Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-10

BETSY N SMITH
lLo1YVisht, re-. b. Mcclure Newspaper
EynGiCa.al

There WIS a gathering OF excite
young people at the station at Brsnt
wood waiting for the arrival of thu
$40 train. They were all CT school
mates of Betsy Ann Smith, who had
left the town four years before TO at
tend an exclusive boarding school anf
finish her education.
During that time she had been hons
only once, and made q very brief visit
When the train drew In they watch
ed each arrival eagerly and sav Q
young lady, who seemed TO resemble
Betsy Ann. But could this be Betsy
There was hardly q trace of the sweet
Unaffected girl they had known in THU
radiant creature. whose clothes mads
all the others seem shabby. She had
grown very pretty. and ns she descend
ed the steps many admiring glances
followed her.
Some peach" said one young fell
low to another.
"Tll be her meal ticket" said anoth'
er.
The little group was s~peechiess for
q moment. but John Russell broke the
ice by stepping forward and putting
out his hand saying. Hello. Bets You
sure do look nne."
Cab me Bettina. please" she said
~ she coolly shook hands.
"Oh gee groaned Rob White. "she's
finished all right" Rob had been her
special attendant In days gone by and
had expected to continue In hat en-
pacity, but her manner e%ffectuaily
squelched any hopes ne had entertain.
ed.
Her GOODNESS put a damper on their
spirits, and they walked along rather
silently, rhe thousand and M ques-
tons they intended to ask her nipped
Ia the bud. She left them with an IN
vitation to come to q party the follow
Ing week and every one accepted. The
party was a great success. and soon
Betsy was the most popular girl Ia
town because Of the many new ideas
she had gathered while at bdsrding
school.
Rob Whites dropping spirits had re-
vived somewhat and he timidly offered
to escort her home n evening. She
accepted because as the son of the
wealthiest man in town be was the
most sought after by the other girls.
One day In August. when he heat
seemed almost ~unbearable, Mrs. Smith
had a large ironing TO do. mostly for
Betsy.
Betsy denr.' she said (she had re-
fused TO call her Bettina), I'D like
your help today. l shall never get
through without some assistance"
"Oh mother" sighed Betsy. "you
know today is the day Of the picnic at
Pine Grove. ] have charge of It and l
simply mus. be there"
VERY WELL" said her mother. After
she had gone Mrs. Smith sat down and
wept. Oh why did she have such a
selfish daughterf And yet she knew
that she had been weak and indulgent.
Then a thought came to her and soon
q plan had formed which she hoped
would cure her willful daughter.
When Betsy returned she fonnd the
ironing untouched and her mother in
bed.
Mother, are you sick?"
81 seem to feel so tired that 1
thought O few days rest In bed might
help me-"
I'm call Mrs. Courtney, mother.
She's So kind ! know she VIII help us
out
mo. Betsy, I've decided not to bother
our n~eighbors. You are quite old
enough to take a little care on your
shoulders"
Betsy went slowly into the kitchen.
There was no way out. She would
have TO get along until her m6rsier was
better. swell" she thought, 81 may as
well get something TO eat, for I'm
starved.
"Oh here are some chops mother In
tended for supper. I'll have the chops
and potatoes and some OF this cake
with Strawberries anG cream. and that
viii do nicely"
Not having the slightest Idea about
the time required to cook them she put
on the potatoes. Started the chops and
went into the garden to pick some
roses. Becoming absorbed In her task
she forgot all else until her mothers
voice aroused her. Then she rushed
into the kitchen only TO ind that the
chops were black. and that the water
had boiled away from the potntoek
and they too were burned.
The tears rolled down her cheeks
and she felt utterly discouraged. But
after that things went better and in a
few days she found that she was r>ai-
ly beginning to like IT.
And then one Observation-Disclosures
day Betsy was In the midst of her bak-
Ing when there came a knock at the
door. Thinking IL was the g~rocer's boy
she called come In"
The door opened and IN came Rob
White. He stopped and looked nt her
IN amazement. and there was some
thing In his glance which sent the color
into Betsy's cheeks until they were
red as roses.
Then he laughed and said. do look
at yourself In the glass. Betsy" She
looked and saw q rosy face with q
smudge Of -four on lose and cheeks
and chin.
"Well. when you have got through
laughing perhaps you'd like to try a
of my doughnuts.-
Am. Goods" said Rob. Then
drawing her TO him he said. Betsy