St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-22
AUNT BETSY'S PRESENT.

and having YOU with her ever since you were
mere baby, she might have sent you some
thing worth having on your twenty-frst
birthday. especially as she knows how poor
we are since your fathers death.'' said my
mother sharply.
seYou had better take it as hint for the
future. and not build any more castles on
what Aunt Betsy is likely to do for you," re-
marked my sister Lena, while Walter, my
onIv brother, added, with provoking grim
ace:
''Here endeth my sister Stella's great ex-
pectations.'"
''You need not make such unpleasant re-
marks" l answered pettishly. SIN sending
me the portrait of her old sweetheart, poor
old auntie has given me her greatest treas
ure, and she, no doubt, thinks 1 shall value
it as much as she does.''
''WeH, it may come in useful after all, for
If, as / expect, you never get a sweetheart,
you can imagine he was yours, when you
are a sour old maid like Aunt Betsy" said
Lena, who prided herself not a little on being
engaged at eighteen, while I, at twenty-one,
had never han an offer, not even the ghost
of lover.
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 London for his funeral,
l found my mother left in Such straltened
circumstances that 1 felt it my duty to stay
and earn what money 1 could to help her;
thereby, however, 1 incurred Aunt Betsy's
anger.
CHI GkT,Nr1 hrnt oTl6
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 child"
etc, etc.
would willingly have returned, for
close London lodging was not at all to my
taste after my aunt's large airy country
house, but my mother seemed to lean on me,
and so to dread my leaving, her, that had
not the heart to 90.
Aunt Betsy neither cam nor wrote, and L
had quite resigned myself to the idea that L
was hopelessly on her black books when the
above related 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 London banker.
He had been sent abroad, on business for
his father, just before they were tohave been
married, and through the jealous treachery
of another man who madly loved her, and
wished to supplant his rival, the engage
ment had been suddenly broken off by him.
He then remained abroad, and Aunt Betsy
never heard from him again. just before
he left England, he had presented her with
q beautiful little miniature of himself set in
gold and diamonds, and this she had kept,
together with her maiden-name-no other
lover ever induced her to change it.
AS girl, had often seen and rcverently
admired the pretty souvenir, and had taken
all girls keen interest in the love-story at
tached to it. Aunt had always told me it
was to be mine, and now 1 felt certain with
this treasure in my possession, that had
not quite lost my old place in 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 in
nv place as her companion and probable
heiress.
put the letter and portrait away with a
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 birthday found me in
despair.
New Zealand; Lena had married on a very
slender income. and gone to live in the
north. 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, and we had not
penny in the house; everything we had,
even poor mammals engagement ring had
gone for food
''Stella, you must go and get some
money. Mrs. Burton says she will have the
rent by to morrow, or we shall have to turn
out into the street. There is-would you
mind, dear?-your Aunt Betsy's present;
you could get enough for that to keep us for
long time"
''Mamma dear, cannot, dare not sell it
Anything of mine l would withhold, but
this-oh, don't ask mer'
''And yet the generous donor has never
sent us the price of loaf,' said my mother
bitterly. "Well, take my wedding-ring; it
has never been off my finger since your
poor dear father put it on, twenty-five years
ago; but it must go now"
''No, no, mamma, you must not, you
shall not take it off. l will go and take
aunt's present, not to sell, but to the pawn
shop; then l may, perhaps, get it back
when Walter sends us some money"
With heavy heart and weary tagging
steps, departed on my hateful task. All
our things had been sold, we had preferred
to lose them to going into that last disgrace
full refuge of the destitute, a London pawn
brokers'
Arrived outside, I paced to and fro, until
my tottering limbs, weak from illness and
continual fasting, warned me that my
strength would not hold out much longer.
l entered. Only one other person, tall
dark gentleman, whose face | coald not see
in the semi-darkness, stood there talking to
the shop-man.
81 tell you, my man, the plate is here. 1t
has been traced by clever detective, who
will join me here in few minutes. He is
only delaying because he thinks he has
traced the thief, and has gone to follow up
the search.''
''Well, sir, am sure you are mistaken,
but my principal will be here in few mo-
ments, you must talk to him. What can I
do for you, young woman?" he asked, turn
ing to me somewhat eagerly, evidently glad
Of an excuse to evade his unpleasant visi-
tors conversation.
Unable to speak, I drew forth my treas
ure. The shopman looked suspiciously at
me as he took it up and tested it.
''Your name and address, please" he said
sharply. And how much do you want?''
az want "a little money, if you please,'
] faltered.
AS I spoke the gentleman turned, and I
could feel a pair of bright keen eyes scan
ming my pale face. grew more helpelessly
confused, my tongue absolutely refused to
utter word.
''Tel the shopman how much you want,
and your name, my good GIRL he said in
kind and pittying tone.
Then, for the first time, I raised my eyes to
his face feeling hot I Ind found q friend