The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-01-06

C1mG, uUllIlleU 4AAlOluy 10
up the gas in the parlor. Now. Laura.
how about those dishes?
."They must be done tonight" de-
clared Mrs. Bell, tying a large apron
about her slender form. There won't
be a thing to do tomorrow except to
roast the chicken, heat up the puddinak
and cook some vegetables"
Laura went to the window that
opened on a fire escape and raised 1t.
Then she uttered a faint shrek Of
dismay and turned to her husband.
'It's gone!" she cried dramatically
"What-the p%udding?" Timothy ap-
preached the window and made a care
full examination Of the impromptu re-
frigerator. Nothing here; not a blamed
pudding Of any kind" he reported.
.Sure you didn't bring it inside and
forget about it,"
Laura opened the pantry door and
revealed it's cupboard-like interior.
There we're the plump chicken and tho
delicately tinted celery and the GRIM
son cranberry sauce and bowl of fruit.
but there was n sign of that snugly
bagged plum pudding that was to be the
chef d'oeuvre Of the Christmas feast.
The hour that followed was an ex-
citing one for the Bells. They searched
high and low, in the most impossible.
places, for the delectable pudding that
Laura had made, but in vain. At last
Timothy went down to the basement
and consulted the genial %janitor. who
listened with interest to his tale of
woe, but offered no solace.
1t was after z O'Clock OH Christmas
morning when Laura was awakened
by a ringing of the hall bell. Throw.
ing on a warm wrapper and thrusting
her feet into furry slippers, she has
tened into the narrow hall, careful not
to disturb her sleeping husband.
Laura opened the door the merest
crack and peered inquisitively through.
What she saw caused her to throw the
door open with cordial hospitality.
"Merry Christmas! Come in, do"
she said to the little brown girl who
stood there, looking rather pale and
frightened.
"For just a moment. There is some.
thing 1 must explain" She. slipped in-
side and sank into the chair that L.au-
ra offered. II know you will think 1t
strange that l have come, a perfect
stranger, but the janitor said you had
lost a pudding"
II have. Did you find it," cried
Laura eagerly. cts the greatest mys-
terry what has become Of it."
The girl smiled sadly. and a flush
Redeemed her cheek for a brief in
slant. and was gone. 81 shall have to
tell you about ourselves" she said.
with dignity. 80 that you will under
stand why we have eaten half Of
your pudding. We're all alone. both
of us, and we've had bad luck ever
since we were married. In September
Paul was taken down with typhoid
fever and lost his position rs book
keeper. He's just able to get around
now and look for work. and he hasn't
been at all successful. Things have
been going from bad to worse, and
we're going to move out the first OF
the year. We've been running low for
a long time, and for the last two days
we haven't had much to eat. so there
just milk or something like that. To
night before we went out the dumb
waiter whistle sounded. and when 1
opened the slide there was our bottle
Of milk. with a plum pudding in a bag.
II thought-honestly did-that some
body had sent it up to us, thoul
we're not acquainted with a soul her
aud SO l heated IT up. and we ate hal
Of it. 1t was lovely. A little while
ago the janitor came and inquired If
we'd seer IL plum pudding. SO ! came
right down to tell you. a s Paul Is
asleep. l don't know what to say to
you.'
Don't you dare say another word
about that pudding" commanded Lau-
ra. .'If you only knew how lonesome
we are today you and yonr husband
would come down and spend the day
with us. We were wishing we knew
somebody in the house here tn ask.
| I'm SO thankful about that pudding.
Why. IL l hadn't put 1t in the dumb
waiter instead of the fire escalH5ilsm
very absentminded when I'm hls::l
you would never have received 1t. ami
we might v hnve been acquainted.
Isn't it q blessed old pudding??'
These two lonely young women hug
ged each other de%lightedly, and after
ward Laura went to arouse Timothy
that he might accompany her to the
floor above. where the Robinsons lived.
and add his persuasions to benz
against the pride Of Mr.. Paul RobinaA.
son.
"You might find a position for him
in the Office. Timothy suggested his
wife hopefully. \
II think that win be easy.." prom
Used Mr.. Bell.
It was a-merry little gathering that
did justice to Laura's Christmas din
ner., The tragedy that was beneath
the eating OF half the pudding was
quite forgotten In the JOY OF the pres
emf and the hopeful outlook TOR the