Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-05-07
Offence and Defence.

Ga the whole, he was Il good sort
Of man, although. like many OF
his class he was easily led away
from the paths of virtue ty evil
companions. For a week he
would return every night by SIX
o'clock to the cottage for tea, and
on The eight dly would not turn
up until two in The morning.
Wi-h this exception he was thor
oughly Unrestricted in bis tastes.
and drank less beer and brought
home more money than any OF
his workmates. His wife was II
pretty little woman, who had sac
riliced a comfortable home to, take
linn for her husband
1t was SIX o'clock on an Oato-
Der evening. Mrs. Dalton had
| laid the tea things, and Mary was
playing on the rug in front OF the
fire.
Now, then. my DEAR" said
Mrs. Dalton, ''Ieave your play a
lone, and fetch me the tea caddy,
while | get the kettle. Your f.
Their will be here directly"
81 Mary went to the cupboard
to fetch the tea. By and by Luke
came in, lacking anything but
cheerful. However, he kissed
his child, and noddlng at Fanny,
sat down at the table.
"Any news, father asked his
wife, cutting large bunch Of bread
from the loaf tefore her.
"None," he replied surlily, Gun
less it be that | saw "a young
squire coming away from this co..
tage this afternoon.
"Oh, yes. Why, Luke, became
in here-what do you think of
that 2"
That fine gentlemen should
learn 20 know their places, and
keep from poking their noses into
poor mems houses"
she only wanted q light for
his pipe
IL would have given him some
thing more than that if l bad
been here" said Luke surlily; and
he gulped down = lot of hot tea.
Fanny rose from the table and
placed her hand on her husband S
shoulder.
"You can't be serious p she
said.
Il was never more serious In
my lite," he replied, looking side
ways, and away from his wife.
Dalton was silent, but he nod
ded his head angrily.
81 won't have it father-you
can't he serious. Why. my boy,
haven't I been good girl to you?
Don't love you with all my heart
and soul? aud you know it, silly
fellow, now don't your
She stopped down and put her
pretty ia e close to his and kissed
him. They were two poor home,
ly creatures; but human nature,
YOU see. is human nature all the
world over.
He was surIy for moment,
but for moment only, aud then
returned his wife's embrace.
Hang me, Fanny, but you are
right down good one, that you
are. and | was fool to doubt you. y
That you were" replied Fan
ny, laughing saucily.
But you see, my girl, you are a
deal too good for me.
"Of course | am"
"And when | think of your
pretty face, and how poor | am,
aud how much better off you
would have been in your fathers
hume-
Winding the cheeses and meas
uring yards of fannel-eh, you
goose 2"
well, what have you got iu-
stead of it p
"Why, you, Of course, although
you don't deserve to be told So
and little Mary, and dear little
cosy home"
"You are a good 'un, Fanny
There, my girl, mark my words
so long as I live / shall never be
! Jealous again"
jealous! Why, you great big
stupid, don't you think / would
stick to you before any one -?
Why, Luke, If the Shah OF Persia
was to come here and offer to make
me Queen of Arabia, what do you
think / would say2 Why,
would send for a policeman, and
give him in custody for his impu'
dence, that / would, IS sure as my
name is Fanny Dalton"
''Of course but then, you see
that chap is a furriner, while