junction which the gir. had remembered
and obeyed, in face of all temptations to
seek more cheerful home.
At the firm they found Marcia, whose
father, the brother of Es. hers mother,
had lived with Aunt Keeling till his
death. Under his management the farm
had yielded something; but afterward
the place went down, and the old lady
had sold it, field after field, till nothing
remained save this long. narrow ridge
of stony ground on which the house
was situated, lying between the pine
hills and the river, and which no one
cared to purchase at any price.
A dreary place and dreary life for
Esther, especially when Marc a, unable
longer to endure it. had gone to teach
school at Ashwood, a village some
w lryn flor a fSf. ha
once a month on Saturdays; and this
winter, learning that Aunt Keeling
was very feeble and could not live long,
she had given up her school and re-
turned to the farm. as she saiC, to take
care of her. But the truth was that
Marcia, clever girl, with her own in
terests always in view, had learned that
Aunt Keeling owned some two thou
sand dollars in bank, and knowing her
intention OF leaving all she possessed to
her wo great nice s. she had considered
1t prudent to be on the spot lest Esther,
who had remained with the old lady,
should come in for the larger share.
As Esther stopped to lift the armful
OF wood, man appeared riding along
the open cart-track which led through
the cornield toward the village, mile
distant. He was good looking, manly
young fellow, neatly dressed in suit of
gray homespun. On seeing the girl he
turned from the pathway and dis
mounted by her side.
. Why, Esther, this is no work for
you. Look at your hands-fit only for
sewing Why did you not call Uncle
Sip''
He is at work, and lame, you kno W,
and thought it a pity to call him such
distance"
Chen, where is Marciap She is twice
as strong as you. But maybe she pre-
fers welding birch-twigs to carrying
hickory logs" ne added, with q laugh.
Marcia knows that am stronger
than look" Esther answered, simply.
:. fear you take too much upon your
self. fancy you don't look az well as
usual. Doctor Farnham should take
better care of you," he added, with a
constrained smile and curious. aues-
tioning glance at her face.
a conscious blush tinged her cheek.
We don't employ Doctor Farnham, .
she answered, pretending to to1Eef q
melniuG HkornI|y. Z X61z kno1 3