Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-05-23
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Aunt Betty, who Is not really an
aunt at all, but only very dear friend
Of mothers, has made her home with
us for over 20 years. She had been
with US ever since she lost her little
boy and her husband in forest fire
In Canada. One Of her ideas was
that some day her son would come
back. alive and strong, and that he
would marry Dorothy. She kept the
half of a coin that had been hers since
her courtship days. The other half
had been tied round the neck OF her
husband, who had vanished In the
smoke. She would fetch 1t out of its
hiding place every little while and
fondle 1t. saying: MY husband. I
shall never see again, but my son will
come and bring the other half of this
coin for Dorothy. just as his father
brought 1t to me-" ....
Dorothy. who is my sister, took 1t
all In good part, and never let Aunt
her future husband was mentioned.
One would have thought that Chad
wick was the last of people to cause
any disturbance In our quiet, well.
ordered life. He was an ideal chauf.
feur. clean, outstanding American Of
far above the average intelligence
Mother liked him because he never
drove too fast for her. liked him be-
cause he had sane views ON the tire
question. And Dorothy liked him. she
said. because he had q perfectly
straight nose. 3...: .sy. I'd
AS matter Of fact. there was moth
ing about Chadwick's nose to call for
the comment which used to exasperate
poor Cyrano de Bergerac. Neverthe-
less, either the nose or the fascina-
ton for motoring made Dorothy sadly
neglect her horses for the sake Of
the automobile None of US thought
anything of 1t until one day Dorothy
said she was going to see the John.
sons, who lived about 20 miles away,
and went of with Chadwick in the au-
tomobile, About half an hour later
Aunt Betty made up her mind that she
would like to 90 to the Johnsons' also.
l borrowed Tony soencer's machine
aud took her along. About ten miles
from home we came up with our own
car standing empty In the road.
l pulled UP and jumped out to find
what was the matter. We could see
no one. But 1t was a warm summer
day, and the soft breeze carried low
murmur OF voices from some bushes a
few yards from the road. walked
over to them. and came upon q scene
! shalt Lever forget until by dying
day. Dorothy and Chadwick we're
both seated on the ground. He had
his arm around her waist, and she had
luncheon basket in her lap. a..-.
Good heavens!" cried.
They both looked up. and then. see
Ing who was. they scrambled to their
feet. .., s..,.s.. 3. ... .sss..,. j, /.
Mercy sakes!" cried Aunt Betty,
who had followed me. After that there
was silence which Dorothy was the
first to break. u don't care" she said.
Il love him" l was wild with rage.
What right have you to touch her.
to SO much as look at herr" asked
Chadwick. "You-a greasy mechanic,
with your hands and clothes Shiny
with the oil of machines What sort
OF home could you give her? A
stucco dwelling in back street, with
the neighbors children clambering
over the front porch-the neighbors'
weekly wash Tapping In the back
yard!" He heard me out without
flinchtng. though ! could see every
word uttered hurt. When l stopped
for breath, he began to speak.
MY God. Miss Henderson. You don't
have to tell me all that I've been
lying awake nights thinking about it.
But what are we to do? We love
each other. swear to you ! meant
no harm. swear to you on the thing
hold most sacred" He was tug
ging at his neck as he spoke, and then
he drew from under his shirt the
half of a coin exactly like Aunt
Betty's.
= Where did you get that?" scream.
ed Aunt Betty. .,N ",
i've had it since l was boy i
remember my father putting It round
my neck just before he fell exhausted
from smoke on the banks Of river.
Before he died he put me on a sort
Of raft and hoated me down the
stream. remember his saying, Go.
take the old token to your mother.
lad was picked up furthed down the
stream. don't even know Who my
father was, but have been trying to
find my mother ever since" a.
my son. my son!" cried Aunt
Betty, and she tainted in his arms.
shall never forget the expression
on my mothers face when brought
Chadwick down to dinner with: me,
and introduced him as Aunt Betty's
son and Betty's fance.-Butfalo lex
press. u.. ..