The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-06
Observation-Disclosures
MONDAY FEBRUARY 6
?. DON'T TELL BETSY JANE.
"And for your life don't tel Bets;

7 u SbC.
Mr.. NicOdemus Harding, having utter
ed this caution in a low earnest tone of
voice, alightcd from n Concord wagon in
trout of his own farmhouse door, and
stood there for few moments in brown
study, Watching the figure of his brother
in.law and lawyer, as be drove back to-
ward the village Of W, whence the
two men had just ccme.
! "Dou'ttell Betsy Jane
Now, Betsy Jane wos Mt Nicodemus
tIardiug's wife-a stirring, noble soul,
who made more butter and cheese, and
took more eggs and fowls to the city mar
ketiiu the course Of a season.. than any
otherawomnu for miles around Strong,
Ehealthy and hearty, she made tie house
! work fy," to use her own energetic ex-
preston and il Mr.. Nicodemns Harding
owned his farm that day, and was ''Bell
to do in fact rich 10 boot. il was
owing in no small measure to the skill.
energy, economy, and general goaheada-
tiveness Of his Betsy Jane. What as it,
then, that the unsratefui man wa, not
about to tell her. a7i''r'
"It would never DO. never thought
Nicodemus to himself, shaking his head.
/ "She'd be wanting new carpet, or a
new silk gown, or the house all painted
over, or some such nonsense. No, the
woman is the weaker vessel. and it won't
do to trust one too far. Their heias will
not bear it, SD . 5ls
| So Dir Sicodcmus passed through the
house, and out toward tho barn, With the
'prc-occupied air Of hen who has an egg
to, lay, and don't know where to hide
from the eyes of mankind to the best ad.
vantage. The kitchen was empty and
silent as ha went through it, But oh. il
he could but have seen the buxcm, good
looking female who stole silently out of,hc
pantry, and as silently followed him on
his way TO tie barn.d ,7 "If "l.'a
Mrs. Harding eaho back in Abou,
twenty minutes or SO, with face red
from suppressed laughter a.aa
"Don'ttsll Betsy Jane she said, gig
Cling into her ginghum sprOn You
are a very smart man, Nicodemus and
my brother, Tim Woes is another, and
lawyer into the bargain 'Don'ttell Bet
sy Jane indeed. Two vretches, you de-
serve all you'll get pretty seou.'
Betsy Jane said no more, but bided her
time. a week. passed away, and then
brother Tins wagon drove up rgaiu to
tho door, and Sicodcmus stepped into il
and vas off to the village again. Betsy
Jane had asked 20 60 in vain. Nicodc-
mus was bound on busiuess-"busines.
which woman could not understand,
he lofrily explained to her. So, after
watching her lord and master we'll out of
sight, Betsy Jane went about business
0
that woman could understand, With a
merry twinkle in her bright black eyes
At / p, VI. Nicodemus returned home
again, looking quite as important as be-
fore. lie tip,oed along through the
house, Betty Jane watching him from the
corner of her eye the while. lie passed
on, into the she'd. a fragrant smel of
smoke came forward to meet h;ul-an
oaOr Of turning c0rD-cobs and gradually
curing ham. a7ar
Nicodemns turned deadly pale, and ran
frantcially forward to find FIRE smoul-
dcring in the ash.house, aud large ham
or two, covered by blankets, hanging
placidly there. The yell he gave brought
Betsy Jane from the house instanter, to
find Nicoicmus groveling before the ash
hole door, weeping and wailing and tear
ing his hair, and uttering yell after yell
Of anguish and despair. 'a1- .7F '
"Wby bless me, what's the matter :?
Are you in ft? Let ma run for the.
camPhor.' shricked Betsy Jane.
"camPhcr! Bring arsenic! Bring
prussic &C d I. Bring pison Of some kind
-pison-pison--p -pison /" yelled Nicode-
mus, franiically.
Woman, you have ruined mo =
Twelve thousand dollars. in govern ment
bOuds did | put in that ash-hole for safety
just week ago, and you've gone and
burned them up to cook that cursed ba-
con. Pison-pison-pisou, and let me
60 out Ofthis dreary world"
"Oh, go that was what You were not
going to tell Betsy Jane Aih't you
ashamed Of yourself, Nicodcmus Hard
ing?"
Nicodemus could not answer. He laid
PROSTATE in tho ashes and howlcd.
".Grt up, and don't be fool" said
Betsy Jane, amiably. II heard you and
brother Tim conspiring that day at the
ash-bole. and soon found ont what vou