Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-22

of you that gets that in her slice Is sure to
have some'at left her in the course OF year
and day as a legacy like. The ring means
husband of course and the thimble Is
poverty. All, Miss Rand, you are laugh
ing, see but I've known II to come true
more times than one. The pudding seldom
misses"
al call this exciting said Aileen. " Now,
Mrs. Durkie, carve the pudding for us, and
give each slice.
al have the ring" said Aileen.
"And do believe-you, here is the six
pence" declared Emmy, fishing the hot lit
tie disk out daintily from the burning sauce
III am to be the rich one, it seems"
al have nothing at all. That seems
hardly fair" announced Marian. At that
very moment her fork encountered hard
substance--the thimble.
"Well, that is the most curions," cried
Mrs. Durkie. al never before heard of all
three things being drawn except there was
large party, and the whole pudding was
served. Well, I'm sorry you've got the
thimble, Miss Rand but there's some sorts
of poverty that's as good as riches, they say
and hope your sort will be of that kind"
"What good creature that is !" remarked
Aileen after she had gone. 1.-THE English
are very nice, MINK.
$50 they are, and it was really jolly
idea to put those things in. 1t makes a
plum-pudding really interesting"
at is all very well for you, who did not
happen to draw the thimble," remarked
Marian, severely. al am not sure that |
find the pudding so interesting. 'Poortith
cauld is an old acquaintance; l don't care
to have him freshly introduced TO me-"
Altogether, the pudding was great sue
cess, and the christmas in lodgings
ended much more cheerily with the Rand
sisters than 1t had begun.
The next week drifted by, and now it
was Twelfth Night. Marian went to the
post in the afternoon, and returned rosy and
elated, with quite bundle of letters.
"Three letters for you, Aileen, two for
me, with lot of newspapers, and for you,
Emmy, this thick blue envelope, which looks
business like. Then she tore open her own
letters, and soon became too much absorbed
to notice the faces Of her companions, till
double exclamation caught her ear, and
made her look up suddenly.
marian, what do you think-the pudding
has come true" cried Emmy.
"Oh, Marian-the pudding see what has
come Of it " exclaimed Aileen. Then they
stopped, and regarded each other with won
dering eyes.
"What is it7" demanded the astonished
Marian.
al don't know what Aileen's news may
be, but listen to mine. Only think-I drew
the sixpence, you know, and here is letter
from old Mr.. Wickham, the lawyer, to say
that cousin Emilia Storrs is dead, and has
left me twenty thousand dollars, because of
nv being named after her."
"Twenty thous- Why, that is news |"
cried Marian. "Why, my darling, now you
can go to the Riviera Just as we wished
How delighted I am You will get well
there in just one minute; am sure of it
am sure of it. Aileen, how queer you look
Have you had fortune left you too ?"
"No, not fortune" replied Aileen,
slowly. al didn't draw money, you know.
l drew-the ring "-blushing beautifully.
ayes. Well, what is it2 What are you
growing so red aboutp Aileen, speak don't
keep us in suspense"
"Girls," said Aileen, am going to con-
fess something that will surprise you good
deal. You won't be vexed with me- will
you? Promise in advance that you won't"
avery well, we promise; only make
haste aud tell" said Marian, on fire with
curiosity.
dwell, then, when Jim Chauncey went to
China, three years ago, promised to marry
him whenever he was able to come home
and ask me-"
The sisters stared at her speechlessly.
at seems mean never to have let you
know" went on Aileen, rapidly, "but it
was a very far-away sort of dream to me,
and just then came the beginning of
mothers long sickness, and then Emmy fell
ILL.,, and there seemed so much to think
about and worry over that couldn't bear to
add this to the rect, or make you feel that
had any hopes or plans apart from yours.
And in fact hadn't. 1t might be for years,
or it might be forever, for all | could tell, be-
fore jim would be in a condition to claim
my promise. But here he writes that all is
suddenly changed. The New York partner
of the firm is dead, and they have decided
to send Jim back to take his place. We
must 60 home, dears, as soon as the warm
weather is fairly come, and it is safe for
Emmy. Jim will reach New York in June,
and he wants to be mari mean, to see
meas soon as possible after he lands"
DWELL, | never was knocked quite SO fiat
in all my life BEFORE" said Marian recover
ing her speech with a sort of gasp. "One
such surprise in day would be almost too
much two is too utterly too. You wretched
little humbug who ever would have sus-
pected you of secreting an engagement all
this while ? But you were an angel of I'M
selfishness not to nope, and not to tell u.s."
giving Aileen an energetic squeeze. at
would have added to our worries dreadfully
to feel that you only half belonged to u.s.
1t was just like you, Aileen."
$50 it was," added Emilia, drawing her
o;a Oh fa;r 60 F1r N III %
Ally, how bewildering it isl rich, and you
for the future. Marian is the only one left
out"
"Don't despair. 1t wouldn't surprise me
if some man all tattered and torn made
his appearance at any moment" said Marian
"Besides, she has half of all we have"
said Aileen.
"Half of Jim Chauncey2 Thank you,"
replied Marian, grimly. "Solomon himself
would find it rather difficult to effect that
amicable division. No, my dears, poverty
is my portion-witness the fatal thimble-
and am quite content"
Great was Mrs. Durkie's surprise at learn
ing what wonders her culinary spell had
wrought Her satisfaction was only marred
by the tidings that her dodgers must leave
her soon.
"And indeed would never have made
any pudding at all, had guessed what it
was to cost me- protested the good land
lady. "But you'll write, and let me know
what comes to you, Miss Marian, won't
you I've the right to hear. Don't you
think 80 yourself now, ma'am ?"
"Of course you have; and you shall
hear" promised Marian.
Autumn was well under way before let
ter came to satisfy the good landlady's Gu
riosity. 1t bore date, New York, Novem-
Der l2"
my Dear Mrs Dtirkie" $50 1t ran ),-"I hope
you have not forgotten us or our promise TO write
meant to have done so before, but thought you
would be too disappointed to hear that the pud
| ding charm had In my case failed, and produced
nothing at all. And till lately this seemed to be
| the truth. We got home on the Goth OF May, and
| just month later my sister Aileen was married
| She Is settled now in her pretty new home and Ii
very well and very happy, and hopes you got the
like to hear Is quite strong again, spent the sum
mer with me in Colorado. which is the most beau
tiful country you can imagine, with such noun
tains and park-like valleys and such air as canno
| be described Colorado, you know, Is a state II
| the far West, almost as far from New York yoJ
are in the Isle OF Wight Now we are come east
| ward again, and are staying with Aieen for
| while, until-here comes my news, and, as yot
will see, the pudding was a true prophet-until
| am married, as expect to be on the 10th of mex
| month, to Mr.. Robert Ramsay, whom we met a
| Estes Park last July He is a ranchman, that Ia
| a sort OF sheep farmer, and am going back witt
him TO live In Colorado. Our house will be prett,
rough for the first year two In fact, 1t Is sor
OF cabin, built entirely OF wood and partly OF logs
| Wi N IA al INT MI nd lam