Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-06-05
Betty's Fortune.

Gracious goodness! Telegram 1Or
pa!' cried Betty Bunting, from behind
the counter of the little stationer's
shop,
"Pa, o telegram for you! Pa, do
hurryr' screamed Mrs. Bunting from
the back-parlor, where she was setting
the tea-table. ga telegram
"Pa~ cried Betty again. "Pa,
where are you?"
"Here!' cried voice from some
mysterious region below q trap-door in
the end of the shop.
And from the aperture 4 and
shoulders emerged.
Five black inks is broke, continued
the voice, "and it is all over the as
sorted initial note. Couldn't come be-
fore. Well, now ?"
ga telegram screamed Mrs. Bunt-
ing.
"Please to sign, sir, cried the mes
senger, presc nting his book.
Mr.. Bunting, having signed the book
walked into the back room to get his
spectacles.
The ink had spotted his nose and
daubed his fingers, and his countenance
was woe-begone.
Miss Betty looked after him and
sighed.
What's happened to poor pa now p
sho said to herself. "It's not any
thing good, of course"
Betty" screamed her mother at
that moment.
"It's something dreadful" said Bet
ty; and she walked into the back room
slowly, preparing herself for something
unpleasant.
"Look at that, Bettyv screamed her
mother. "Just read that. never
did. Before / was married, fortune
teller told me I should ride in my
! coach, hut l. never thought it would
come true. Read that, Betty
And Betty, seizing the open commu.
nication, read as follows:
"Mr. Yorrick Bunting, stationer, -
| Street, New York. Come to Blooms.
bury Immediately. Your uncle, Yor.
rick Bunting, is dead. You are his
sole heir, Fish & Schotcher, Blooms.
bury"
How much was he worth, pa p
asked Betty. t..."
Half million" said Mr.. Bunting
in queer voice. "What I am think.
ing. my dear, is this if it is true, them
there five blacks and that there dozen
of assorted note amt of no conse.
quence."
'" The whole shop amt of no conse.
quence," said Mrs. Bunting. "Drai
the shopl Betty, I suppose you'll have
to go and mind it. There's some one
knocking dreadfully."
Betty Bunting went into The shop
while her bustling mother hustled and
fidgeted her slow-going husband away
on his journey.
Her mind having taken in the idea oi
the great change in her circumstances
she was already trimming an imaginary
velvet polonaise with real lace, when 9
voice awoke her from her reverie with
a.
Betty, what are you thinking OFF,"
"Oh, dear, how you startled me
Tomw said Betty. " I'm making
goose Of myself, Isuppose. Pa is the
unluckiest creature in the world. II
can't be that he is worth money at last
but come in to ten, and we'll tell you
about it,"
So Tom, who was journeyman car
penter, and who had been engaged tc
Betty for some time, went into the back
parlor, and there, over tea and toast
decided that there could be no mistake
in the matter.
There, was no mistake. ....-
| The poor little, stationer who was nc
longer to be bothered by apprehen
sions of icing unable to make both
ends meet. '.
Miss Bunting could have as many
velvet suits as she choose; Mrs. Bunt
ing could ride in her carriage.
The young carpenter hardly knew
whether TO rejoice or 91isse.
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