The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-02-16
MISCELLANY.
THE CRANBERRY SWAMI; ),
LOOKING OUT FOR THE FUTURE.

1
OR,
LOOKING OUT FOR THE FUTURE.
"Of course, man has his own fortune to
look to-" said young DR.. Deddling.
"Of course" said Judith Gray, and as she
spoke the words cold chill seemed to creep,
like slowly congealing ice, around her whole
heart.
"If you had consulted me as to your af-
fairs" went on the young man, F" instead of
taking this very extraordinary step, entirely
without advice or counsel"
Yes, know but it's over and past now,
so perhaps we would better not talk about il, !"
hurriedly interposed Judith
The red, winter sunset was blazing with
sullen fire above the cedar copse in the west,
the leafess woods held up their black arms in
sort of restless agony toward the sky, as the
bleak wind tossed them to snd fro; and a
solitary raven uttered his ominous croak in
the woods at the back Of the house.
DR.. Deddling shuddered as he looked around
him, and glanced out toward the dreary swamp
that extended toward the east.
Such place for woman to select to live
in (" he said.
" It isn't very cheerful but I've lived here
all my life, you KNOW said Judith
The more reason for wanting to get out
of it now" said the doctor, impatiently.
Judith was silent She looked at the blaz--
ing logs ON the ld-fashioned hearth, and
tried to keep back the fast rising tears.
nr l. l.
"Then l am to consider that our engage
ment is quite at an end?" said the doctor.
Yes" said Judith, in low tone.
81 shall always wish you wei" said the
doctor, affably,
81 thank you" said Judith.
1 "Good-bye." said DR.. Deddling.
Good bye," responded Judith.
The next moment she was alone in the old
house with the blazing logs, and the strange,
wierd shadows that came and went on the
wanscotted 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 encased his remains,
but no one else had seemed particularly to
grieve.
Mrs. Pytchley, her eldest sister, who was
married to New York grocer, had boldly
declared that 1t 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 dol
lars in gold pieces represented all his boarded
wealth, with the exception of the cranberry
swamp, upon whose dreary verge stood the
house and this 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.
''I'll take the ready money! said Mrs.
Pytchley, hastily. What could | do with
three or four miles of cranberry swamp"
"Or what could Judith dowith it, either ?''
said Hobart PytchIey, who sat whiting a
pine stick beside the fire.
81 dare say she could manage very nicely
said Maria. sI'se heard Uncle Miles say
that be sold sixty dollars worth of cranber-
ries one year out of the swamp"
"Humph ~ grunted Mr.. Pytchley.
"And that's legal interest on thousand
dollars, you know" added bis wife.
What do you say, Judith 2"
alt makes no difference to me-" said JUDI
it'll, quietly.
''It does to me, then. Because, as you
know very WE'LL Hobart's business is in the
city, and we could do nothing at all with a
lot of swampy land, down here in the back
woods said Mrs. Pytchley.
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 DR.. Deddling, 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-bruke his en-
gagement in fit of pique that Judith should
have SO deliberately flung her fortune away.
"a set of harpies ! - cried he, with disgust.
'sStop, DR.. Deddling! You forget that
you are speaking of my sister and her hus-
band, F" said Judith, coloring up.
But they have no business to impose upon
you thus ~ exclaimed the doctor.
II agreed to the plan without remon-
strance.'
DR.. Deddling shrugged his shoulders, and
said, sharply:
In that You show lack of common sense.
If you have no good regard for yourself, you
might have had for me-"
Was it for money you wanted me?" de-
manded Judith, stuDg to the quick.
DR.. Deddling colored and hesitated.
A man must take monetary matters into
consideration" he said.
And SO it came about that the engagement
was cancelled, and Judith Gray was sitting
there alone in the wintry twilight, with clasp
ed hands and head dropped low upon her
breast.
DR.. Deddling plodded home to the village,