The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-08-26

been told that Miss Shipper had been
sent for, and that her uncle declared
that he had left her something"
Every penny, no doubt" said Mrs.
Smith, thinking of her eldest son, and
of how well it would be for him to
captivate the heart of such an heiress
as that; and quite unconscious that the
young doctor had made up his mind
that he would at least see what the girl
was like, and, if she was presentable,
make an impression upon her.
And when, that evening, carriage
rolled up to the door, and a figure in the
finest mourning stepped out of it, not
only were the people in the block all at
their windows to see the heiress, but
the four gentlemen dodgers were in the
hall, the doctor at the carriage door on
one side and young Mr.. Smith on
the other.
As-for Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Petting,
they greeted her with display of white
handkerchiefs and tears edifying to
behold.
Miss Anna Maria was girl of
eighteen, not quite so pretty as she
evidently thought she was, who wore a
face of great glee and triumph under
her Grape bonnet and made no pre-
tence of sorrow.
The pocket handkerchiefs were
pocketed away very shortly after she
had declared that she never could see
anything but crustiness in poor Uncle
Shipper, and she was amazed that any
one should cry about him.
I" Pm going to show him every re-
/ oo,1
declare, you wouldn't believe how
much my mourning cost, and real jet
jewelry is as expensive as almost any
thing. I've got black fan, and not a
bit of white about me. Every respect
I'll show him. And black does become
me, I've such a fine color"
Mrs. Petting and l were saying
how well you looked in it, said Mrs.
Smith, and my Edward said to me-
"' Ma said he, / always thought
mourning was gloomy dress, but when
l saw Miss Shipper in it l declare I
thought it about the most becoming
style a lady could wear"
Which was your SOM" asked Miss
Shipper. Tie red-haired young
MANI"
ono, that was the dector," said
Mrs. Smith "My son has black hair
lovely black hair and mustache."
I'D like something to eat, said Miss
Shipper, " something hearty"
"Supper is ready for you," said Mrs.
Smith. knew you'd need it, miss. :"
And 1 suppose you won't want to
see the poor gentleman tonight" said
Mrs. Petting.
= no,ii ,ron+ 70 eoo hin, oil
did while he was alive, and don't see
why l should now he isn't" said Miss
Shipper.
'To be sure, it can't do him any
good" said Miss Petting.
"Of course not" said Miss Ship
pen. /" say, what did he say he left
me?"
&C. He didn't state" said Mrs. Petting.
81 expect it's the whole of his for
tune" said Miss Shipper. "I'm his
only relation. Ma and pa died when
was ever so little. Pa was his brother.
| never used to do as some people do,
either-never curried favor with him.
To be sure, no one ever thought he was
rich; but / used to torment him so.
That umbrella-my, how l used to
laugh at it! and his hat; but the UNI
brella most of all. He used to bring it
to the dinner-table, and be as precious
of it as if it was gold. used to make
frightful fun of it. And oh, how mad
he'd get! Especially when | asked
him if it was Mrs. Harris umbrella,
like Sairy Camps, you know"
"Eh?" said Mrs. Petting.
GA queer old thing in one of Dick
ems novels that went out nursing"
said Miss Shipper.
"Ah," said Mrs. Petting, highly Of
Tended, "and / think Mr.. Dickens
hadn't much to do to ridicule ladies
that are obliged to work for their own
living in an honest way, and an UNI
brella is very needful to such as 90 out
in all weathers; and, anyway, should
not cast up about any ones umbrella,
however old-fashioned, when the poor
dear was dead and gone. 1t may be
respectable and respectful for relations
not so much as to shed a tear for them
that's left them fortunes, but that ism It
the way | was brought up. No, I'm
proud to say it, if have come to nursing
in my elderly years, after living in
splendor and having the best Scotch
ale every day for dinner, and whatever
| thought of, as long as poor, dear Pet
ting lived" And Mrs. Petting bounced
out of the room.
"What temper" said Miss Shipper
"My! l wouldn't get along with her
Pm regular witch-always was-tease
and torment every one. Didn't l tease
old Uncle Shipper? My! | see him
now, banging his umbrella on the
floor and vowing to punish me; and
after all, Pm his heiress."
You ought to know my son." said
Mrs. Smith " He does love a joke
And Mrs. Smith shortly introduced
young Smith, after private warning
that the young lady liked fun.
Before this, however, the doctor had
introduced himself, and had been ia,
vored with an account of the practical
jokes which Miss Shipper had been in
the habit of playing on her uncle, and
few of her plans for the future, and
finding the girl by no means plain, and
very stylishly dressed, he had resolved
to make sure thing of it, and began
to make love at once.
Young Smith having also entered the
list, Miss Shipper had quite lively
little trip of it going to the funeral, fol
she flirted with both the young men al
once, and even at the grave only became
serious enough to remark that " it mus
ha horriI 10 1ia anI tbat IL noo roo