The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-07-09
THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.


"Of course" said young Doctor Ded-
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 congealing ice,
around her whole heart.
"f you had consulted me as to your
affairs" went on the young man, sin
stead of taking this very extraordinary
step, entirely without advice or coun-
sell"
eyes, I know" hurriedly interposed
Judith; "but it's all over and past now,
so perhaps we had better not talk
about it"
The red winter sunset was blazing with
sullen fire above the cedar corpse 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; and a solitary 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, s'for woman
to select to live in"
''It isn't very cheerful" said Judith |;
3'but I've lived here all my life, you
know"
'sThe more reason for wanting to get
out of it now," said the doctor i'm
patiently"
Judith was silent. She looked at the
blazing logs on the o1d-fashioned hearth
and tried to keep back the fast rising
tears.
Doctor Dedling rose and took up his
hat.
'sThen I am to consider that our en-
gagement is quite at an end?" said the
doctor.
eyes," said Judith in low tone.
"I shall always wish you well, said
the doctor, affably.
"I thank you!' said Judith.
"Good-by!" said Doctor Dedling.
"Good-by!" responded Judith.
The next moment she was alone with
the logs, and the cricket chirping on the
hearth and the strange, wierd shadows
that came and went on the wainscoted
walls.
Tt was just a month tonight since they
had buried old Miles Gray out Of sight.
by taking care of him, had dropped q
few sincere tears on the cheap coffin that
encased his remains, but no one else had
seemed particularly to grieve.
Mrs. Pytchely, her eldest sister, who
was married to a 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 dis
covered that a thousand dollars in gold
pieces represented all his horded 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 Gray and
Maria Pytchely, as they themselves
might agree.
s7I'Il take the ready money" said Mrs.
Pytchley, hastily. "What could I do
with three or four miles of cranberry
swamp"
"Or what could Judith do with it,
either ?" said Hobart Pytchiey, who sat
whiting pine stick beside the fire.
nicely" said Maria. I've heard Uncle
of cranberries one year out of the
swamp"
"Humph ~ grunted Mr.. Pytchley.
Auu tudt AcSd1 1utcIccG Ou q
thousand dollars, you know" added his
wife. "What do You say, JUDITH"
ssIt makes no difference to me-" said
Judith, quietly.
cit does to me, then p said Mrs.
Pytchley.
Because, as You know very well, Ho-
do nothing at all with lot of swamp
ho1. f1,o hoe dc
So Mrs Pytchley had taken the lions
share of the old mans bequest, and gone
back to her city home, over Hobart's
grocery store and young Doctor Ded-
ling, who had confidently calculated on
at least five hundred dollars, to buy sur
gical instruments and fit up an Office in
the village adjoining-fve hundred
dollars as the doorway of his bride
elect-broke his engagement in ft Of
pique that that Judith should have so
deliberately flung her fortune away.
''A set of harpies r. 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 have no business to impose
on you thus r. exclaimed the Doctor.
agreed to the plan, without remon-
STRANGE"
Doctor Dedling shrugged his shou1-
ders.
"In that" said he sharply, lyon show
your lack of common sense IF you
have no good regard for yourself, you
might have had for mep
WAS it for money you wanted me 2"
demanded Judith, stung to the quick.
Doctor Dedling colored and hesitated.
ga man must take monetary matters
into consideration" said he.
And SO it came about that the engage
ment was cancelled, and Judith Gray was
| sitting there alone in the wintry twi-
light, 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 hosiery, he paused,
| remembered the bitter cold of the wintry
air, the frosty influence of the breeze.
"I may as well go in and warm my
sell, he thought.
| Mine host met him with CHEEKY air.
walk in, doctor walk inl' said he.
s'Not that room, as Dedling mechanic
ally laid his hand upon the door knob OF
the department. he usually entered.