, 1880-09-17

| Instead or bringing OUT Nlo'tht pro
testation of fond affection and remorse,
which she fully expected, John drew
! himself up, looked at her fxedly for q
long, long minute, then dropped her arm
and said through white bps vely slowly
"Yes, it may be as you say-better
all around l'ou know best" and was
gone from the room before she could re
cover from her astonishment enough to
utter a sound, yn\0NDN5...
With q Wild cry Betty rushed across
the room, first tossing the ten Dollar oll'
savagely as far as she could throw ID,
and hinging herself on theI comfortable
old sofa, broke into a food Of bitter tears
the first she had shed during her mar
ried life. y,TF.s C1r~A s1rgOg.-
GLOW could he have done it--oh,
what baveI said--oh, John, John y
The bird twitted in his little cage
ever in the window among the plants
Betty remembered like fash how John
and she filed the seed.cup that very
morning how he laughed when she
tried to put it between, the bars, and
when she couldn't reach without getting
upon a chair, he took her in his great
arms and held herupjpst like a child,
that she might fix it to suit herself. And
the "bits" that he said in his tender way
why, they had gone down to the
depths Of her foolish little heart, sending
her about her work, singing for very
gladness Of spirit. And now.
: Betty stuffed her fingers hard into her
rosy ears to shut out the birds chirping.
-,-s4f-he knew why L 'sighed,,@ she
moaned. "Ob, my husband Birth
days-notbmg will make any difference
npw. Oh, Why can't I der SfE
How long she'stayedb there, croached
down on the old sofa, she never knew.
Over and oyer,,the dreadful scene she
| went, realizing its worst feature each
time in despair, until voice out in the
kitchen said, HBetty |" and heavy foot
steps proclaimed that some one was on
the point of breaking in upon her, unin'
vited. 7a
Betty spgang .ups cboked sack her
sobs, and tried with all her might to
compose herself, and remove all traces
of her trouble. bios sijo9 V'l
The visitor was the worst possible one
she could have under the circumstances
Crowding herself on terms Of the closest
intimacy with the pretty bride, who with
her husband had mcN ed into the village
twelve months previous, Miss Elyira
Simmons had made the very most finer
opportunities, and by dint of making
great parade over helping her in some
DOMESTIC work. such as house cleaning,
dress-making and the like, the maiden
lady had managed to ply her other
vocation, that Of news gatherer, at one
and the same time pretty efsctually.
She always called her by her first
name, though Betty idly resented it;
and she made q great handle of her
friendship on every occasion, making
John rage Violently, and VOW % taou-
sand times that the old maid should
walk.
But she never had and now, scent
ing dimly, like carrion after its prey,
that, trouble might have come to the
pretty little white house, the mischief
maker had come to do her work, il de-
vastati0n had really commemorate
tmBeenl lcryingT she said, more plain
lysthan politely, and sinking down into
the pretty chintz covered rocking g'ehair,
with, an energy that showed she meant
meant to stay, and made the chair creak
fsarfullys 3" "0nlyIfolks do say that you
and your husband don't live happy
hut lal Iwouldn't mind4-I know faint
your fault o; .nn. "a .uRtf2yg bHa
Betty's heart stood still. Had it
come TO this I ohm and she not to live
happily ! To be sure they didn't, as she
remembered with pang the dreadful
scene of words and hot tempers but
had it gotten around so soon--a story in
evefybody's mouth'r IA - M
With all her distress of mind she was
saved from opening her mouth. Sc Miss
Simmons, failing in that was forced,t so
on. .f,...,.., 4....,-.... .......
can I tell folks SO, she said rocking
herself back and forth to witness the
effect Of her words, "when they git to
talkin', so you can't blame me, if
things don't go easy with, you, Pln
sure ?, j.-ahg-r o..
you tell folks so ," repeated Betty,
vaguely and standing quite still, "What9
l don't understand ...al fr.s
"Why, that the blame is all his'n, Z"
cried the old maid, exasperated at her
strange mood and her dullness. 81 say
sayl !, Why there couldn't no one live
with lin, let alone that pretty wife he's
COZ. That's what / say, Betty. And
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