The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-09-16

ana hinging herself on the comfortable
old sofa, broke into a flood of bitter
tears-the first she had shed during her
married life.
"How could he have done it-oh,
what have ! said--oh John, John !"
The bird twiItere in his little cage
over In the window among the plants,
Betty remembered like q fash how John
and she filed the seed.cup that very
morning, how he laughed when she
tried to put it in between the bars, and
when she couldn't reach without get.
ting upon chair, he took her in bis
great arms, and held her up, just like q
child, that she might fix it to suit her.
self. 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 sing
ing TOR very gladness of spirit. And
now
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into her
rosy ears TO shut out the birds chirp-
ing.
eff he knew why I sighed" she
moaned. ooh my husbandp Birth
dayD- nothing will make any difference
now. Oh, why can't l dieP"
How long she stayed there, crouched
down on the old sofa, she never knew.
Over and over the dreadful scene she
went, realizing its worst features each
time in despair, until voice out in the
kitchen, said: Bettyr' and heavy
footsteps proclaimed that some one
was on the point of breaking in upon
her uninvited,
Betty sprang up, choked back her
sobs, and tried with al her might to
compose herself ana remove all traces
of her trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible
one she could have under the circum-
stances. Crowding herself or terms of
the closest intimacy with the pretty
bride, who with her husband had
moved into the village a twelvemonth
previous, Miss Elvira Simmons had
made the very most Of her opportun-
tiles, and by dint of making great par
ase over helping her in some domestic
work, such as housecleaning, drcssmak-
ing, and the like, the maiden lady had
managed to ply her other vocation, that
OF newsgatherer, at one and the same
time, pretty eff5ctually.
She always called her by her first
name, though Betty inwardly resented
it; and she made a great handle of her
friendship on every occasion, making
John rage violently, and VOW a thou
sand times the "old maid" should walk!
But she never had-and now, scenting
dtmly, like a carrion after its prey, that
trouble might come to the pretty little
white house, the make. mischief had
come to do her work, if devastation had
really commenced.
Been cryingI" she said, more plain
ly than politely, and sinking down into
the pretty chintz-c overed rocking chair
with an energy that showed she meant
to stay, and made the chair creak fear
fully. "Only folks do say that you and
your husband don't live happy but la |
wouldn't mind-I know 'tain't your
fault"
Betty's heart stood still. Had it come
to this! John and she not to live hap
PLY! To be sure they didn't, rs she
remembered with paug the dreadful
scene of words and not tempers; but
had it gotten around 50 soon-a story
in everybody's mouth.
With all her distress OF mind she was
saved from opening her mouth. So
Miss Simmons, failing in that, was
forced to go on.
"An' l tell folks so," she said, rock
ing herself back and forth TO witness the
effect of her words, when they git to
talkin' so you can't blame me, il things
don't go easy for you, Pm sure!"
"You tell folks SOP" repeated Betty,
vaguely, and standing quite still.
"WhatP l don't understand"
"Why, that the blame is all his'n,"
cried the old maid, exasperated at her
strange mood and her dulluess. II say,
says 1, why they couldn't no one live
with him, let alone that pretty wife he's
got. That's what say, Betty. And then !
tell 'em what queer man he is, how
cross, an"
"And you dare to tell people such
things of my husbandP" cried Betty,
drawing herself up TO her EXTREMIST
height, and towering so over the old
woman in the chair that she jumped
in confusion at the storm she had raised,
and stared blindly into the blazing eyes
ald face rosy with righteous indigna.
tion, her only thought was how to get
away from the storm she had raised,
but could not stop. But she was forced
to stay, for Betty stood just in front of
the chair, and blocked up the way, so
she skunk back into the smallest corner
fit, and took it as best she could. my
husband" cried Betty, dwelling with
pride on the pronoun-at least, If they
were to part, she would say it over lov-
ingly rs much as she could till the last
moment; and then, when the time did
come, why people should know that it
wasn't Johns fault-"the best, the
kindest, the noblest husband that was
ever given to woman. I've made him
more trouble than you can guess; my
hot temper has vexed him--I've been
cross, impatient, and"
"Holdl" cvied a voice; you're talk