Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-09-23
3 gleasant Story.
CRANBERRY SWAMP.

vi course, SAID young Doctor Ded-
ling, IA man has his own fortune to
look to"
"Of course" said Judith Grey; 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
affairs" went on the young man, lin
stead of taking this very extraordinary
step, entirely without advice or coun-
sell"
Eyes. | know" hurriedly 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 sulen fire above the cedar copse in
the west the lealless trees held up their
black arms, in sort of wrestling agony,
toward the sky, as the bleak wind tossed
them to and fro; and solitary raven
uttered his ominous croak, in the woods
at the back of the house
Doctor Dedling shuddered as he looked
around him, and glanced out toward the
swamp that extended toward the east.
Such place" said he, for wo-
man to select to live in ~
at isn't very cheerful" said Judith /;
"but I've lived here all my life, you
know"
"Tho more reason for wanting to get
out of it now" said the doctor, impa-
tiently.
Judith was silent. She looked at the
blazing logs on the old-fashioned hearth,
and tried to keep back the fast rising
tears.
Doctor Dedling rose and took up his
hat.
Then | am to consider that our en-
gagement is quite at an end 7" said the
doctor
Eyes" replied Judith, in low tone
II shall always wish You we'll said
the doctor, affably.
II thank you" said Judith.
"Good-by !" said Doctor Dedling
"Good-by !" responded Judith
The next moment she was alone with
the blazing logs, and the cricket chirup-
ing on the hearth, and the strange, weird
shadows that came and went on the
wainscoted walls.
1t was just month tonight since they
buried old Miles Grey out of sight. Lit
tie Judith, who had worn herself out in
taking care of him, had dropped few
sincere tears on the cheap coffin that in
cased his remains, but no one else had
seemed particularly to grieve.
Mrs. Pytchley, her elder sister, who
was married to New York grocer, had
boldly declared that it was high time her
uncle took himself of the stage Of this
world, and had no secret of her disap-
pointment when it was discovered that q
thousand dollars in gold pieces repre-
sented 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 bis two nieccs
Judith Grey and Maria Pytchley, as they
themselves might agree.
I'm take the money" said Mrs
Pytchley, hastily. "What could | dc
with three or four miles of cranberr,
swamp
"Or what could Judith do with it
either ?" said Hobart Pytcblcy, who wai
whiting pine stick beside the fire.
ii dare say she could manage very
nicely" said Maria. "Pve heard unclc
Miles say that he sold sixty dollars
worth of cranberries one year out of tbl
swamp"
"Humph !" grunted Mr.. Pytchley.
"And that's legal interest on a thou
sand dollars, you know" added his wife
'What do you say Judith"
at makes no difference TO me-" SAID
Judith, quietly.
1T does to me, them" said Mrs
Pytchley, because, as you know very
well, Hobarts business is 10 the city
and we could do nothing at all with u lo
Of swampy land, down here in the back.
woods"
SO Mrs. Pytchley had taken the lions
share Of the old mans bequest, and gone
back to her city home over Hobarfl
grocery store ; and young Doctor Ded
ling, who had confidently calculated on
at least five hundred dollars, 10 buy sur.
gical instruments and it up an Office ii
the village adjoining-fvo hundred dol
lars as the dowry Of bis bride elect
broke his engagement in fit Of piqut
that Judith should have so dolibcratel,
flung her fortune away
"A set of harpies !" cried be, with
disgust.
"Stop, Doctor Dcdling ~ said Judith
coloring. lyon forget that you ar,
speaking of my sister and her husband.
But they had no business to imposc
on you thus !" exclaimed the doctor.
II agreed TO the plan without rcmon