Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-10-01
Aunt Betsy's Present.

IDLY mean Of our Aunt Retsy, Estelia
After making such favorite Of you al
your life, and having you with her ever
since you were a mere baby, she might
have sent you something worth having
on your twehty-first birthday, especial
ly as she knows how poor We are since
your fathers DEATH" said my mother,
sharply.
"You had better take it as hint fol
the future, and not build any more cas-
ties on what Aunt Betsy is likely to dc
| for you, remarked nv sister Lena.
Walter, my brother, added with a
provoking grimace.
"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 auntie has given me
her greatest treasure, and she, no
doubt thinks I shall value it as much
as she does.i'l
swell, 1t may come in useful, after
all, for if, as I expect, you never get a
sweetheart, you can imagine he was
yours, when yon are sour old maid
like Aunt Betsy" said Lena, who pri-
ded herself not little on being engag.
ed at eighreen. while l, at twenty -one,
had never had an offer, not even the
ghost OF a 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 comm up to Lon
don for his funeral, found my moth
or left in such Strengthened circum-
stances that felt 1t my duty to stay
and earn what money could to help
her thereby, however, I incurred
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 I haye had all the trouble
of you as child" etc.
/ Iwonld willingly haye returned, for
a close London lodging was not at all
to my taste after my aunt's large, airy
country house, but my mother SEEM
ed to lean on me, aud so dreaded my
leaving her, that / had not the heart to
90.
Aunt Betsy neither came or wrote,
and had quite resigned myself to the
idea that was hopelessly on h.r black
books when the above related event
took place.
Now knew that I 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 a wealthy Lon
don banker.
He had been sent abroad, on business
for his father, just before they were to
have been married, and through the
jealous treachery 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 Aunt
Betsy never heard from him again.
just before he left England he bad
presented her with a beautiful little
miniature of himself set In gold and
diamonds. and this she had kept, to-
gether with her maiden name-no
other lover eyer induced her to change
it.
AS a girl, had often seen and re-
verently admired the pretty souvenir,
and had taken all girls keen inter-
est in the love-story attached to it.
Aunt had always told me it was to he
mine, and now I felt certain, with
this treasure In my possession, that I
had not quite lost my old place In her
favor, though l heard in the same let
ter i'm which she solemly commended
the portrait to my care. that she had
adopted an orphan girl IN my place as
her companion and probably heiress.
Iput the letter and portrait away
with sigh of regret for my old happy
home, with its quiet and freedom from
the daily toll and worry that were now
my portion.
Things went on from bad to worse
with Us. and my twenty-second birth
day found me in despair.
Walter, in despair, had gone to New
Zealand Lena had married on very
slender income. and gone to live in the
North. / could not bend to ask help
from Aunt Betsy. and my mother was
| ill, and my work SO scarce that | could
barely find us in the necessaries of life.
Atlast, | too, became Ill, and we had
not penny in the house everything
we had, even poor mammals engage
ment ring had gone for food.
ssStella, you must 90 and get some
money. Mrs. Burtou says she will
have the rent by to morrow. or she
shall have to turn us out into the
street. There is would you mind,
| H.. q ~o,,~ A uoE Pofcus, nrocnut