Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-01-25
THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.


she spoke the words Geold chill seemed
70 creep, like slowly congeaiing ice,
around ner whole heart.
If YOU had consulted me as to your
affairs" went on the young man, Tin
stead of taking this very extraordinary
step, entirely without advice or coun-
sell"
Yes. know" hurriedly interposed
Judith; ''but it's over and past now, Sc
perhaps we had better not talk about it.
The red winter sunset was blazing
with sullen fire above the cedar copse in
the west, the leafess woods held up their
black arms in sort of wrestling agony
toward the sky as the bleak wind tossed
them 10 and fro, and solitary raven ut
tered his omnous croak in the woods
at the back OF the house.
Dr. Dedling shuddered rs he looked
around him and glanced out toward the
sreary swamp that extended toward the
east.
such 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
know"
"The more reason for wanting to get
out Of 1t now,' said the doctor impatient
ly.
Judith was silent. She looked at the
blazing logs on the old-tashioned hearth
and tined to keep back the fast rising
tears.
DR.. Dedllng rose and took up his hat.
''Then l am to consider that our en-
gagement is quite at an end?" said the
doctor.
Yes" said Judith
Il shall always wish you WE'LL" said
the doctor, atfably.
II thank you,' said Judith
Goodbye said DR.. Dedling.
Good bye" said Judith
The next moment she was alone with
the blazing logs and the cricket chirp-
ING On the hearth, and the strange, weird
shadows that came and went on the
wainscoted walls.
1t was Il month tonight since they had
buried old Miles Grey out of sight. Lit
tie Judith, who had worn herself out TAX
ing care of him, had dropped few sim
cere tears on the cheap coffin that encased
his remains, but no one else had seemed
particularly to gIleve-
Mrs. Pytchley, her eldest sister, who
vas married 10 q New 7 ork grocer, had
boldly declared that it was high time
the old man took himself off the stage Of
this world, and had made no secret of
her disappointment when it was dis
covered that thousand dollars in gold
pieces represented all of his boarded
wealth with the exception of the cram
berry swamp, upon whose dreary verge
stood the house, and this drcary proper
" by the terms of the will was to be d.
viGed between his two neices, Judith
Grey and Maria Pytchley, as they them
selves might agree.
''I'll take the ready money" said Mrs.
Pytchley, hastily. what could do
with three or tour miles of a cranberry
swamp"
"Or what could Judith do with 1t.
either?" said Hobart Pytch!ey, who sat
whisthng beside the fire.
II dare say she could manage very
nicely SAID Maria. I've heard Uncle
Miles say that he sold sixty dollars worth
.of cranberrys one year out of that swamp
"Humphr' grunted Mr.. Pytchley.
"And that's legel interest on thou
sand dollars, you know added his wife.
''What do you say, JudithI'
1T makes no difference TO me- said
Judith, quietly.
1T does to me them said Mrs. Pytch-
lev. Because, IS you know very II,
Hobart's business is in the city, and we
can do nothing at all with lot of
swampy land, down here in the back
woods.
So Mrs. Pytchley had taken the lion S
share OF the old mans bequest, and gone
back to her city home, over Hobart's
grocery store; and young Doctor Ded-
Ing, who had confidently calculated on
at least five hundred dollars, to buy sur
gical Instruments and fit up an office in
the village adjoining-fvc hundred dol
lars as the dowIy of his bride-eleet-
broke his engagement in fit of pique
that Judith should have so deliberately
fungs her fortune away.
"a set of harpies!" cried he, with dis
gust.
''Stop, Doctor Dedliugl' said Judith,
eoloring up. lyon forget that you are
speaking OF my sister and her husband
''But they mad no night to impose OF
you thus" exclaimed the doctor, impa-
iently.
81 agreed to the plan, without remon.
STRANGE.
Doctor Dedliug gave shrug to his
shoulders.
In that" said he, sharply, ''you show.
ed your lack of common sensel If you
had no regard for yousrelf, you might
have had some TOR me-"
"Was it for money you wanted me?'
demanded Judith, stung to the very
quick.
Doctor Dedling colored high and hest
tated.
"a man must take monetary matters
into consideration, said he.
= And it came about that the engage
1ment was cancelled, and Judith Grey was
tsitting there, alone, in the wintry twilight
with clasped HANGS and head dropped
upon her breast.
Doctor Dedling plodded home to the
village, and as he passed the brilliant
windows of the hostelry. he psused re.