, 1880-09-17
Almost Parted.

betty sighed. NOW why sue shouid
sigh at this particular moment no cne
on earth could tell. And it was all the
more exasperating because John had
Just generously put, into her little shapely
hand brand new teh-doilar bill. And
here began tbeytrouble. 7 kEt W
"What's the matterl" he'said, his face
falling at the faint sound, and his mouth
clapping together in what those who
knew him but little called an obstinate
pucker" what is it2
Betty, who had just begun to change
the figh into a merry little laugh, rip
ping all oyer the corners Of the red
lips, stopped suddenly, tossed her head,
and with small jerk, no ways concili-
ating, sent out the words, "You needn't
insinua.e that I'm always trolblesamea9
81 didn't insiluate-who's talking OF
insinuating ~ cried John, incensed at the
very idea, and backing away o few steps,
he glared down from his tremendous
height in extreme irritation. 20 1t's you
yourself that's forever insinuating, and
all that, and then to put it on me, its
abominable !" .,...... orr ..l. ,,r D.,
The voice was harsh, and the eyes
that looked down into hers we're not
pleasant to oibehold. = -A kA =
sand if you think, John Peabody,
that I'll stand and have such things said
to me, you miss your guess-thats all !:
cried Betty, with two big, red spots
coming in her cheeks as she tried TO
draw her little, erect figure up to its ut
most dimensions Forever insinuat-
ing Il guess you wouldn't have said
that before I married .youl On, now
you can, of course !"
"Didn't you say It first, I'd like to
know i2criedl John,inl great excitement,
drawing nearer to the small creature he
called Tigifes who was gazing at him
with blazing eyes Of indignation--I
can't endure everything"
"Andsif y6a bear more; than / do"
cried Betty, wholly beyond control now,
"why then I'll give up" and she gave a
bitter little laugh, and tossed her head
again. '''@ 'e''
And here they were in the midst Of a
quarrel I! These two who but a year
before had promised to love and protect
and help each other through Life. adT
u@New, plssid ] ohm, and he brought his
hand down with such bang on the
tableTbsfcreI him thst Betty nearly
skipped cut other little 'shoes only she
controlled the start, for sheIwould have
died before she let John see it, 'swe will
have NO more Of this nonsense Y His
face was very pale, and the lines around
his, mouth so drawn, that it woulds have
gone to ones heart to have seen their
expression. 31isI IHW
81 don't know how you will change
il or shelPit,' said Betty, lightly, to con-
ceal her dismay at the turn affairs had
taken, 'I.m sure and she pushed back,
with a saucy, indifferent gesture the
Light, wavy hair from her forehead.
Uat hair that John always smoothed
when he petted her when tired or dis
heartensd, and called her ''childie." Her
gestures struck to his heart as he glanced
at the sunny hair, and the cool, indiffer-
ent face underneath, and before he knew
1.-THE was saying, 'There Il no help for
it now, ! suppose" ."vpIsU
"0h, yes, there is, said Betty, still IN
the cool, calm way that ought 10 have
deceived him. But men know 50 little
of womsn'S hearts, although they NAV
live with them for years in closest friend
ship. r"Yon needn't try 70 endure it,
John Peabody, if you don't want to. /
au suEe don't cire."
HWhat do you meaaF Her husband
grasped her arms and compelled the
merry brown eyes to look up to bin.
81 can gosback TO mothsrs,S u.d
Betty, proypsinglys |sAs wpnsa h.B3,
day, and then you can live quietly, aud