Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-08-18
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE CRANBERRY SWAMP.

''Of course" said young Doctor Dctl-
ling. "a man has his own fortune to look
to-"
''Of course" said Judith GRAY. and rs
she spoke the words cold chill seemed
to creep. like slowly congealing ice,
around her whole heart.
''lf 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 coun-
sell"
"IeS. know" hurriedlv interposed
Judith; but it's over and past now. SO
perhaps we had better not talk about it,"
The red winter sunset was blazing with
sullen Iire above the cedar copsc in the
west. the leafless woods held up their
black arms in n sort of wrestling aTonv
toward the sky. as the bleak wind tossed
them to and fro and solitary raven ut
tered 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 a place" said he. "ior woman
to select to live in''
ut 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 it now,' said the doctor. impatient
ly.
Judith was silent She looked at the
blazing logs on the old-fashioned hearth,
and tried to keep back the fast-rising
tears
DIR. Dcdling rose and took up his hat
''Then am to consider that our engage
mcnt is quite at an end o. said the doc
tor.
"Nes, y said Judith. in Il low tone
Il shall always wish you we'll, said the
doctor. aflably
Il thank you :" said Judith.
"Good-by" said Doctor Dedling.
"Good-byin responded Judith
The next moment she was alone with
the logs, and the cricket chirping on the
hearth. and the strange. weird shadows
tkat came and went on the wainscotcd
walls.
1t was just Il month tonight since they
had buried old Miles Gray ont 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
|
Mrs. Pytchley, her eldest sister. who
was married to New York grocer, had
boldly declared that il was high time the
old man took himself off the stage of this
world, and had made no secret OF her dis
appointment when il was discovered that
thousand dollars in gold pieces repre-
sented all his boarded wealth. with the
exception of the cranberry swamp, upon
| sfn Ia, nd
this dreary property. by the terms of the
will. was to be divided between his two
neices, Judith Gray and Maria Pytchlcy.
as they themselves might agree.
IN 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,
either P" said Hobart Pytchley, who sat
whiting pine stick 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 cranberries. one year out of the
swamp" 5i
"IIumph!" grunted Mr.. Pytchlcy
And that's legal interest on a thousand
dollars, You know added his wife.
"What do you say, Judithp''
at makes no difference to me- said
Judith, quietly.
at does to me, thcn!' said Mrs. Pytch-
| ley. Because, as you know very well.
| Ilobart's business is in the citv, and we
could do nothing at all with lot of
swampv land. down here in the back
woods rs
SO Mrs. Pytchley had taken the lions
share Of the old mans bequest and gone
| back to her city home. over TIobart's gro
Gerry store; and Young Doctor Dedling.
who had confidently calculated on five
hundred dollars, TO buy surgical instru-
ments and fit up an office in the village
adjoining - five hundred dollars as the
dowry of his bride elect-broke his en-
gagement in a fit of pique that Judith
should have so deliberately flung her for.
tune away.
"A set of harpies - cried he, with dis
gust.
"Stop, Doctor DedIing," 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. exclaimed the Doctor.
II agree to the plan, without remon-
STRANGE.
Doctor Dedling shrugged his shoulders.
'In that. said he sharply, 'you show
Iyour lack OF common sense. II you have
no good regard Tor yourself, you might
have had fo.' me -
''Was it for money you wanted me?"
demanded Judith. stung TO the quick.
Doctor Dedling colored and hesitated
"a man must take monetary matters
into consideration said he.
And so il came about that the engage
ment was cancelled, and Judith Gray was
sitting there alone in the wintry twilight,
with clasped hands aud head dropped low
upon her breast.
Doctor Dedling plodded home to the
village, and as he passed the brilliant win
dows Of the little hostelry. he paused. re-
membered the bitter cold of the wintry
air, and frosty influence Of the breeze.
II may as well go in and warm my
SELF" he thought.
Mine host met him with CHEEKY air.
Walk in. Doctor-walk in!r said he.
Not that room" as Dedling mechanically
laid his hand upon the door-knob of the
department he usually entered. "The
Railway Committee is a-setting there.