The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-09-16

WI oA
Instead of bringing out a violent pro-
testation of fond affection and remorse,
which she fully expected, John drew
himself up, looked at her fxedly for a
long, long minute, then dropped her arm
and said through white lips vely slowly:
ayes. it may be as you say-better
all around. You know BEST" and was
gone from the room before she could re-
cover from her establishment enough to
utter a sound.
With a wild cry Betty rushed across
the room, first tossing the ten dollar bill
savagely as far as she could throw it,
and hinging herself on the comfortable
, old sofa, broke intoa food Of bitter tears
the first she had shed during her mar
ried life.
elbow could he have done it-oh,
what have [ said-oh, John, John !!
The bird twitted in his little cage
over in the window among the plants.
Betty remembered like % flash how John
and she filled 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 her up just 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 der work, singing for very
gladness of spirit. And now,
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into her
| rosy ears to shut out the birds chipping.
''If he knew why l sighed" she
moaned. ooh, my husband Birth
days-notbing will make any difference
nov. Oh, why can't / die %
How long she stayed there, crouched
down Oh the old sofa, she never knew.
Over and over the dreadful scene she
went, realizing its worst feature each
time in despair, until a voice out in the
kitchen said, "Betty ~ and heavy foot
steps proclaimed that some one was on
the point of breaking in upon her, uuin-
vited.
Betty sprang up, choked back her
sobs, and tried with all her might to
compose herself, and remove al traces
Of her trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible II
she could have under the circumstances.
Crowding herself on terms of the closest
intimacy with the pretty bride, who with
her husband had moved into the village
twelve months previous, Miss Elvira
C:.-.x. III ,,oI, <ho ,-ar,- ,,oct sc hor.
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 efiectually.
She always called her by her first
name, though Betty idly resented it
and she made a great handle of her
friendship on every occasion, making
John rage violently, and vow a thou
sand times that the cod maid" should
walk.
But she never had-and now, scent
ing dimly, like a carbon after its prey,
that trouble might have come to the
pretty little white house, the mischief
maker had come to do her work, if de
VISITATION had really commenced.
"Been crying p she said, more plain
ly than politely, and sinking down into
the pretty chintz covered rocking chair,
with an energy that showed she mean.
meant to stay, and made the chair creak
fearfully. "Only folks do say that you
and your husband don't live happy
but la !, l wouldn't mind know faint
your fault
Betty's heart stood still. Had it
come to this John and she not to live
happily ! To be sure they didn't, as she
remembered with a pang the dreadful
scene of words and hot tempers but
had it gotten around so soon-a story in
everybody's mouth
With all her distress Of mind she was
saved from opening her mouth. Sc Miss
Simmons, failing in that wa forced to go
on.
can l 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 so easy with you, I'm
sure I,
"You tell folks SO g repeated Betty,
vaguely and standing quite still. "Whatl
l don't understand"
AZ NIl, tl.t Tho h1ao,a g all l.e',, ~