The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-04

FROM THE NEW YORK OBSERVER.

as OF the untasted delights of the
"little journey in the world" which
he and Dolly had planned. How could
he give it up just TO crafty an old
woman Dolly's gentle voice went
"Aunt Betsey would 30 enjoy this
visit with her old friend She has
never had any real big pleasure In all
her life. She worked hard even when
@ little child. She had a drunken
husband; her only child w~as~drowned
she had sickness, poverty and toll.
Yet she has been 80 brave and sunny
through 1t all! You and 1 are young
and strong, Dave. We can afford to
wait q bit for our outing. This big,
beautiful world isn't going to melt
away before we have another chance
to take our bicycle trip"
WELL" said Dave, good-naturedly,
shave we got enough money to have
her go to Digby Junction Fare is all
right, but her clothes ? L don't know
whether it costs as much, though, to
dress an old lady as 1t does q young
one. Seems to me they don't have
quite as many furbelcws |"
Dolly laughed merrily.
Aunt Betsey isn't e~xtravagant In
her tastes. We could get her two new
dresses-a nice black silk and a pretty
sateen, and these with her gray cash
mere for travelling would do. Then
she needs q new cape-her old black
shawl 10 rusty-and u new bonnet, an
rubbers, and some nice crepe lisse
%kerchiefs. o, we could fix nor up very
presumably and pay her fare, and still
have some money left over Now what
do You say, brother mine ?"
Dave drew o long breath.
" am willing, If you are, Dolly.
It'll be a tough thing giving up our
trip this year, but then, dear old aunt
Betsey! Won't she just beam when
she knows she Is going to visit her
beloved crony, Nancy Ann %
And aunt Betsey did beam" Her
brown face was radiant with smiles
from morning till night. And her joy
wasn't lessened by any knowledge that
the twins had made o sacrifice. Her
first demur at the expense of the trip
was met by the assurance from Dolly
that she and Dave hadn't borrowed
or begged it," and that it was meant
to be spent in having a jolly time"
1t was a long journey for the old
lady to take, but as 1t happened, some
acquaintance ere going along the
same route, and they ,cbeerfully volun-
teered TO see aunt Betsey safe at her
destination. And when the train
moved away and the sight ola wrinkled
hand wearing q black silk mitt and
vigorously waving a handkerchief in
farewell was lost to view, and Dave
and Dolly turned homeward, their
faces were very sober for usually Sc
merry a pair. But it was caused less
by their sacrifice than by the parting
from their old friend and the realiza.
tion of how lonely the house would be
without her. But, as Dave turned q
woebegOne look toward the vine-covcr.
ed porch in which STOOD the empty
rocking chair. his y e were dazzled
by a silvery CLEAN.
"Why-ee |" he exclaimed in as
constituent.
And then he and Dolly stared. Fol
there, leaning against the steps, were
two pneumatic tires and the network
OF shining spokes-two new "Colum
bias !" Each bicycle bore a card, ant
as the twins rushed forward in breath
less amazement they read go,
Dave" and For Dolly" "One goot
turn deserves another {"
And while they "Ohed" and "Ahed,'
and laughed and shouted over thes,
beautiful new gifts, the lady boardel
sat upstairs softly smiling. She wa!
happy and thankful, too, for only !,
few days before, q letter had come
telling her that most of the ~propert,
that she had thought irretrievablI
lost, was not lost after all She was
rich woman still-albeit a much wise,
one. She had learned that the sweetes
power of wealth is to make other
happy. She mad proved this, for til,
shining :" Columbus downstairs wer,
gifts celebrating the recovery OF he
own good fortune.