The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-05-18
AMARhNTH'S INVESTMENT,

AMARhNTH'S INVESTMENT.
Hey? What? Going to buy the old
Brooke homestead" asked Uncle Pele-
tian Stubbleiield. "Why, the girls
| reg'Iar silly. That air land is all wore
cut. Won't grow nothin' 'cept sassa-
fras sprouts or wild chamomile," re-
marked Aunt Rubina. sententiously.
Says she loves the ole llace and is
bound to keep it from going to
strangers" observed Cousin Melissa
Brooke.
The rural population of Pineyville
township were mostly all either Stub
blcGclds or Brookes or connected with
them by marriage.
An she's a-goin' 20 bring Reub's
widder an children from the city to
live with her"
Uncle Peletiah looked amused.
Fine liyin' it'll be in that old ram
shacEle Of a house," he chuckled.
"Amaranth allus was hard-headed,"
grOancd Aunt Rubina, who was stout
woman with large, nabby face and
blue eyes with white eyelashes. "But
| wash my hands of 'em. If she wants
TO saddle herself with Reub's family,
she needn't look TO me for help"
Its my 'pinion Sylvester Smalley
will hGy somethin' to say about it,"
smirked Cousin Melissa. with a crafty
look.
And 50 the gOssiping tongues wagged
on and all because Amaranth Brooke
chose to invest the few hundred dol
lars bequeathed to her by a distant
relative in Suying back the old home
stead, where she had frolicked away
her childhood days in care-free happi-
ness.
But Amaranth gave little heed to
their meddlesome gossip. She had
fought her own battles since the death
Of Grandfather Brooke left her alone
ond unprotected, with little or no as
slstance from the relatives who were
now SO free with their advice and un-
friendly criticisms and she was deter
mined to manage her affairs in her
own way.
But III regard to Sylvester SmallCy
the case was different. He was her
bctrothed lover and would of course
expect to be consulted in her affairs.
And Sylvester did have something to
say, as Cousin Melissa had predicted.
Amaranth had been looking over her
prospective purchase and was on her
way home when he ovcrtoon her and
at once broached the subject.
No use to throw your money away
on that old, rubbishy place" he told
her. You can't raise a crop there
an wouldn't take it as a gift. An
your money, with what I've got, would
build us 4 nice, snug house on that
forty acres father gave me an help to
stocl, the farm beside. Then we could
he married and 90 right TO housekssp<
ING. VIII you, Amaranth?"
He looked at her tenderly and for a
moment Amaranth felt almost tempted
to give up her plans and ambitions
and accept his offer
They were lettering slowly home
ward and had paused at the old stile,
where scarlet-nowered trumpet-vine
shDwered its gorgeous trophies at their
feet
Say yes!7 urged Sylvester.
Amaranth felt her determination Il
weakening.
"But-but there's brother Reuben's
wife and the children!' she faltered.
"They are quite destitute and have no
one to look to but me-"
Sylvester frowned.
Let Reub's wife look out for her
self" he returned grufflg. Il dare say
there's orphan 'sylums in the city
where the young uns would be took
care Of"
Amaranth's eyes flashed scornfully
as she drew herself up with offended
dignity.
Brother Reuben's children shall
never 90 to the asylum while live!"
she declared. Indignantly.
After few more words their troth
was broken. Sylvester s.alked IL ood-
lily on his way, while Amaranth. with
4 pang Of sore disappointment at her
heart, turned toward the gray-s stone
farmhouse where she earned II small
stipend over her board by doino the
housework for 4 family of siX.
The broken engagement offered
| fresh food for gossip among the Brooke
| and Stubblefeld kith and kin, but
| Amaranth was not TO be turned from
| her course by their outspoken CEN
| sures and criticisms.
The old homestead was bought and
paid for. To be sure. the soil was
| rocky and sterile and the dwelling in
| need of repairs.
The orchard trees-what was left of
| them-were gnarled and bent and the
fences and outbuiidings in a sad state
| of dilapidation.
1t was really scarcely WORTH the
| small sum asked for it, but Amaranth
had determined to buy it, and buy il
SIZE did.
An ancient cow and a half-decrepit
| pony were included in the sale.
And after the house had been treated
to few repairs and thorough clean
ing brother Reuben's family were re-
leased from their uncongcnial quarters
in the city and comfortably installed
| therein.
Mrs. Reuben-a meek little woman.
with no more idea of supporting her
self than canary bird might have
was yet good houSekeeper and will
| ingly undertook the management os
| domestic affairs, while Amarauth gave,
her attention to the raising of poultry
and garden vegetables. And the chi!-
| dren grew as round as butterbans.