Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-10-18
Vol. 66.-3302. No. SO.

showed him their watches and doll. said
nothing about the dress, for IL struck me he
was looking anxious.
Where's your breast-pin, Mabel2" he
asked, as the children ran out before the door
after breakfast.
The broast-pin | was frightened at once.
lle had never asked after IL or noticed il be-
fore. He must have heard of what I'd done
and was angry.
Father, 1 have not got it," exclaimed
at once, ready to cry
" Not got it What do you mean, child?
You surely wore it yesterday"
" Yes, sir," | replied, and it's all safe.
was just going to tell you about it when you
frightened me"
"Well, don't wish to frighten you, my
dear had no thought of such a thing.
Calm YOURSELF Mabel, while tell you Of
letter | received yesterday, and then you can
get the pin at your leisure. You can get
|it2"
81 can get it, father Or rather you can.
But | hope you will not blame me- What
have you heard about it?"
"Wcll, my dear, listen We have never
attached any value to that old pin, only that
a good, kind woman gave it to your mother
to keep for you, and 10 we did keep it be-
cause Of that. She was a stranger to us,
poor lady, and was in distress. and your
mother was kind to her. But she left the
place soon after you were born, and we never
heard more of her Yesterday, however,
got a letter from long distance, asking about
that very pin, and even to the name on the
back. It is very valuable, Mabel"
My heart was beating ten strokes where It
should have beat but one.
"The pin we have set no store by is of
great value, Mabel The centre diamond
alone is worth what to US poor people would
be fortune And it is all yours, my dear
you can convert the diamonds into money
and be at case for life.'
What with ovcrpowering surprise, and
what with fear Of my fathers anger, faint
ed. When | came to myself on the sofa in
} the parlor, the children were there aud it
was too late to 90 to church. | felt bewil-
{ dered, and trembled yet, but listened atten-
= lively to my father as he read the important
, letter from London then sprang up wildly.
"0h, father, father, go down to the Black
! Horse | exclaimed. "rhe peddlar is there,
and he has my pin"
My fathers first thought was that the good
. fortune had turned my brain explained
all to him. lie was very kind, never scolded
d me; but as to finding the pin and the ped
r dler, he knew more Of the world than his
. foolish child, and was not so hopeful.
However he thought it best to 90, and for
I me to go with him. So in a few moments we
e were walking down to the Black Horse The
4 landlord was sitting alone in his front porch,
d smoking quietly He looked surprised when
e we walked up the steps, but very politely in
vited us into the parlor, explaining that his
n women folks had gone to church.
| ais there peddler staying with you, Mr..
Il Ford ?" began my father
d "A peddler mo, exclaimed the landlord,
j. as if the question vexed him. "I have not
h seen peddler for three weeks, and the one
that was here then did not pay his BILL"
n | must have turned very pale at this, and
l. felt faint again. Mr. Ford wanted me to
s. take a cordial. My father turned it off, say
G, ing | was tired Then he said that had
d made little bargain with peddler the day
before, and that we wished to settle with
le him"
- "Got cheated, / warrant" said the bluff old
landlord; but no such man came to this house
ID yesterday. | do recollect now that Joe, my
ne ostler said he saw fellow with biz
d. black box or bundle come up the bank from
III the creek just after the stage passed but
" didn't pay any attention to him."
n My father gave up all hope at once but
p, could not believe my fortune was gone. Ill
is- tried to comfort me, saying was just a,
IT. well off as before, and had a new dress int,
es the bargain. How hated the thought of m,
ly beautiful merino
ly Well, it is Of no use to prolong my story
or tell you of all the efforts made to catch tn
he adroit thief. He was no peddler, but cler
as in that very law office from which the lette
was sent telling US of the diamonds. ii
=" managed to delay the letter to my father fo
N, a post or two hastened away himself, an
obtained my pin.
We never found him we never heard {
le- him. He must have got off somewhere owe
he the sea with his prize. My poor, toilin
father, always gentle, did not reproach me
he but even to this day tho reproach lies heavil
of on my mind for what might not have dor
IN, for him and the dear children with all n
,ry money!
nd And tho lady who had given me the pin
not know until she was dying the value
ing was Of, and that caused the stir. All me!
i've was one Of those chances in life that pc
in haps we all miss on occasion-the tide
lch the affairs of men that, taken at the foo,
leads on to fortune" And about my crir
ink son dress For long while, shabby thoul
,os- | was, could not look at it, or let it
me made up. But time soothes troubles and
il must say that it made charming gown, Al
one who was an artist saw me in it and ma
out me his wife. So perhaps it all happened
the best.
|. if But I'm sure | hope that wicked peddler
lat. who made believe to speak like foreign
bv the better TO take me in--came TO be hangt
1"1 Anecdote OF Miss Burdett C0utts.