Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-06-15
Don't Tell Betsey Jane.

DOQ' , 10lA DtJbty SAucs
"AND for your life, don't tell Betsey
Janer
Mr. Nicodemus Harding, having uttered
this caution in low, earnest tone OF voice,
alighted from Concord wagon in front OF
his own farm house door, aud stood there
a few minutes in brown study, watching
the figure of his brother-in-iaw and the
lawyer, as he drove back towards the vii
lage Of ", whence the two men had
Just come"
Don't tell Betsey janet"
Now, Betsey Jane was Mr.. Nicodemus
Hardings wife, stirring, notable soul,
who made more butter and cheese, and
took more eggs and fowls to market
in the course Of a season, than any other
woman for miles around Strong, healthy
and hearty, she made the Homework ny,
to use her own energetic expression; anu
if Nicodemus Harding owned his farm
that day, aud was well-to-do, in fact rich
man to boot, it was owing in no small
measure to The skill and energy, aud gen.
eral goa headativeness of his Betsy me
What was 1t, then, that the ungratetul man
was not about to tell herr
at would never do, never" thought
Nicodemus to himself, shaking his head.
" she'd be wanting new carpet, or NV
silk gown, or the house all paiuted over,
or some such nonsense. No, he won IN
is the weaker vessel it won't do TO trust
one tor far. Their heads won't b art
SO Mr.. Mic, demus pas ed through the
house, and out toward the barn. with the
pre-occupied air of hen who has al egg
to lay, and don't know where she can hide
1t from the eyes Of mankind to the best
advantage. The kitchen was empty and
silent as he went through it. But Ohl if
he ,ull have seen the buxom, good-look-
ing female who stole silently out OF the
pantry, and as silently followed him on his
way toward the barn.
Mrs. Harding came back in about twenty
minutes or 30, with face red from sup
pressed laughter
Don't tell Betsey Jane" she said,
gggling into her gingham apron. You
are very smart man, Nicodemus, and my
brother. Tim Noyes. Is another, and
lawyer in the bargain. Don't tell Bctsey
Jane, indeed! Two wretches, you deserve
all you'll get, pretty sOonf
Betsey Jane said no more, but bided her
time A week passed away, and then
brother Tins wagon drove up again to
and was of to the village once more.
Betsy Jane had ask, d in vain to 60.
Nicodemus was bound on business -
business which woman cOul not under
stand" he loftily exclaimed. He, lord and
master, we'll out of sight, Betsey Jane went
about that business woman could not
un ,erstand with merry twinkle IN her
bright black eyes.
At 4p m, Nicodemus returned home
again, looking quite ~ important as before.
He tiptoed along through thu kitchen,
Betsey Jane watching him from the corner
Vt her eye all the while. He passed out
into the shed A fragrant smell of smoke
came forward to greed him-an odor of
burning corn cobs gradually curing ham
Nicodemus turned deathly pile, sand ran
frantically forward TO large fire smoider-
Ing in the ash house, and large ham or
two covered over by blankets, hanging
placidly there. The yell be gave brought
Betse, Jaue from the house Instant, r, 70
find Nicodemus grovelling before the ash
house door, weeping AID waiIiDe q tear
ing his hair, and uttering yell after yell Of
despair.
why, bless me what's the matter !!
Are you ina lit ? Let me run for the cam
phor," shrieksd B t-ey Jane
"Camphor Bring srs' hic Bring poi
son of some kind poison yelled Nic,-
demus frantically.
"Womsn, you've ruined me Twelve
thousand dollars in governme t bonds did
put in tn It ash-hole f,r safety just n
wee K ago, and no W you' We gone and burned
them to cox that cussei bacon Pison !!
Pison Pison ! And let me get out OF
the dr. airy world"
"Oh-so that WAS what you were not
going TO tell Betsey Jane |! Amt you
ashamed Of yourself, Nicodemus Hard
ing ."
Nicodemus could not answer. He laid
PROSTATE in the ashes and howl d.
"Get up and don't be 70 j +" said Bet.
sey Jane amiably. Il heard you aud
brother Tim conspiring ut the door that
day, AID | watched you go ~ the a-h-hole,
and soon found out wnat you had hid away
there. Woman il the w, aker vessel, no
doubt, but she don't put tw I've thou and
dollars where the first match that comes
handy can burn itupi Heresre the bonds,
NicOdemu--for ten Thousand I've kept
two for my honesty"
Poor Nic.,demus He gathered himself
up out OF the ashes, and took his bonds
what was left of them He rather thinks
IL pays best, on the whole now, TO tell Bet
sey Jane.
THERE is fence standing In German
town IA, which was in It's present loca-
tisn in Revolutionary days, AID bars
m .rks of thu battle thers. The boards
were origin lily one inch in thickness. but
CO stant exposure To the weather FIR a
century has reduced them t. one-ihird Of
that.
a p-vrroua VOI.un "A h.nt b OK.