Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-12-30


Although, what with the surprise and
the fun, the pudding was great success,
and the christmas III lodgings" ended
much more cheerily with the Rand sisters
than it had begun
The next week drifted by, and now it
was Twelfth-Night, festival with little
meaning to American cars. With the
Rands the day was chiefly remarkable
for the expected arrival of a belated Amer
lean mail. 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. / wonder
who can have sent it = Then she tore
open her own letters, and soon became
too much absorbed to notice the faces of
her companions, till double exclama-
ton caught her ear and made her look
up suddenly.
Marian, what do you think-the pud-
ding has come true q cried Emmy.
"Oh, Marian-the pudding ! see what
has come OF it !" exclaimed Aileen. Then
they stopped, and regarded each other
with wondering eyes.
What is it 2" demanded the astonished
Marian.
II don't know what Aileen's news may
he, 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 my 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
wishedl How delighted am! You will
get well there i'll just one minute; L am
sure of it. Aileen, how queer you look
Have you had fortune left YOU too?"
NO, not fortune" replied Aileen,
slowly; II didn't draw money, you know
| drew-the ring - blushing most beauti-
fully.
Yes. Well, what is it? What are
You growing SO red about? Aleen,
speak don't keep lis in suspense
Girls. said Aileen, Il am going to
confess something that will surprise you
good deal. You won't be vexed with
ms, will you? Promise i'll advance that
you won't.
Very well, we promise only make
haste and tell, said Marian, on fire with
curiosity.
"Well, then, when Jim Chauncey
went to China. three years ago, | prom
ised to marry him whenever he was able
to come home and ask me-
The sisters stared at her speechle ssly.
'.lf saAIt,s moan nava1. M buN-a laf X-ptl
know, went on Ailcen, rapidly. But
il was IL very far-away sort of dream to
me, and Just then-iust after he sailed
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 rest, or make you feel
that | had any hopes or plans apart from
yours. And in fact I hadn't 1t might
be for years, or ii might be forever, Tor
all | could tell, before 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 his place He will
have an ample income, and-and, III
short, We must go home, dears, as soon
as the warm weather is fairly come, and
it is safe for Emmy. Jim will reach
New York i'll June, and he wants to be
mari meant to see meas soon as pos
sible after he lands.
"Well, | never was knocked quite SO
flat III all my life before. said Marian,
recovering her speech with a sort of gasp.
Zone such surprise in day would be
almost too much; two Is too utterly too
You wretched little humbug who ever
would have suspected You of secreting
an engagement all this while? But you
were an angel of unseltishness not to
NOPE, and not to tell Us, giving Aileen
an energetic squeeze. ''It would have
added to orlr worries dreadfully to feel
that you only half belonged to us. 1t
was just like you, Aileen.
80 it was" added Emilia, drawing
her sisters fair face down for kiss.
"Oh, my Ally, how bewildering it isl
rich, and you engaged / shall always
believe in buildings 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 Chauncey? Thank you,
replied Marian grimly. Solomon him
self 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 and
great her triumph at learning what Won
ders her culinary spell had wrought
Her satisfaction was only maIred by the
tidings that her dodgers must leave her
soon. They had decided on San Reno
for the spring months.
"And indeed | would never have made
any pudding nt all, had guessed what
it was to cost me" protested the good
landlady. "But you'll write and let me
know what comes to y0u, Miss Marian,
won't you? Something will before the
years out, depend upon it. And I've
the right to hear. Don't you think SO
yourself now, ma'am?" ?"
"Of course you have; and you shall
hear" promised Marian.
But spring and summer passed, and
autumn was well under way before let
ter with the American postmark came
to satisfy the good landlady's curiosity
1t bore the date, "New York, Nov. r."
"MY DEAR Mrs. DURKIE $50 it
RAM" hope you have not forgotten us
or our promise to write | meant to have
ln,,o - I,oF1,o I,,,t I .,.o,,11