The record-union., 1898-03-01
AUNT BETSY.

A cold Southwestern blew hard into
the bay, and hurried the waves of the
incoming tide before its blast; higher
they rose and higher till their angry
names cleaned white against the dark
cloud lower. before they broke into a
Shrek along the pebbled shore.
Aunt Betsy's armchair was drawn
close to the window, and she sat gazing
apprehepsively through its misty panes.
It's dirty night" she remarked.
"A dirty night 18th a 'eavy ground sea
running! Ess! ess! 1 know ct es.
She turned around to us and repeated
with an abr of superiority, Il know ct
esi''
/ got up and looked through the win
dow out on the deserted promenade,
where the lamps fiickered dismally and
reflected themselves dimly on the wet
black asphalt. Then facing her, l nod
ded vigorous assent.
l lit two candles and put them on
the table; she watched me reproach-
fully, and. turning to the window with
sigh, asked:
Coin to put the blinds down en-"
Aunt Betsy never sits in the upper
rooms unless there is a storm or soma
unusual excitement in the bay. At
such times for sixty-five years she has
sat there. In the early years often
with a baby in her arms, straining her
eyes to watch for the "Cap'n." In
due course he gave up the sea, but still
she watched and thought of her sailor
boys who had gone to foreign parts.
Cap'n and boys all lie up in the
churchyard now, and Aunt Betsys eyes
are dim with age and tears.
All she said presently, 'et gives
me the miserables'-and turning TO us
again, she smiled apologetically.
Il can't offer to 'elp ee, my dear,
but time was 1 could sew's as wells
the best of 'em.
Law, when 1 was up to shop the
shirts I ave made! There was tn
Admiral's shirts 18th double frill down
the front. Ess, ess! And Mrs. Tonkin
up to shop I'D always say-'No one
can't do I'm like ee, Betsy.
Hers dead and gone, too. dead and
gonei I've seen 'em all go-ninety- tw 0
next birthday. Ess. essl a deaf old
CONAN no good to nobody:
Il don't know eff ever I told ee bout
the offer of marriage I ad when 1 was
up to shop? 1 feels eff I must talk to-
night to keep from thinking.
'Ee was mold gentleman retired
from business in London, where zee 'ad
been goldsmith, and 'ad made 'es for
tune. Being native of Cornwall, zee
come down to Helston to see 'es 'ome
there, and come to Penzance from there
from curiosity to see tn town.
'Ee sees me first one Sunday morn
ing. Bless me-, zee says to 'es land
lady. what es that young DOMAINS
name?'
Landlady 'old i'm my name was
Betsy william, and 'ow as 1 worked up
to Tonkin' shop.
" Els her married. says ZEE No.
says landlady; hers not married
Eff 'er'll go back to Lunnon es my
Wife says zee, I'll make a lady of 'er.
and 'erll ave coach horses, an every
think CONAN can wish for in 'er
art. l never before in all my life ave
seen the CONAN l could put to church
'Ee was mold man, bout sixty, nd
the landIady told me as there and then
ZEE sat down nd wrote the offer
What a beautiful letter twas! l
carried en- up to shop next day to show
en-, nd the gurls they said they wished
twas they. You won't speak t us,
Betsy; you'm be fine lady now
What, says I, marry mold man y
But I took tn letter to Mrs. Tonlxin,
nd she says:
Coorse ye're goin' to ave i'm, Bet
sy?'
Why, no. says. ave mold man ?
Not me-
=" WelPn, Betsy. you be silly! You'll
never get t'offer like ct again
" I'm not goin' t'ave mold man, no!'
Il wasn't engaged then, but I used 10
so out 18th the Cap'n when zee was ONE
from sea-'ee was mate then under
Cap'n Tregarthen.)
Silly says she again.
Mrs. Tonkin,' says /, do zee remenl-
Der the old 'Merican who came 'ome
from New York, i'm as built Brown :
Folly? Ee built eft for 'er as was TO be
'es wife zee told everybody. 'Ee looked
after tn buildin' ITSELF, an zee told tn
workmen to put good large room en- ct
for tn nursery. Twern't no secret
who zee meant t'ave. An Mrs Tonkin,
when time came for askin what was ct
you said? Twas, No. marry mold man
no. Nd l amt goin' t'ave mold one
neither
You're silly girl. Betsy! Nd you'll
live to be sorry for et'
q" 1 suppose, Mrs. Tonlxin, you've lived
t. be sorry for not 'aving the rich old
Merican gentleman?
No. says she, gettin' red. I 'aven't
done no such thing; but you're silly
all the same
SO / wrote TIL letter to say, No,
cuddn't think et, thanking i'm kindly
for askin'. Nd tn other gurls in shor