Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-11-17
THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.


tune to look to-
"Of course, said Judith Gray
and as she spoke the words a coll
chill seemed 10 creep like CONCEAL
ing ice around her heart.
Had you consulted me as t,
your affairs" went Oh the young
man, instead Of taking this yer!
extraordinary step, entirely with
out advice or counsel
Yes. know, hurriedly inter,
rupted Judith, "but it's over now,
so perhaps we had better not talk
about it.
The red winter sunset was blaz-
ing with sulleu fire above the cedar
copse in the west, the leafless
woods held up their black arms in
sort of resting agony toward the
black sky, as the bleak wind tossed
them to aud fro and a solitary
raven uttered his ominous croak in
the woods back Of the house.
Dir Dedliug shuddered as he look
ed around him, and glanced out to-
ward the swamp that extended to
the east.
"Such a place, said he, for
woman to select to live in"
1T isn't very cheerful" said Ju-
dith but I've lived here all my
life, you know"
The more reason for wanting to
get out Of it now, said the doctor,
impatiently.
Judith was silent, She looked
at the blazing logs on the hearth,
and tried TO keep back the fast
rising tears.
DR.. Dedllng rose and took his
hat.
"Then am TO consider that our
engagement is quite at an end ?"
said the Doctor
Yes, said Judith in low
tone.
Il shall always wish YOU well,
said the doctor aiiable.
Il thank you said Judith.
"Good-by " said tho doctor.
Coed by =" responded Judith. I
The next 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.
Il was iu1t a month tonight
since the, had buried old Miles
Ersy uu' ~ sight. Little Judith,
who had worn herself out by TAX
ing care OF him, had dropped a few
sincere tears on the cheap coffin
that encased his remains. but no
one else seemed particularly 70
Srleve
Mrs. PycthIey, her eldest sister,
who was married to New York
grocer, had boldly declared that it
was high time that the old man took
himself of the stage Of this world,
and made no secret Of her disap-
pointment when it was discovered
that $1,000 in gold pieces repre-
sented all his boarded wealth with
the exception of the cranberry
swamp, upon whose verge stood
the house and this dreary proper
~, by the terms Of the will was to
be divided between his two nisces,
Judith Gray and Maria Pytchsy,
ss they themselves might agree
T'll take the ready money" said
Ms pytchley hastily. What
could ! DO with three or four mile,
Of cranberry swamp
"Or what could Judith do with
it, either ?" asked Hobart Pythley,
who sat whiting pine stick be-
eide the fire.
II dare say she could manage it
very nicely said Maria. 1--WE
heard uncle Miles say that he sold
500 worth Of cranberries in one
year out of the swamp
"Humph :" grunted Mr.. Pytch-
ley.
"And that's legal interest on
$1,000, you know added his wife. (
What do you say, Judith y
at makes no difference to me-"
said Judith quietly.
~ does to me, then" said Mrs. !
Pytchley. Because, you know
'ery well, Hobart's business is in
he city, and we could do nothing {
With lot of swampy land down
lere in the backwoods." ,
So Mrs. Pytchley had taken the