The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-05-15
AUNT BETSY'S PRESENT.

''Woll, must say / think it is horri-
bly, moan of your Aunt Betsy, Estella.
After making such favorito of you all
your life, and having you with her oyer
since you woro q nero baby, sho might
have sont you something worth having
on your twenty-tirst birthday, especial
ly as she knows how poor we arc since
your fathers death" said my mother
sharply.
"You had better take it rs q hint for
tho future, and not build any moro cas-
tics on what Aunt Betsy is likely to do
for you,' remarked my sister Lena,
while Waltor. my only brother, added,
with provoking grimace:
"Horo cndeth my sister Stolla's
great expectations
"You mood not make such unpleas-
ant remarks" l answered pcttishly.
"In sending me the portrait of her old
sweetheart, poor old auntio has given
me her greatest treasure, and she, no
doubt, thinks | shall value it rs much
as sho docs"
"Well, it may come in useful, after
all for if, as expect, you mover get
sweetheart, you can imagine he was
yours. when you arc sour old maid
like Aunt Botsy," said Lena, who prjd-
cd herself not - little on being engaged
at eighteen. while l. ut twcnty-onc, had
never had m offer, not even tho ghost
of lover.
l had lived with Aunt Betsy down in
her quiet country home in the south of
Cornwall until my fathers death two
years before, when coming up to Lon
don for his funeral, found my mother
left in such straitcncd circumstances
that folt it my duty to stay and earn
what money could to help her; there
Dy, however, l incurred Aunt Bctsy'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 I have had nil the troub-
le of you as n child" ctc, etc.
would willingly have returned, for
close London lodging was not at all
to my taste after my aunt's largo airy
country-housc, but my mother seemed
to lean on me, and so to dread my
leaving her, that l had not tho heart to
60.
Aunt Betsy neither camo nor wrote,
and l had quite resigned myself to the
idea that l was hopclcssly on her black
books when tho above related event
took place.
Now l knew that was forgiven. In
her early youth Aunt Betsy, then tho
beautiful Elizabeth Marston, my IA
ther's only sister, had been engaged to
tho son and heir Of wealthy London
banker.
He had been sent abroad, on business
for his father, just before they were to
jealous treachory of another man who
madly loved her. and wished to sup
plant his rival, the engagement had
been suddenly broken off by him.
He then remained abroad, and Aul
Betsy never heard from him again.
just before he left England, he had
presented her with beautiful little
miniature of himself set in gold and
diamonds, and this she had kept, to-
gether with her maiden-namc-no 9TH
or lover over induced her to change it,
AS girl, had often seen and rover
ontly admired the pretty souvenir, and
had taken all girls keen interest in
tho loVc-story attached to it, Aunt had
always told me it was to be mine, and
now felt certain with this treasure in
my possession, that had not quite lost
my old place in her favor, though I
heard in the Same lcttor in which she
solemnly commended the portrait to
my care, that she had adopted an or
phan girl iii my place rs her compan-
ion and probable heiress.
put tho letter and portrait away
with sigh Of regret for my old happv
homo, with its quiet and freedom from
tho toll and care and worry that were
now my daily portion.
Things wont on from bad to worse
with us, and my twenty-second birth
day found mo in despair.
Walter. unable to got on here, had
gone to New Zealand; Lena had mar
ried on n very slender income, and
gono to live in the North. / could not
bond to ask help from Aunt Betsy, and
my mother was i'll, and my work SO
scarce that I could barely find us In
tho necossaries of lifo.
AT last, too, became i'll, and VIC had
not q penny in tho house; everything
we mad, even poor mammals ongagc-
meat ring had gone for food.
otelia. you must go and get somo
money: Mrs. Burton says She will
nave Inc rent by tomorrow, or wo
81, Snnll nave 10 turn out into the street.
nero ls-would you mind, dearp-
your Aunt Betsy's present; you could
goe ea;oug9, =, Tor that to keep US for q
Mamma dear, cannot, dare not
SOL seil II! Anything of mino would with
hold, but this oh, don't ask mep'
"And yet tho generous donor bae
never sent us tho price of n loaf" said
my mother bitterly. "Well, take NV
%eddlng-ring; it has never been off nv
nhgor since your poor dear father mt
~ on, twenty-five years ago; but it must
-, no, no, mamma, you must not, Won
snto sneo not take it of: will 90 and
!"&o eunt's present, not to soil, but to