The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-09-11

nestle work, such as housekeeping, 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 etfectually.
Size always called her by her hrst name,
though Betty inwardly resented it; and she
made great handle of her friendship on
every occasion, making John rage violently
and VOW a thousand times the ''old maid .
| should walk!
| But she never had and now, seeming
dimly, like carrion afterits prey, that trouble
might come to the pretty little white house,
! the make-mischief had come to do her work
if deva.tation l. ad real commenced.
"Bcen cryingY' she said, more plainly
| than politely, and sinking down into the
| pretty chintz covered rocking chair with an
energy that showed she meant to stay, and
| made the clair creak fearfully. "Only folks
do say that you and your husband don't live
hap lily; but la! l wouldn't mind that
RIO faint your fault"
Betty's heart stood still. Had it come to
this? John and she net to live happily To
be sure they didn t, as she remembtre with
pang the dreadful scene of words and hot
tempers; but had it gotten around so soon
story in rybodys MOUTH
With all her distress of mind she vas
saved fr-m opening her mouth So Miss Sim
mons, failing in that was forced to go on.
AN tell folks" she said, rocking her.
self back and fourth to witness the effect of
her words, "When they..get to talking, so
you can't blame me if things don't go easy
for you. Pm sure'
"You tell folks so?' repeated Betty
vaguely and standing quite still. "What?
don't understand
"Why, that the blame was all his'n," cried
the old maid exasperated at her strange
mood and her dullness. 81 say, says |, why
there couldn't no one live with him, let alone
that pretty wife he's got That what say,
Betty. And then tell EN- what queer man
he Is. how cross, am"
'And you dare tell the people such things
of my husband3" cried Betty drawing her.
self up to her EXTREMIST height, and tower
ing SO over the old woman in the chair, that as
she jumped in confusion at the storm she had
raised, and stared blndly into the blazing
eyes and face rosy with righteous indgna-
ton, 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 her chair and blocked
up the way, so she skunk back into the
smallest corner of it, and took it the best
she could My husbandr' cried Betty,
dwelling with pride the pronOun-at
least, if they were to part she would say it
over lovingly as much as she could till the
last moment; and then, when the time did
come, why people should know that it wasn't
Johns iarlt-'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
va
"Holdp' cried voice; ''you're talking
against my wile" and moment big John
Peabody rushed through the door, grasped
the little woman in his arms and folded her
to his heart, right before old maid and ALL
"OhP' said Miss Simmons, sitting up
straight and sitting her spectacles more
firmly.
"And, now that you have learned all that
you can," said John turning round to her;
still holding Betty, "why- you may gol"
The chair Was vacant A dissolving
view through the door was all that was to
be seen of the gossip, who started up the
road hurriedly, leaving peace behind.
Betty said John, some half hour after
ward, "wnat was the sigh for? | don't care
now, but did think, dear, and it cut me to
the heart, how you might have married
richer. 1 longed to put ten times ten into
your hand, Betty, and it CALLED me because
1 couldn't"
Betty smiled, and twisted away from his
grasp. Running into the bedroom, she
presently returned still smiling, with a
bundle rolled up in clean towel.
This she put on her husbands knee, who
stared at her wOnderingly.
IL didn't mean,' she SAID, unpinning the
bundle. Ito let it out now, but shall have
I'm oft ia
your birthday
$50 'tisl' said John. "Graciousl has it
come round so soonP'
'And you, dear boy" said Betty, shaking
out before him pretty brown affair, all
edged with silk of the buest shade, that
present " assumed the proportions of a dress
ing-gown, "this is 10 be your present; but
You must be dreadfully surprised, John,
when you get it, for OIL didn't want you
to knowI'
John made the answer ne thought best
When he spoke again he said, perplexedly,
while a small quicker of bewildermeDt settled
between hia eyes:
"But don't see, Betty, what this thing"
laying one finger on the gown, chad to do
with the sigh
"That," said Betty; and then she broke
into a merry laugh, that got so mixed up
with the dimples and the dancing brown
eyes that, for moment, she could not finish
-"Oh, John | was worrying so over those
buttons; they weren't good enough, but they
were the best | could do, then. And Id
only bought 'em yesterday-two whole doz-
en-. And when you put that ten-dollar bill
in my hand, didn't know it, but | suppose
l did give one little bit of sigh frr l was
so provoked that l hadn't waited buying
them until to-day"
John caught up the little woman. dress
ing-gown and ALL / don't think they have
ever quarreled again-at least, 1 have never
heard of it.
Children's Diet.