The Van Buren press., 1871-06-13

DoN'r TELL BrrsEY JANE And for
your life, don't tell Betsey Jane
Mr.. Nicodemns Harding. having uttered
this caution in a low. earnest tone OF voice,
allghted from q Concord wagon in front
OF his own farmhouse door. and stoo thtlr
few inmates in brown study. watching
the figure Of his bro,her-ln-law aud the
lawyer. as he drove back toward the vii.
lags of w. whence tho Two mcn had
just come.
Don't tell Bstsey Janc"
Now. .Betssy Jane was Mr.. Nictdemns
Har,ing's wife. stirring, notable soul.
wac made more bulter aud cheese aul took
more eggs and fowl to market in the course
Of the season, than any other woman iol
miles around Strong. healthy and hearty,
she "made the housewoik fly, to use hen
own energetic expression; aud if Nicols.
mus Harding ownel his iarn that day,
and was well.to-do. in fact a iich man to
boot, in WAS owing in no small measure to
the skill aud energy ana general goa head
elnc,s Of hi' u, tsey Jane What was II
then. that tho unsrateiul man was uu,
about to tell her
"lt would never do, never - thought
Nitoieinu to himself. shaking his neat
She d lie wanting n new carpet, uj . nov
silk gown, or the house painted o,ru or
tume such uonseuse. No. the woman h
the weaker vessel. it woa't DO to trus; one
too lar Their heads won't bear it.
50 Mr. N,codemus passed through the
house, and ont toward the barn WIKI the
pre.uccupisd air OF u hen who has an egg
to lay, aud don't know where she can hide
it from the eyes OF mankind TO the best ad
vantage. The kitchen was cmply and ii
lent as he went through it, But oh ii he
could have seen the OuX0m. good looking
female who stole sien,ly unl ot the pantry.
aud as silently followed him Oh his way to.
ward the barn
Mrs Harding came back in about TWEEN.
~ minutes OF 50, with q lace red from sup
pressed laughter.
Don't tell Betscy Jane" she sa ID.
gigglinS into her usham apron. " You
are smart man. Nieolemus. and my
brother. Tim Noyes, is another, and Law
yer in the bargain Don't tell Bet>ey Jane
indeed Two wre.ches, you deserve all
you'll get pretty soon,
Betsey lane said no more. bu, biled her
time. A week passed away aud then broth
or Tins wagon drove up again To the door
and Nicodemus stepped into itan was oil
to the village once more, Dstsey Jane had
asked in vain ogo.
Nicodemus was bound on business
business which woman could not I'M.
d,rs,and, =" he loftily exclaimed lie. lord
and master. well out OF sight, Betsey Jane
went about that business woman could
not understand. with u merry twinkle in
her bright black eyes.
At four p, m. Ncodemus returned home
again. looking quite as important as be'"ie
lie tptoed along through tho kitchen, Bet
sey watching hlm in from the corner Of her
eve all the while. lie passed. ont into The
shed. a fragrant smell oi smoke came
forward to greet him-an odor OF burning
corn cobs gradually curing ham. N'code'
mus turned deathly pale, and ran l,antfcal'
ly forward to a large hire smoue.ing in til,
ash.house, and large ham or two covered
over by blankets. hanging plael!y there
The yell he gave brought Be.sey Jane from
the house instanter, to find Ntolcmu,
grovelling before the ash.house door weep.
ing and wailing aad tearing hi. hair, aud
u,,sring yell after yell oil despair.
"Why. bic ne what. the matter
are you in n fit? Let me run for the cam'
phor, shrisked Retsey Jane.
"Woman. you've ruined me Twelve
thousand dollars in goveinmcnt bonds did
] put in that ash-hoe ioi safety Just week
ago. and you've gone and burned them tc
eook that r,i.sed bacon. Pisen P,'eh
Pisen Ani let me got out OF ,ho dreaT.
world"
"Uf--s, that was what you were not go
ing to tell B..sey Jane! amt yea
ashamed OF yourself. Nicojemus Handing
Nirotemus could not answer. lie lai'
PROSTATE in the ashes snl howell.
Get up. and don't os n fool sail D,;'
sey Jane. smiably. II heard you auJ
brother Tim conspiring at the door that
day. and watched you 30 to the a,h.hole
and soon found out what you had hid away
there. Woman is the weaker vessel, II,
doubt, but .be don, put twelve thousand
dollars where tha frat match that come,
handy can burn i, url Here are the bonds
Nicodemus-for ten thousand. I've KEEP
two for my honesty"
Poor Nicodsmus lie gathered hmsel
up ont of the ashes. AMI took dis bonds
what MAS lett Of them. lie rather thinks
Il pays best, on the whole now. 10 tell Bet
sry Jane.