Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1872-01-18
NOBODY BUT JOHN.

the clack OF the Snuttlng gate Ieu on
my ears, and I looked at Maggy's S
soiled, untidy dress and tumbled hair
Maggy started and glanced hastily
from the window, then sat down again
in a careless way, remarking as she
did so:
'sIt's nobody but john
Nobody but John! And who do
you think that nobody was? Only
her husband. Nobody but John.
A few moments afterward John
Fairburn came into the room where
we were sitting, and gave me one of
his frank, cordial greetings. I had
known him for many years, and long
before his marriage. l noticed that
he gave an annoyed glance at his wife,
but did not speak to her. The mean
ing of this annoyance and indiffer-
ence was plain to me; for John had
come of neat and tidy family. His
mothers housekeeping had always
been notable; she was poor, but as
''time and water are to be had for
nothing this was one of her old
sayings-she always managed to have
things about clean and orderly.
Maggy Lee had a pretty face, bright
eyes, and charming little ways that
were very taking with the young men,
and so was quite a belle before she
got out of her teens. She had knack
of fixing her ribbons or tying her
scarf, or arranging her shawl or dress
in way to give grace and charm to
her person. None but her most init
mate friends knew of the untidiness
that pervaded her room and person
when at home and away from common
observation.
Poor John Fairburn was taken in
when he married Maggy Lee. He
thought he was getting the tidiest,
neatest, Sweetest and most orderly
girl in town, but discovered too soon
that he was united to a careless slat-
tern. She would dress for other peo-
pies eyes, because she had a natural
love of admiration; but at home and
for her husband she put on her old
duds and went looking often, ''like the
old scratch" as the saying is.
On the particular occasion Of which
l am speaking-it was after she and
John had been married over a year
her appearance was almost disgusting.
She did not even have on morning
dress-only a faded and tumbled
chintz sack above soiled skirt-no
collar-slippers down at the heels, and
dirty stockings. Her hair looked like
a hurrah's nest, if any one knows what
that isl don't; but suppose it is
the perfection of disorder No one
could love such q looking creature
That was impossible.
Nobody but Johnn / looked at
the bright, handsome young man, and
wondered. He ate his dinner in almost
silence, and then went back to his
work. I had never seen him so moody.
What's come over John % asked,
as he went out <A0~--
so, l don't know" his wife answer
ed. Something wrong. at the shop, l
suppose He's had trouble with one
of the men; he's foreman, you know
care you sure it's only that ?' !
asked, looking serious.
'sThat or something about his work.
There's nothing else to worry him."
I was silent for while, debating
whether good or harm would come OF
a little plain talk with Johns wife
She was rather quick tempered, ]
knew, and easy to take offense. Al
last I ventured tue remark
Maybe things are not just to his
liking at home''
AT home Z" Maggy turned on me
with flash of surprise in her face
"What do you mean p
''Men like beauty, taste and neatness
in their wives as well as their sweet
hearts" ] said
The crimson mounted to her hair
: At the same moment saw her glance
at looking glass that hung opposite
to her on the wall She sat very still
yet with a startled look in her eyes
until the flash faded and her face be
: came almost pale.
'.Maggy," said I, rising and draw
ing my arm around her, 'come n
stairs. l have something very seri
Gus to say to you"
We walked from the little dining
y room and up to her chamber i'll silence
then said:
"Maggy, want to tell you about
very dear friend of mine, who made
shipwreck of happiness and life. 1t
a sad story, but am sure it will inter
/ styou deeply. She was my cousin
and her name was
Maggy bent forward, listening a
tentively.
e ''What?' she asked, as 1 hesitate
on the name.
, "Helen."
mot Helen White, who marie
, John Harding, and was afterward d.
c serted by her husband ?"
"Yes; my poor, dear, cousin Heller
e 1t is of her l am going to tell you"
n 81 never knew why her husbar
~ went off as he did," said Maggy.-
y 'Some said he was to blame, and son
o put all the fault on her. How was it
o Both were to blame, but she most
8 replied. 81 Ohm Harding, like yol
:, husband, was one of the neatest al
most orderly of men. Anything UNI
II dy in his home or in the person
'e his wife, annoyed and often put hi
d out of humor, but he did not, as
st should have done, speak plainly
:, his wife, and let her see exactly he
~ he felt, and in what he would like
- - change. If he had done so, Hell
= would have tried-as every good w
- should-to conform herself more
of his taste and wishes. But he was
3 !; silent, moody sort of man VIII
"a things did not go just to suit hir
II Il and instead of speaking out plain
- -, brooded over Helen's faults, and We
:" " ried himself into fits of i'll humor
:" And what was worse than all, grew
:. length Indifferent to his house a
~ wife, and sought pleasanter surrour
ings and more attractive compa