Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-07-10
rHF CRANBERRY SWAMP.
BY HELEN f. GRAVES.

"Of course, said young Doctor Dedllng,
"a man has his own fortune to look to"
"Of course" said Judith Grey; and as
the spoke the words cold chill seemed
50 creep, like slOwly-cOngealing ice,
around her whole heart.
IF you 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-
sell"
Eyes, know" hurriedly interpOsed
Judith; shut it's over and tpast 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 leafeless woods held up
their leafeless arms in a sort of wrest
ling agony, toward the sky, as the bleak
wind tossed them to and fro; and sOli-
tarv 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.
"Such place." said ;he, "fOr woman
to elect to live in"
1T isn't very cheerful" said Judith;
but I've lived here all my life, you
know" J4
"The more reason for wanting to get
out of it 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-rising
tears.
Doctor Dedling rose and took up his
hat
"Then am to consider that our en-
gagement is quite at an end?" said the
doctor.
"Yes," said Judith in a low tone.
IL shall always wish you well" said
the doctor, affably.
Il thank your said Judith.
"GOOd-byp' said DIR. Dedling.
'GOOd-byw responded Judith.
The next moment she was alone with
the blazing logs, and the cricket chirp-
ing on the hearth, and the strange, weird
wainscOted walls.
1t was lust month tonight since
they had buried old Miles Grey out of
sight. Little Judith, who had worn her
self out in taking care of him, had drop
ed few sincere tears ON the cheap cOf-
fin that encased his remains, but no one
else had seemed particularly to grieve.
Mrs. Pytchley, her eldest sister, who
was married to New York grocer, had
boldly declared that it was high time
the old man took himself off the stage of
this world, and had no secret of her dis
appointment when it was discovered
that a thousand dollars in gold pieces
represented all his boarded wealth, with
the exception of the cranberry swamp,
upon whose dreary verge stood the house;
and this dreary property, by the terms
of the will, was to be divided between
his two nieces, Judith Grey and Maria
Pytchley, as they themselves might
sPll take the ready money" said Mrs.
Pytchley, hastily. what could | do with
three or four miles of cranberry swamp"
"Or what could Judith do with it,
either?" said Hobart Pytchley, who sat
whiting pine stick beside the fire.
81 dare say she could manage very
miles say that he sold $50 worth of cram
berries in one wear out of the swamp"
"Humph," grunted Mr.. Pytchley.
"And that's legal interest on thou
sand dollars you know, added his wife.
"What do you say, JUDITH"
1T makes no difference to me-" said
Judith quietly.
at does to me them" said Mrs. Pytch-
ley. Because, as you know very well,
HObart's business is in the city, and we
could do nothing at all with a lot of
swampy land down here in the back
woods"
So Mrs. Pytchley had taken the lions
share of the old mans bequest, and gone
back to her city home, over HObart's gro
Gerry store; and young DIR. Dedling, who
had confidently calculated on at least
$500 to buy surgical instruments and fit
up office in the adjoining village
$500 as the dOwry of his bride-elect-
broke his engagement in a fit of pique
that Judith should have so deliberately
flung her fortune away.
q set of harpiesp cried he with dis
gust
"Stop, Doctor Dedling?" said Judith,
.cOloring up. you forget that you are
speaking Of my sister and her husband"
"But they had no business to impose
on you thusw exclaimed the doctor.
Il agreed to the plan without remon-
STRANGE"
Doctor Dedling shrugged his shoulders.
In that said he sharply, "yOu showed
your lack of commOp sense. If you had
no good regard for yourself, you might
have had some for mer
"Was it for money you wanted me?"
demanded Judith, stung to the quick.
Doctor Dedling cOlOred and hesitated.
"A man must take monetary matters
into consideration" said he.
And so it came about that the engage
ment was Cancelled, and Judith Grey was
sitting there alone in the wintry twilight,
with clasped hands and head dropped
low upon her breast.
Doctor Dedling plodded home to the
village, and as he passed the brilliant
windows of the little h0stelry, he paused,
remembering the bitter cold of the win
ter, air, the frosty influence OF the
breeze.
Il may as well go in and warm myself"
he thought.
Mine host met him with CHEEKY air,
walk in, dOctOr-walk IMP said he.
Not that r0Om," as Dedling mechani-
cally laid his hand upon the doOr-knob
of the apartment he usually entered.
"The railway committee is a-settin' there
This way pleaseP'
'The railway cOmmittee?" echoed DIED.
ling. "What railway committed? You
don't mean that they're actually taking
any steps about the old idea of railway
between here and Glassylller
"Yes, do" said the landlord. Its
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 line OF
Iaiis, and-dOn't say as mentioned 1t,
a0cIors because only caught snatch