Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-03-28
AUNT BETSY'S PRESENT.

y
baby she might have sent you some
thing worth having on your twenty
first birthday, especially when she
knows how poor we are since your
fathers death, " said my mother sharp.
ly.
''You had better take it for hint
for the future, and not build any more
castles on what Aunt Betsey is likely
TO do for you" remarked my sister
Lena, while Walter, my only broth
err, added, with a provoking grim
ace:
"Here endeth my sister Stella's
great expectations.
you need not make such unpleaS-
ant remarks" | answered pettishly.
''In sending me the portrait of her
old sweetheart, poor old auntie has
given me her greatest treasure, and
she, no doubt, thinks | shall value it
as much as she does"
well, it may come in useful after
all, for if, rs | expect, you never get a
sweetheart, you can imagine he is
yours, when you are sour old maid
like Aunt Betscy," said Lena, who
pridcd herself not little on being en-
gagged at eighteen, while |, at twenty
one, had never had an offer, not even
the ghost Of n lover
had lived with aunt Betsey down
in her quiet country home in the south
of Cornwall until my fathers death
two years before, when coming TO
London for his funeral, found my
mother left in such Strengthened cir
cumstances that | felt it my duty to
stay and earn what money | could to
help her; thereby, however, | incur
red Aunt Betsy's anger.
Surely" she wrote, "your brother
and sister can help your mother; you
have no need to leave me lonely
in my old age, after | have had all
the trouble Of you as a child" etc.
etc
l would willingly have returned,
for n close London lodging was not at
all to my taste after my aunts large
airy countrynousc, but my mother
seemed to lean on me, and so to dread
my leaving her, that ! bad not the
heart to go.
Aunt Betsy neither came nor wrote,
and | had quite resigned myself to the
idea that | was hopelessly on her
black books when the above re lated
event took place
Now | knew that was forgiven. In
her early youth Aunt Betsy, then the
beautiful Elizabeth Marston, my
fathers only sister, had been engaged
to the son and heir of wealthy Lon
don banker.
lie had been sent abroad, on bust
ness for his father, just before they
were to have been married, and
through the jealous treachery of an
other man who madly loved her. and
wished To SupplAul his rival, ihc en-
gagement had been suddenly broken
oil by him.
He then remained abroad, and
Aunt Betsy never heard from him
again Just before he left England,
he had presented her with a beautiful
little miniature of himself set in gold
and diamonds, and this she had kept,
together with her maiden -name-no
other lover everinduccd her To change
it,
AS girl, had often seen and
rcvercntly admired the pretty souve.
mir, and had taken all girls keen
ii. Aunt had always told me it was
to be mine, aud now | felt certain
with this treasure in my possession,
that had not quite lost my old place
III her favor; though heard in the
same letter in which she solemnly
commended the portrait to my care,
that she had adopted an orphan girl
i'll my place as her companion and
probably heiress.
put the letter and portrait away
with sigh of regret for my old happy
home, with its quiet and freedom from
the toll and care and worry that were
now my daily portion.
Things went on from bad to worse
with us and my twenty second birth
day found me i'll despair.
Walter, unable to get on here, had
gone 10 New Zealand Lena had mar
ried on a very slender income, and
gone to live III the north. 1 could not
bend to ask help from Aunt Betsy,
and my mother was i'll, and my work
SO scarce that could barely find us in
the neceSsaries OF life.
At last, | too, became i'll, aud we
had not II penny in the house; every
thing we had, even poor mamma 5
engagement ring had gone for food.
stella, YOU must 60 and get some
money. Mrs. Burton says she must
have the rent by tomorrow, or we
shall have To turn out into the street.
There is-would you mind, deari-
your Aunt BetSy's present; you could
get enough for that To keep us for a
long time"
Mamma dear. cannot, dare not
sell it Anything of mine l would
Withhold, but this-oh, don't ask me =
And yet the generous donor has
never sent us the price of loaf" said
my mother bitterly. We'll, take my
wedding ring; ii has never been off my
finger since your poor, dear father put
it on, twenty five years ago; but l,
must so now"
mo, no, mamma, you must not,
you shall not take it off. will go and
take aunt's present, not to sell. but to
the pawnshop, then | may, perhaps,
get it back when Walter sends us some
money
With q heavy heart and weary lag
giug steps, | departed on my hateful
task, All our things had been sold,
we had preferred TO lose them to go
ing into that last disgraceful refuge
of the destitute, London pawnshop
Arrived outside, l paced TO and fro
until my lettering limbs, weak from
illness and continual fasting, warned
me that my strength would not hole
out much longer.
l entered. Only one other person, 6
tall dark gentleman, whose face ]
could not sec in the semi-darkness
stood there talking to the shop-man.
Il tell you, my man, the plate is
here. 1t has been traced by clever
detective, who will join ne here in 6
few minutes. He is only delaying be
cause he thinks he has traced the thief
and has gone to follow up the search.
well, sir, am sure you are mis-
taken. but my principal will be here
in few moments, you must talk tc
1. j r..