The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1910-05-28

The Test.
By Mrs, Anstriss Nichols


Bell lFlppeu happily up the stairs
to ner room, humming under her
breath some gay little air. She felt
very light-hearted tonight, for would
she not be able on the morrow to
put SIS in the bank? Her bank &C
count was accommodating very slowly,
to be sure, but wasn't it splendid to
have $50 in the bank, and to have
glorious health besides?
She stopped before her door in as
tonshment. 1t was slightly ajar, and
light shone out. into the hall. Who
could be waiting TO see her, she
wondered. AS she entered tiny
woman with soft white hair rose from
a chair and came forward very tim
idly.
why. Auntie!" cried Beth. why.
Auntie May!"
Il didn't know just how 'twould be
takin' you unawares," said the wom-
an.
IT'S all right, you dear old auntie,"
declared the girl, giving her relative
a monstrous hug. I'm SO glad to
see you once more. But there's
hardly any need of my saying that,
for you know that / am. How did
you happen to leave the FARM"
Il got tired of stayin' down there
all alone-it amt the same place
since your Uncle John was took
away, and so thought I'd come up
here: / went first to see Jim's folks.
but there didn't seem to be no place
for me there, and then l went out to
Margaret's, but nobody there had
much use for an old woman, and then
| thought of you. And now that I'm
here, you don't know how much good
it does my old heart to have some
one glad to see me-
You shall stay here, Auntie May,
just as long as you want toll
don't see why you can't stay here
i~,a Wen have a delight
full time together"
''Oh, you don't-know how-thank-
full | am said the woman. brokenly
The rest didn't have no use for me
they know what hard place I've
been in with the mortgage on the
farm and everything. But l might
have known my little Beth would
welcome me-it's just like her."
why shouldn't II" asked the girl.
smilingly. Weren't you always
lovely to me when l used to come
down to see you during my school
vacations? And now we'll plan what
we shall do. First, have you had any
supper?'
"Yes," returned her aunt. 81 had
somethin' to eat just before l come
here, SO you don't have to bother
about that"
There's no bother about anything.
SO you mustn't say SO, auntie,' de-
cEared Beth you are to stay with
me. and we're going to have hne
times, and you must mind me-"
The woman laughed softly. "You
do cheer a body up so. Why,
amt felt so happy for years. little
Beth"
The two sat up late that evening
making plans for the future, and
when they retired at last it was the
elder woman who fell asleep first.
Elizabeth, with a sinking heart, faced
the situation fairly for the first
time.
she doesn't dream I'm only get
ting IS a week" thought the girl. i
can use the SIS l planned to put |
in the bank tomorrow. She could |
nc help signing. But after that |
Il gone ! don't know what we're go /
ing to do. / got along quite well
on my wages. but with another to
look out for it's different thing. But /
how selfish / am. Tn sure that ev-
erf hing will be all Fight, and that |
shrTs regret It."
With this comforting thought Beth
sr Tell asleep.
The days that followed provea to
be trying ores for Beth. At hrst