Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-01-04

been derived from an estate of her late hus-
band. but now proved TO have been the
liberal yearly allowance Of wealthy uncle
of his-died with her; and little Miss Jems,
after the funeral expenses were paid, found
herself and her maternal grandmother "a
dear old lady, with ga bee in her head 1t
must be confessed, but bee that never
stung) left 10 begin the world anew with
but hundred odd dollars and a small house
full of furniture.
Mrs. Jems had been of an easy-going, Sc
cretive, apathetic nature obeying implicitly
the command, "Take no thought for to-
morrow" and strange as il may appear, had
never given even the slightest hint of the
real state of affairs to her daughter, who
was but three years Of age when her father
departed this life, and who by-the-bye, re-
sembled her mother in no respect; aud so,
as may well be imagined, when the dis
closure came, little Miss Jems was much
surprised and COMPOUNDED.
She had been looked upon in her neigh
borhood quite in the light of an heiress, and
had been wooed by "the butcher, the ba-
ker, and the candlestick-maker," to speak
POLITICALLY, and last, but not least by great
deal, by the handsome young builder-just
admitted to partnership with his father
who built the row of cottages, in one OF
which the Jemses lived.
l don't mean to say that it was entirely
on account of the fortune which it was
thought she would inherit that so many
came a-wooing the heroine of my story. Oh
no, indeed, for her face was a fortune in it.
self 1t was one of those pretty, child-like
faces, with limpid hazel eyes, red pouting
lips, and pink dimpled cheeks, which one
longed to kiss as soon as one saw them, and
which everybody who could find the slight
est pretense for SO doing did kiss as soon
after seeing them as possible.
"Just as though l were babyl' said lit
tie Miss Jems one day to her intimate friend
Miss Serena Sloo. "And hate it, and I've
almost made up my mind to strike the next
person who attempts it," And she stamped
her small foot and shook her small fist in
such a cunning way that Miss Sloo, who was
several years older than she, Immediately
crushed the pink cheeks between her hands
and kissed the pouting lips heartily.
Serena Sloo," said little Miss Jems, in
dgnantly, "you ought to be ashamed of your
self" And then imagine, in addition to the
pretty face, a wee figure, not very slender
on the contrary, delightfully."- plump-with
No. feet and No. 5 hands, and Pm sure
you will acknowledge that your "mind's
eye" never looked on fairer picture.
"Oh, she's daisy !" sang the butchers
boy while cutting steak for Aleck Wilmar-
tin, the young builder mentioned above
and so engrossed was he with the subject OF
the song that he cut the tough part OF
the steak twice as thick as he did the tender
loin, and as he handed it to his customer he
winked slyly, and said, d" Isn't she :"
Aleck frowned upon him, and left the
shop in dignifed silence, which went tc
prove that to two persons at least there was
but one "daisy" in that vicinity.
Little Miss Jems wept for her mother q
month and more, though, to tell the honest
truth, their affection for each other had been
less strong than usually exists between par
ent and child and then she dried her eyes
and sat down in her snug parlor, one bright
December afternoon, to consider ways and
means for the future.
Grandmamma was there too, in her owr
particularly easy rocking-chair, humIning
softly to herself, in the whitest of white
caps, adorned with the hutedest of fluteG
ruffles, with ball of yarn and a half. finished
stocking which she was rapidly finishing, il
her black alpaca lap. And while little Mis-
Jems was thinking so hard that tire
wrinkles were plainly discernible on her fai
brow, somebody came whistling up the from
steps. Miss Jems sprang from her seat, raj
to the door, opened it, seized the whistle
by the hand, and drew him into the dining
room.
Grandmamma is in the parlor," she said
"and she knows nothirg aborC the money
and, God willing SHE n .ver shall"
"Of course not, my DEAR" said Alec
Wilmartin, lifting her lightly and seating
her upon the 3iling-table, to her great vexs
ton.
"Take me down. | won't be treated thi
way, you great rude thing" she cried, erin
son with rage. "Take me down this in
slant" And the way she stamped her foo
(she was alwas stamping her foot abou
something or other) when once more on tn
foort's wonder that the heel didn't fly Of
the dainty slipper. al want to talk wit
sou as woman with a man." she continued
"not as girl chattering to boy"
Mr.. Wilmartin led her with mock solen
nifty to a chair, and seating himself besid
her. al am all attention. Proceed, Pig
con-"
"Pigeon, indeed " That's a fine way {
begin l shan't say word until you behay
YOURSELF; !" and little Miss Jems turne
away and gazed steadily out of the wi
dow.
"Miss Jems," said her lover, az am b
having-upon my word | am. And as yc
refuse to begin the conversation, I-talkir
as a man to woman-assure you that the
is not the slightest necessity for making al
change in your way of living. This hou
is mine, therefore it is yours, and as soon
you can make up your mind to let me con
and share it with you, the wedding ring w
be ready"
"And that's your idea of mans talk
woman - said little Miss Jems, viii
scornful emphasis. D." call it a mans ia
to a child-a good-for-nothing, helples
silly child. And | will not live in 70
house, Mr. Alexander Wilmartin, which
not mine. And you shall never put a we
ding ring on the finger of beggar.
there now |"
"Well, upon my word, you have got
temper of your own, Pigeon-Aliss Jems,
mean," said Aleck, retreating, in affect
terror, TO the other end of the room, TO
turn in an instant, however. But, if it
not too presumptuous on my part, may
beg your ladyship TO tell me what you
intend to do 2"
81 shall keep store, sir-a candy stor
"And eat up all the profits, to say no
ing of the stock, yourself ?"
Alexander Wilmartin, once for all,
you will not talk sense, 60 home"
"Violetta Jems, Familiarity known
Pigeon, rather than go home, promise
talk sense by the hour
"Well, sir, shall keep a candy store,
don't know how to do anything else to Ell
money, and that's easy, cause its mos
pennies that come in-though | can ms
change for a fivc-dollar bill with a Iii
studying-and as for grandmamma, 81
awful smart at figures; and I've found
very store. It's two miles away form he
catching him by the lapel of his CO
and standing on tiptoe. al wouldn't ST
business in this neighborhood for the VIC
-everybody'd tease so and there's lots
children there; and I'm going TO take
tomorrow; and we'll move in few day
"Thank you for asking my advice on
subject, Miss Jems. 1t was exceedin
kind Of you," said the lover with assur
sternness. And your grandmother, fl
whom you are 80 anxious to conceal y
change of circumstances and who col
from wholesale family, as she had
quently told me herself, what will she tn
Of this summary proceeding2"
al shall tell her, Aleck, | am doing it
fun"
"Doing it for fun2 Keeping confect
cry on very limited scale for amusemeI
ayes" replied little Miss Jems, node
her head cheerfully, and smiling brigl
Grandmamma has heard me say over
over again I'D like to keep candy 81
Aud can soon convince her that my ha
ness depends on starting one at once.