The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-08-08

And she bolted the bar with ostentatious
noise. Old Miss Merrydeer was slowly and
reluctantly turning the donkey's dropping
head around, when Lii herself came to the
rescue.
Stop minute, Miss Merrydeer," said
she. " Here is a ten-cent piece. 1t seems
such pity for you and the poor old donkey
to go so far around this bitter cold night.
And-and you can pay me the next time
you come this way
"Eh?" said Miss Merrydeer, shrilly.
Who are you ?"
"rm ILL.," said the girl. +" Mr.. Pen
fields niece, from Omaha"
"Ah !" said The old woman. Well,
whoever you be, you've done a kind and a
merciful deed this night. And you'll get
yonr reward for it, too. Shall I tell your
fortune p once more stopping the donkey
as he was halfway through the toll-gate, to
Della Penfeld's infinite disgust. "Oh,
yes, I've charm. We that live in the
woods find out many spell that other folks
know nothing of. Well, here it is. Three
Good Gifts for you. There's lover COM
ing there's gift of money coming, and
there's clear conscience to go to bed upon
.his tight. Good-by-good-by.n
And the donkey trotted away over the
frozen road, his hoofs ringing like muffied
bells, while Della adjusted the bars, with
laugh, and both girls ran hurriedly back to
the glow and shelter of the fireplace.
is she crazy 2" said ILL, earnestly.
q Not half SO crazy rs you were to listen
10 her ?" said Della Its old Miss Merry
deer Every one knows her. She gets
roots and herbs from the woods, and boils
them into drinks, aud dries them, TO dose
people with. There are families around
here that would rather have old Miss Merry
deer in sickness than any doctor in town.
And she's nurse, too and some think that
she sees and hears more than other people
How old is She"
"a hundred at least" said Della
Now let us make haste and get the tea
ready, for pa will be half frozen when he
comes"
Il wonder if my Three Good Gifts will
come true ?" said Lill, laughing.
"oh, undoubtedly" Della answered,
with the most marked satire.
But Della Ponfield herself was surprised
about week subsequently, when letter
arrived for Lill from The lad she left be-
hind her,"
"what do you think Lill ?" he wrote.
g am coming East. am coming to the
very same part of the country where you
are. Do You know the Old Red Mill
Well, Oriel Hall has bought it, and we are
to run it in partnership. And when we
have saved little money, 0riel is coming
back West for the girl he is engaged to,
and well ILL, you know the rest. It
may be several years first, but we must be
patient. For the present, dear, it will be
enough for me TO be near you !"
There's the lover I" cried Della, as Lii
sat radiantly dreaming over the letter.
And the clear conscience we'll take for
granted. Now, if old Witch Merrydeer
would only supply the money, should
really believe in her,"
az guess" said Jeboram Hawley, the
hired man, who had come in at this minute
stove, that old Miss Merrydeer won't sup
ply many more things in this world. She's
at deaths door with pneumony. That's
what I've heard"
Is she, poor old thing ?" said Della,
carelessly. "Take care, Jeboram; don't
spill that glue !"
"She's got lawyers clerk, there, a-niak~
in of her will !" chuckled Jeboram. +" He's
to take out his pay in four bottles of Ague
Spruce-Cure and gallon of roct-beer.
But law there amt no use-she'll never
die She'll fly up ON broomsticlz some
day, or disappear in flash of lightning"
The next day, however, came tattered
little messenger TO the toll-house-a bright
eyed colored lad.
"Old Miss Merrydeer wants TO see the
young woman rs she give the Three Good
Gifts to-" said he, rolling his coffee-colorec
eyebails around. Pm to show her de
way. Right of, please ~
ILL looked at Delia In amazement.
"shall go ?" said she. "oh, surely I
ought"
" It's lonely spot" said Della" up in
.he woods, with not neighbours house in
sight. Jeboram had better follow you, at
little distance. Old Witch Merrydeer may
turn you into white dove or red fawn.
for all that know :"
She laughed, but there was certain vein
of seriousness that underlay all her mirth !;
so ILL started out in the gray March after
noon, with little fiurries of snow pricking
her cheek like frozen needles ever and anon,
and the rimy-frost cracking underneath
her feet, while, some few PAGES behind,
trudged Jeboram, charged to look as little
as possible like an escort.
''For nobody knows" said Della, what
the old witch may take offense at"
But to confess the truth, Lill was almost
storied cabin, one side of which was all
awry with the force of many winters
tempest. in whose low-ceiled apartment
old Miss Merrydeer lay dying.
ais it my bonny girl ?" she said, lifting
her glance to the newcomers face. Yes,
it's she as give me the dime. Out Of her
own pocket she gave it to me. Everyone
else turned their backs upon me, and
laughed to see the old witch go by. No
one ever give me anything before but..sneers
and curses. For what good to anybody
was Old Witch Merrydeer But she took
pity on me, Lord love her And promised
her Three Good Gifts. I've made her my
heiress, that's what I've done. Come here,
petty one, and put your hand in mine"
But even as Lii finally touched her warm
palm to the old crone's fast purpling hand,
she gave a quick little gasp, turned over,
and died.
ILL closed her eyes, tied up the poor old
toothless jaws with her own scented pocket
handkerchief, crossed the hands on the
pulseless breast, and went home again,
leaving Jeboram to do what he could for
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