The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-01-29
AUNT BETSY'S PRESENT.
BY ALFRED CRAYoN.

.Me ell, must say think it horri-
bly, mean of your Aunt Betsy, Estslla.
After making such favorite of you
all your life, and having you with her
ever since you were a baby, she might
have sent you something worth having
on your twenty first birthday, especial
ly as she knows how poor we are since
your fathers death" said my mother
sharply. gresg4s.
You had better take 1t as a hint
for the future, and not build any more
castleson what Aunt Betsy is likely to
do for you," remarked my sister Lena
Walter, my brother, added, with
provoking grimace.
'tHere endeth my sister Stella's
great expectations.
"You need not make such unpleas-
ant remarks / answered, pottishly.
''ln sending me the portrait of he:
old sweetheart poor auntie has given
me her greatest treasure, and she, no
doubt, thinks shall value it rs much
rs she does
"Well, 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 sour old
maid like Aunt Betsy" said Lena,
who prided herself not little on being
engaged at eighteen, while l, at twen-
ty-one, had never an offer, nor even
the ghost OF lover.
i 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, | found my
mother left in such straitened circum-
stances that felt it my duty to stay
and earn what money could to help
her. Thereby, however, | 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 | have had all the
trouble OF you as u child" etc.
would willingly have returned, for
a close London lodging was not at all
i country house, but my mother seem
leaving her that had not the heart to
go.
Aunt Betsy neither came nor wrote,
and | had quite resigned myself to the
idea that l was hopelessly on her
black books when the above related
event took place.
| Now know shat | 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.
l He had been sent abroad on busi-
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 supplant his rival, the en-
gagcment had been suddenly broker
off by him.
He then remained abroad, and Aunt
Betsy never heard from him again
just before he lcf, England he hac
presented her with a beautiful little
miniature OF himself, set in gold ant
diamonds, and this she had kept, to
gether with her maiden name--no 9th
er lover ever induced her TO chang,
it.
AS a girl had often seen and rev
ercntly admired the pretty souvenir
and | had taken all girls keen in
tercst in the love story attached to it
Aunt had always told me it was 10 b
mine, and now l felt certain, will
this treasure in my possession. that
had not quite lost my old place in he
favor, though heard in the same let
ter in which she solemnly commcnde
the portrait to my care that she ha,
adopted an orphan girl in my place a
her companion and probable heiress
put the letter and portrait ava
with a sigh of regret for my old HAP
py home. with its quiet and freedor
from the daily toll and worry tha
were now my portion.
Things went on from bad to wors
with us, and my twenty-second birtl
day found me in despair.
Walter had gone to New Zealanc
Lena had married on slender ir
come and gone to live in the North.
could not bend to ask help from Aur
: Betsy, and my mother was ill, and III
work so scarce that l could barrel
supply us the necessaries of life.
At last l too, became ill, and "
had not penny in the house; ever,
thing we had, even poor h4amma' S el
gagement ring, had gone for food.
, "stella, you must go and get son
money. Mrs, Burton says she wi
have the rent 10 morrow or we wi
y have to turn out into the street. The
is-would you mind, dear?-yol
Aunt Betsy's present; you could e
: enough for that to keep us for loI
time.n
. mamma, dear, l can not, da
4 not sol! it! Anything Of mine wou
not withhold. but this oh, don't q
mer'
= M.sAnd yet the generous doner h
.. never sent us the price of loaf. y sa
my mother, bitterly. well, take n
=. wedding ring; it has never been off \
3 finger since your poor, dear, faith
u put it on twenty-five years ago. but
must 20 now.