Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-09-05
Belle 1aBirnie's Little Mistake.

" Yes, I remember what they said
that day; I was bride then, and so
very happy; my new clothes were per-
fectly charming, and Barry so devoted.
And Mrs. jenkins laughed because he
couldn't wait till dinner time, but come
home in the middle of the day just to
kiss me, and, call me his darling. Yes,
Nm. Assoe laughed, and said if hus-
bands would only be lovers always;
and Mrs. Morton said, Well see; just
wait few months Hateful old thing!
and then that disgusting Miss Grimshaw
said something about 'hot love soon
cold;' what should the horrid creature
know about love anyway? I thought
then I'd show them my husband was
not on ordinary husband; but oh dear,
dear, how dreadful it all is! Let me
see, every evening this week he has been
out; and he swallows his meals in such
an awful hurry, and then off he goes
again."
This was what little Mrs. McBirnie
said to herself, and SO very distinct
were her thoughts it seemed very much
Us though she had spoken them aloud
And it was not the first time this train
of reflection had been in Bellies mind.
Indeed she had begun so to watch her
husbands distracted look, and hurried
manner, that she herself was becoming
silent, and losing every grain of cheer
fulness.
Belle, dear, will you mend my over
coat this morning." called Barry from
the foot of the stairs. "Just two or
three stitches; it is so mild I can leave
it off.
Yes, yes, I'll try to find time, an
swered Belle, coming down.
Barry had thrown the coat on chair
in the parlor-but his wife saw-scarce-
ly noticing, however, at the moment,
that he crossed from the further corner
of the room. In an instant he was
gone, shutting the door with bang.
Two or three hours after, the coat
was taken up for the mending-and the
pockets, of course the invariable di-
rection suspicious thoughts take. And
was suspicious thought awakening it.
self in Belle McBirnie's heart? How
many times her eyes, bright and happy,
had peepcd into those pockets to see if
forgotten letter for herself was to be
found, or if Barry had remembered to
buy the opera tickets,
This time, as it happened, it was not
necessary to peep, for the pockets were
turned inside out, and of course empty.
And then it flashed into Bellies mind
that Barry had stepped across the room;
and there was something stealthy in
his manner, now think of it," was
the next reflection. Poor Belle--the
color flushed up her face as she rose
quickly and proceeded to the parlor.
"Why did he come in here at all" she
said to herself, and who would have
thought of his figuring to hide his let
ters." A little India box in the corner
OF the room caught her eye; and with
nervous motion she went to itand turn
ing the key she opened it.
Yes, there were the letters; old letters
they were; yellow letters, and white.
They looked very familiar, yet Belle took
them up and glanced them over. And
q wonder it is she didn't drop them
quicker than she picked them up; for
there among them was-good gracious
"a woman's Photographic girls
rather: a young, pale-looking thing,
with short curls and round hat.
WE'LL" was all that escaped from
Bellies lips, but she spoke aloud, and
with emphasis that meant great deal;
then she threw the letters down with
an ugly toss, and looked again at the
photograph. But there might be note
from some horrid woman; SO again the
little heap of papers were carefully ex-
amined. None at all was there; so,
pushing them back into the box, she
gazed with angry eyes into the quiet
face of the picture. Two minutes
more and it was sent with furious
whirl into the CRATE, to writhe and shriv-
ell in the flames.
An now, to be sure, was Belle as
wretched as she could be. She cried,
of course, and had a-headache, nursing
her grief and wrath to the full extent.
Presently she noticed it was four o.
clock; Barry would be home at five,