Middletown transcript., 1875-09-18
$tlett $torp.
NOBODY BUT JOHN.

Some one 10 coming. said l, as the
aclack Of the shutting gate fell on my
lebrs,. and I locked at Maggy's soiled.
ip0tidy dress. and tumbled hair Z
Maggy started. and glanced hastily
lfiom the widow |; then sat down again
en,a careless way. remarking as she did
so: o. aiiai Il -ai'a INV
.1t's nobody but John.' ~ ''-a..aai'
Nobody but John! And whs do you
thsak that nobody wasa Only her hus-
bsssd.q ia ssHaaso'
Nobody bat John! s.
fs1s moments afterwards John
Fs5r6urn came into the room where We
Sessa;s WI . hitting. aud gave me one Of big
frank. cordial greetings. | had known
him for many years. and long before
h. AArasges l noticed that be. gave
an annoyed glance at bis wife. but did
not speak to her. The meaning Of this
snnbyance and indifference was plain to
me; for John had come of q neat and
tidy family. His mothers housekeep-
ing had always been notable. She was
poor but IS time and. water are to be
had for nothing this was one Of her
ssyings4shs always managed to hsve
things about clean and orderly
Mage5 Hee-sad a-pressy fassr bright
eyes and charming little ways, that we're
very taking With the young men, and
soswas aqi,ss hells before she got ont
of her teens. She had knack Of fx-
ing her rihbeuss or tying her scarf. or
arranging her hair. shawl or dress in q
wsJ ~ yipVe grace and charm 70 bet
psrsqt. None but her most intimate
friends knswlof5 ths unsidiness that per-
vadsdl her room and person nhen At
home and away from common obssrva-
tom a. q9s gIltusa ee.ii4rgys baA
Poor John Fairburn was taken in
when 'he married Maggy Zee. J He
thought that he was getting the tidiest.
neatest. sweetest and most orderly girl
in town. bat discovered too soon that be
was united to careless slattern. She
could dress for other peoples eyes. be-
cause she had natural love Of admira-
tion; but at home, and for her hus-
band shAsput op,apY old dad, and vent
looking oIEsn like the old scratch. Is
the myine is. rr saggor
On the particular occasion Of which
| am speaking lit was after she and
John had been married over . year
her appeasanee WAS almost disgusting.
She didtnot have on even a morning
dress onlj faded and tumbled chiutx
sack sbdvsa soiled skirtAno' collar =
slippsrssdown at the heels. and dirty
stockings. Her hair looked like hur-
rah's nest. il any one knows what that
ISL don't; but I suppose it is the
perfection Of disorder. No one could
love such looking creature. That
was simply impossible.
Nobody but John r Hooked at the
bright handsome youpg man and Won
aersd He ate his dinner almost in
silence. and then went back to work.
had never seen him 90 moody
'What's come over John z I asked
Is be vent out.
oh, ! don't know his wife answer
ID. 'Sonething gone wrong at the
hop. ! suppose. Hes had trouble |
With one Of the men. He's foreman, !
7ou know
Are you rsnre ifs osly' thatf' I
'sted, boxing serious.
That Or something about his work. |
There's nothing else to worry him.
! was silent for awhile. d, batting |
With myself ~hesher good or harm
would me Of little plain talk with
|otn's wife. She was rather quick
emperts.d. i knew, and easy to take
'fence. At last l ventured the re-
mark !; Maybe ihings are not just to
'is liking at. home
At homeP MAggy turned on me