Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-11-16
From the Golden Rule
THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.

"Oi course, said young l)OCtor led
ling. "a man has his own fortune to look
to-"
"Of course said Judith Gray, and as
she spoke the words cold chill seemed
to creep, like slowly congcaling 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 counsel
YES, | know" hurridly interPosed
Judith; "but its over and past now, so
perhaps we had better not talk about it. y
The red winter sunset was blazing with
sullen tire above the cedar copse in the
west. the leafcss woods held up their
black arms in sort of wrestling agony,
toward the sky, as the bleak wind tossed
them to and fro; and a solitary raven
uttered his ominous croak. in the woods
q, the back of the house.
Mr.. Dedling shuddered as he looked
around him, and glanced out toward the
drcary swamp that extended toward the
cast.
such a place" said he, "for woman
to select to live in
1T ism, very cheerful" said Judith !;
"but I've lived here all my lite, YOU
know.
THE more reason for wanting to get
out of it now" said the doctor, impatient
ly.
Judith was silent She looked at the
blazing logs on the old-iashioned hearth,
and tried to keep back the fast-rising
tears.
DR.. 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 you, said Judith.
"Good.byi" said Doctor Dedling.
"Good-by," responded Judith.
The mex moment she was alone with
the logs, and the cricket chipping on the
hearth, and the strange, weird shadows
that came and went on the wainscoted
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 on the cheap coffin that en-
cased his remains, but no one else had
seemed particularly to grieye.
Mrs. Py,chley, 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 made no secret Of her
disappointment when it was discovered
that thousand dollars in gold pieces
represented all his boarded wealth, with
the exception of :he 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 Gray and Maria
Pytchley, as they themselves might agree.
"Tll 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
ether" said Hobart Pytchley, who sat
whiting pine stick beside the fire.
~ dare say she could manage very
nicely" said Maria "Tve heard Uncle
Miles say that he sold sixty dollars worth
of cranberries, one year 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
at makes no difference to me" said
Judith, quietly.
1T does to me, them said Mrs.
Pytchley.
because, as YOU know very well,
IIobart's business is in the city, and we
could DO no,hiug at all with lot OF
swampy land, down here in the back
woods."
So Mrs. Py;chley had taken the lions
share of the old mans bequest, and gone
back to her city home, over Hobart
grocery store; and young Doctor Ded-
ling, who had confidently calculated on at
least five hundred dollars, to buy surgical
instruments and fit up an Office in the
village adjoining,-five hundred dollars
as the dowry of his bride elect,-broke
his engagement in a fit of pique tina,
Judith should have so deliberately flung
her fortune away.
"A set of harpies = cried he, with dis.
gust.
Stop, DIR. Dedling!" said Judith
coloring up. ''You forget that you are
speaking of my sister and her husband y
"But they have no business to impos,
on you thus p exclaimed the Doctor.
Il agreed to the plan, without remon
STRANGE"
Doctor Dedling shrugged his shoulders
I'm that" said he sharply, 'you show