The Penn's Grove record., 1885-10-31


of lawyer-like ingenuity, she contrived
to elicit a great deal of information
about our domestic arrangements, and
she disapproved of everything she heard
Five of the seven days of her visit were
gone; and Tom, having arrived at the
same conclusion as myself, that, who
aver got Aunt Betsy's legacy, we should
not, began to wish tho other two days
were over, for the old lady was becom-
ing really unbearable. She seemed
deeply interested in the mine in which
small portion was invested, and my
husband appeared, l Thought, strangely
unwilling to give her any information.
On the afternoon of the fifth day, just
as l vas preparing to go out fora walk,
an old nan in a suit of rusty black,
carrying a shabby bag, called and asked
10 see Miss Clayton. Jane showed him
into the dining-room-not, as she after
wards said, without some misgivings
about the silver-and on hearing his
name my aunt fastened to see him. In
about ten minutes she came to the foot
of the stairs and called me.
"Nlece Frances, come hereln she
cried, in a high shrill voice; and, as I
looked at her face, l saw In a moment
that something unusual had happened.
"Thls is Macer, my man of business
and legal adviser, and he's just told me
that I've lost all my money. He tells
me l have been sWindled out Of every
penny l possess, and a good deal more
besides-that Craglands must be sold to
meet my liabilities, that Pm a house
less, homeless old beggar without a
place to lay my head. Is that what
you've told me, Macer?"
Precisely, ma'am, that's what I've
told you"
"Dear Aunt Betsy. 1 am sorryl" /
said earnestly; and l really felt truly
and heartily grieved for her.
"No hope of a legacy now, niece
Frances; so l suppose | may pack my
carpet-bag and take myself off as soon
as | p~leaseln
mo, indeed, aunt; you must not
think of leaving us till your affairs are
arranged; things may not be as bad as
you suppose; In any case you must ask
TOMS advice; he may be able to help
you'll"
81 don't know what to do" the old
lady cried, wringing her hands. "If l
lose Craglands, l shall be without a
home.'
"Not while I have one, Aunt Betsy"
I said laying my hand upon her Shout
ders. ''Come, cheer upl While we
have a roof to shelter us you shall share
it; and l know Tom will say SO too"
"Thanks, my dear; if you really mean
it and your husband says so too, lHl
not be so down-hearted. It's only when
trouble comes upon you that you learn
to know your friends"
Tom returned early that evening; and
before we went down to dinner L told
him of my aunt's misfortuneS, and my
assurance that we would never let her
want for a home.
THAT was like you, dear-your real
self, l mean,n he replied; sand | quite
agree with you that the poor old girl
must not want while we have anything
But, Fanny darling, misfortune it
seems to me never come singly; L have
been very anxious lately about that
mine in which Evans invested your
money. To-day the worst l feared has
come to pass; the concern has gone
smash, and l fear every fraction of your
three thousand pounds is gonel"
"Tom, you're joking; it can't be
truel''
"I'm sadly afraid it Is, dearl"
"But what shall we dor"
1.-THE best we can, darling. l must
work harder and you must be more
economical, tllat'sall. It's unfortunate
in one way that Aunt Betsy should be
thrown on our hands just now; but per-
haps it may be beneficial in another, if
you will only consent to take a few les
sons IN management and economy from
just at first l rebelled; but after a
little while | saw the force of Toms
argument. and tried to be more econ
omical. Finally, | ever condescended
to ask Aunt Betsy's advice and assis-
lance, and the result was wonderful. |
saved quite a fourth of my housekeep-
ing money, and we lived quite as well
as ever. A acknowledging In misfor.
tune drew us closer together, and |
began to see that my old aunt possessed
many excellent qualities l had never
gwen her credit for. Tom declared the
loss of her money had done her good,
and we certainly were no poorer for be-
frlending her in her trouble. Still, at
the end of three months Tom looked
and worried; no matter how
hard he worked, he was not able to
quite make up the deficiency in Il IN
come. He never complained or spoke
to me about money-matters, but | could
see that he was very anxious. | think
Miss Betsy saw 1t too, for Il morning
she surprised us at breakfast with the
intelligence that she was going away.
81 caue for a week, and / have
stayed three months, niece Frances. /
thank you for your kindness during all
that time, and you too, nephew. am
not so completely ruined as Macer said,
and am able to spare you a triie to re-
compense you for the trouble and ex-
pense to which you have been put,
especially at a time when you could ill
afford 1t; but l hope, niece Frances,
that you will think the lessons in thrift
and economy I've taught you the best
legacy you could receive from your
Aunt Betsy;'' and, laying q large en-
velope by Toms plate, she kissed us
both, and, in spite of all our ~ntreaties,
bustled away with her carpet-bag,
promising to come and see us another
time.
"What can be in the letter. TOMB
It's addressed to us both, with Aunt
Betsy's love. Do open it, dearl"
my darling, look here-bonds for
five thousand poundsln Tom cried in
amazement. "Do you think your aunt
has taken leave of her senses? Can she
mean us to have all this money?"
81 think so; she seemed sane enough,
Tom. But where did she get it? Oh.
here's q note-"An installment of Aunt
Betsy's legacy mot to be invested in a
mine); In grateful remembrance OF
'favors received"
my dear. she must have been try
ing us all the time, just 10 see how we
should act. 1t was part OF her plan, no
doubt; and | remember now she never
said she had lost her fortune-she only
said that old Macer told her So"
She deceived me most completely
Tom declared. Fancy the old lady
being SO artfull However, Fanny,
thouoh the none is as welcome as the