The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-07-09
DIR. DEDLING'S MISTAKE.

"Of course" said young DIR. Ded-
ling, "a man has his own fortune to look
to.|
"Of course" said Judith; and, as
she spoke the words, cold chill seemed
to creep, like slowly-congealinS ice,
around her whole heart.
eff you had consulted me as to your
affair, went on the young man, Elm
stead of taking this extraordinary step
entirely without advice or council"
"Yes, know" hurriedly interposed
Judith "hut it's 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 copse in
the west; the leahess woods held up
their black arms, in sort of wrestling
agony toward the sky, as the bleak winds
tossed them to and fro, and solitary
raven uttered his ominous croak in the
woods at the back of the house.
Dr. Dedling shuddered as he looked
around him, and glanced out toward the
dreary swamp that extended toward the
east.
"Such place" he said, "for lady
to select to live in T.
1t isn't very cheerful, said Judith,
"but | have lived here all my life, you
know" .ess
"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 in the old-fashioned hearth,
and tried to keep back the fast-rising
tears.
DR.. Dedling arose and took up his hat.
"Then l am to consider that our en-
gagement is quite at an end?" said the
doctor.
Eyes" said Judith, in very low tone.
"Good-by r said DIR. Dedling.
"Good-by r responded Judith.
The next moment she was alone with
the logs, and the crickets chirping on
the hearth, and the strange, weird shad-
ows that came and went on the wainscot-
ted walls. Ii S "A @t
II was Just month tonight since they
had buried old Miles Grey out of sight.
Little Judith, who had worn herself out
IN taking care of him, fsd dropped n
lew tears on the cheap coffin that in
cased his remains, but no one else had
semed particularly to grieve.
Mrs. Pytchley, her eldest sister, who
was married to q New York grocer, had
boldly declared that it was high time the
old man took himself off the stage Of
thls Yqrld, and had. made. no. secret Of
her dasapppintihent when it; whs dis
covered that 81 000insgold pieces repre-
sented all his boarded wealth, with the
exception of the cranberry swamp, upon
whose dreary verge stood tho House and
TINS dreary property, by the terms Of the
VIII, was to be divided betyNeen-his two
n!leces, Judith Gray and Martha Pytch-
icy, as they themselves might agree.
IN take the ready money, = said Mrs.
Pytchley, hastily. aWhat could / dc
with three or four miles Of cranberry
swamp ?'''o
I. Or, what could Judith do with il,
either y said Hobart Pytchley, WHO sal
whiting pine stick beside the fire.
dare say she could manage very
nicely said Martha. I've heard Uncle
Miles say that he sold $50 worth OF Gran.
berries one year out of the swamp"
"Humphp grunted Mr.. Pytchly.,
And that's legal interest on $l 900,
you know, added his wife. sWhat dc
You say, Judith?n ,4f
II makes no difference to me,' said
Judith, quietly. ~ aa ,F,..t,ss
ait does to me, then r. said Mrs.
rySclliey Il" because, as you know very
wen, Hobart's business is in the city,
ana we could do nothing at all with !
.os q swamp land down here in the back
90 Mrs. Pytchley had taken the lions
snare OF the old mans bequests and
sone back to her city home, over Ho-
psFt grocery and young DIR. Dedling
VINO had confidently calculated on al
least $500, to buy surgical instruments
% ut up an Office in the village adioin,
mg- $500 as the dowry Of his bride
eiect-hroke his engagement in a piqut
mat Judith should have SO deliberately
hung her fortune away. 5..,sls VA
-; a set of sharpers r. cried he, witt
"stop, DIR. DedIingla said judith
eolorlng up. You forget that you arr
speaking Of my sister and her husband.
But they had no business to impose
on you thus !" exclaimed tlls doctor.
y agreed to the plan without remon
1.Yimia,4.s5 est fss4ss.s + 5,,.s.s5.s
~. Dedling shngged HE shoulders
In that" said he, sharply, styol
sa9wed your lack, of sense If you ha'
~ good regard for yourself, you nigh
naVe.had some for me g'se insissesY
was 1t for my ,myncy you wante'
meT demanded Judith, stung to tn
4mck- ttfe@IfN IVA ~ 1laR
N. Dedling colored and hesitated.
:. man must take monetary matter
INTO consideration. he said.