Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-02-03

ter's fair face down for kiss. "Oh, my
Ally, how bewildering it isl rich, and you
engaged l shall always believe in puddings
for the future. Marian is the only one left
out"
Don't despair 1t wouldn't surprise me il
some man all tattered and torn made his ap-
pearance at any moment" said Marian.
Besides, she has half Of all we have, said
Aileen.
"Half of Jim ChaunceyY Thank YOU" re-
piled Marian, grimly. Solomon himself
would find it rather difficult to effect that am
icable division. No, my dears, poverty is my
portion witness the fatal thimble-and l am
quite content"
Great was Mrs. Durkie's surprise aud great
her triumph at learning what wonders her Gu
linary spell had wrought Her satisfaction
was only msrred by the tidings that her lodg-
ers must leave her soon. They had decided
on San Reno for the spring months.
"And indeed would never have made any
pudding at all, had guessed what it was to
cost me" protested the good landlady. "But
you'll write, and let me know what comes to
you, 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
80 yourself now, ma'am p
"Of course you have and you shall hear"
promised Marian.
But spring and summer passed, and autumn
was well under way before a letter with the
American postmark came to satisfy the good
landlady's curiosity. 1t bore date, New
York, November, 12."
"MY DEAR Mrs. DURK1R" $50 it ran, ,-"I
hope you have not forgotten us or our prom
ise to write. 1 meant to have done so before,
but thought you would be too disappointed
to hear that the pudding 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 a
month later my sister Aleen was married.
She is settled now in her pretty new home,
and is very well and very happy, and hopes
you got the cards she sent out to you. En-
my, who you will like TO hear is quite strong
again, spent the summer with me in Colora-
do which is the most beautiful country you
can imagine, with such mountains and park
like valleys aud such air as cannot be describ-
ed. Colorado, you know, is a state in the
far West, almost as far from New York as
you are in the Isle OF Wight. Now VIC are
come eastward again, and are staying with
Aileen for a while, until-here comes my
news, and, as you will see, the pudding was
true prophet-until 1 am married, as 1 ex-
pect to be on the 10th of next month, to Mr..
Robert Ramsay, whom we met at Estes Park
last July. He is a ranchman, that is, sort
VI buetp lhTlutI, huu All BOluB DhCh Win
him TO live in Colorado. Our house will be
pretty rough for the first year or two in
fact, it is sort of cabin, built entirely of
wood and partly of logs, with no paint or
plaster, and 1 suppose would seem rather
poverty stricken to some people; but we
hope to improve it in time, and meanwhile
we have beautiful hills to look at, and a splen-
did climate, which, together with youth and
fair prospects, make a very pleasant sort of
poverty, as 1 think. 50 you needn't be at
all sorry for me, or regret the pudding, for
if could put that thimble back again with a
wish, assure you 1 wouldn't; and am not
only contented, but proud of the fate it has
brought me.
my sisters join me in kind regards, and I
am, dear Mrs. Durkie, Yours most cordially,
MARIAN RAND.
"The blessed young thing that she is ="
calculated Mrs. Durkie, wiping her eyes as
she finished the letter. "Well, let folks that
will doubt that old saying about the pudding
never shall again. It's made my young la
dies fortunes, true as life, and I mean 10
keep on making them as long as live. "-Hdr.
per's Bdzdr.