The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-11-15
AUNT BETSY AND AUNT KITTY
Or, the Two Valentines;
BY s. CLEMENTINE KENDALL.


ed like mile in length, and Aunt Kitty
like milestone; for the former was
tall and angular in person, while the
latter was short and her circumference
was wonder to behold. 1t would
have been quite an expedition to have
travelled around her. Aunt Betsy was
regular snap dragon. Her thin lips
were ever opening to let out some snarl-
ing cur that was yelping for liberty at
its portals. She was not unlike a spite
full cat. Aunt Betsy had arrived at the
age called uncertain, very-forty-
which suppose means when a woman
cannot determine to certainty what
her age should be.
There was time, years ago, though
you would hardly believe it, when Miss
Betsy Bent was considered fine look
ing girl and by no means sour-looking.
All! That was when young Will
Wood used to come over after his days
work was done (for he was a farmer
and lived a short distance from Squire
Bent's) and chat with Miss Betsy.
But soon a change came; for Will
told his love, and at the same time sig
nified his intentions of starting for the
gold regions in a month, hoping, as
many had before him, OF gaining for
tune IN a year or so, and return TO
claim his bride.
Vowing eternal fidelity to each
other, Will went; but the tickle god
dess, Fortune, favored him not and so
he toiled on from year to year, and
time began to plant burrows on the
brow of Miss Betsy, and disappoint-
ment cast shadow over her face; and
she found herself turning her second
corner.
At length news came from the hard
working lover. He was sick; and he
spoke gratefully of one, daughter of
his landlady, who was nursing him.
Months passed away, and came letter
stating that the lovers feelings had
changed-in short, that Edith Mil
burne who had nursed him through
his illness had won his affections; and
the writer begged to be released from
his engagement, asking the wronged
ones forgiveness. Miss Betsy. in a
few cold words, granted it. Then she
grew cold to ALTO mankind especial
ly.
Then came more changes. Both
parents fell a sacrifice to a prevalent
disease; and she and her brother INV
father) ten years her senior, and
Kitty. five years her junior. were left
with sufficient means to support them
comfortably.
Aunt Kitty chow I love to linger
over that name, for loved her) a
short time previous to the commence
ment of this sketch, had received the
tidings of the death of Capt Warbeck,
her lover, to whom she had been be-
trothed for five years. She felt his
loss deeply, but murmured not at the
dispensation of Providence. Aunt
Kitty was not unlike her namesake,
viz: cat; for she had kind of purr.
ing manner, and was ever humming
some old tune when about her work.
Everybody loved her, for she was as
merry-hearted a woman as one might
wish to see.
"Ahem! so you have got valentite,
and at your time of life, too, Kitty. 1
am ashamed of the fooleryr' exclaimed
Aunt Betsy, spitifully biting off her
thread and elevating her nose.
''Oh, sister, beg of you. 1 am so
happy"
"Fiddlesticks! Happy because some
person has seen fit to ridicule you?"
''Oh, Betsy, it is a letter from T homas
and believed him dead all this time,
and now he lives, Oh. dear, I am so
glad" and Aunt Kitty's soft blue eyes
were filed with tears of Joy.
Don't believe it! somebody sent
it for SPORT" jerked out Aunt Betsy.
mo, Betsy, it is his handwriting
I should know it anywhere. Read it
Betsy"
"Well, wouldn't have believed it,
Kitty, had it not been for this letter.
Humph! now l 'spose you'll marry him
and leave me alone" said Aunt Betsy,
in a faltering voice.
'Oh, no. Betsy, we will all live to-
gether; he says so, you know. and
why as live, there's valentine for
you, and at your time of life, too,'"
said Aunt Kitty, with twinkle in her
eye, as she picked up an envelope from
the floor. ''How careless of me. When
the carrier gave them to me, l must
have dropped yours
Her sisters hand trembled as her
eye caught the superscription on the