The Dickinson press., 1893-01-21

ell uOWn upon tue uOOt SLOLc.
1t was an old, old house, and Mrs.
Maple was an old, old nj But
you will sometimes find tufts OF
snowy blossoms bursting from age
licl'ened apple trees, and sprays OF
sreenery on the boughs OF century old
oak trees; and so it happened that
Minny Maple, the ancient crone's
great granddaughter, was the bud and
blossom OF her worn out life.
Old Mrs. Maple owned house and
land and had money out at interest;
but she was u shrewd old lady and
liked to keep her affairs in her WI
hands. And pretty Minny, albeit an
heiress in prospective, taught the dis
trict school and took care OF the
dairy out OF hours.
at won't hurt her to work for her
if she is to be rich one OF these
said Mrs. Maple. ~ worked
when ! was a GIRL"
And upon this dreary December
night Mrs. Naples swift knitting
needles cleaned like steely lightning
IN the freight, and Minny sat on a
low chair beside her, mending table
cloths, while everand anon a big drop
would plash down upon the darned
spots like q glistening globule OF dew.
"But, grandmother, why?" burst
out Minny at last, with blue eyes lift
I'd up like iorget-me-nots drenched in
rain, to the old lady's parchment like
lace.
because l say So" said old Mrs.
Maple. And the fire cracked, and
the snow clicked softly against the
window panes, and the knitting
needles made Zigzaes OF light as they
flew back and forth.
"But you say, yourself, grand
mother, that he's q goodyoung man."
pleaded Minnv.
Old Mrs. Maple nodded.
"Without a bad habit in the
world"
And again old Mrs. Maple nodded
like a Chinese m%andarinina collection
of curiosities.
"And forehanded with his farm?"
For the third time Mrs. Maple nod
ded.
"Then, grandmother, why won't
you consent to our marriage?" urged
the girl.
Child" said Mrs. Maple, turning
her spectacle glasses full upon Minny's
sweet, flower like face, i've told you
why, half a hundred times! Its,
because your great grandfather Maple
and his great grandfather were mortal
enemies. Because your grandfather's
last words upon his death bed were
4 leave my soul to heaven, my mon:
ey to my dear wife, and my everlas t
ing enmity to Job Crofton!'
"But, grandmother" said Minny,
with q shudder, "that a very wick
ed! And surely, surely, the shadow
OF a tombstone should be a reconcile
atom"
Old Mrs. Maple shook her white
head.
Your grandfather was a vindictive
man, Minny," said she; ~ never dis
obeyed himliving, and l will never dis.
obey him dead!"
"But, grandmother" coaxed Minny,
with her fresh cheek against the old
lady's hand, che wouldn't know it.
How could he?"
"Child, child your Grandfather
Maple knew everything" said the old
lady, with a sudden superstitioue
glance over her left shoulder, as some
thing seemed to rustic at the case
ment. "And do believe his ghost
would haunt me if l didn't give good
heed to slast words. No, no; Gilbert
Crofton can never be your husband,
first at last"
And Minny Maple cried herself to
sleep that night.
"For l never, neve can marry him
without Grandmother Naples con.
SENT" she sobbed. "Pll stay single
for his sake until the day ofmy death;
but l never can disobey the kind old
soul who has taken a mothers place
to me and brought me up from a
baby"
But the next night there was an ap
pie bee at Deacon Dangerfield's and
Minny Maple was there. Gilbert
Crofton did not make his appearance
until late.
"Gilbert," said the little fancee
who got reproachfully amid a crimson
avalanche of apples, "what makes
you so later"
been busy" said Gilbert. "But
never mind, so long as l am in time
for the Virginia reel"
And they walked home together
through the snow drifts, talking hap
PLY of what might be if only Grand
mother Naples adamantine heart
could he softened.
But, late though it was, with tn
old clock on the stroke of l.. Their
was a light shiningredly from the keer
ing room windows, and through tn
uncurtained easement they could Sc
Grandmother Maple marching u,
and down the room like a sentinel o.
duty, her high heeled boots tappin
on the floor, her fingers instinctivel,
wandering around and around the in
side of her empty stuff box.
Minny hurried into the room.
"Why, grandmother" cried sht
whatever is the matter? Here ar
the logs all burned down to whit
ashes and the candle wick gutterin.
/; and you in such luttcr as never was
What has happened, grandmother?
Mrs. Maple turned her keen blu
eyes upon her great-granddaughte
with an expression likethat of a alec
walker.
"Minny, come in" said she: "an
shut that door. Is that you, Gilbel
Crofton, the great grandson OF Jot
n Come you in also. Children" wit
n n her old hands shaking as il pals
n stricken, "I've seer a ghost!"
Impossible" cried Gilbert Crofto
Dear grandmother, you must ha'
been dreaming" soothed MINI
creeping up to her side and drawn
her down into the old armchair besi
|, the hearth.
u Dreaming" shrieked the old VOL