Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-07-14
A Lesson and How Two Learned II.

sighed at this particular moment no one on
earth could tell. And it was all the more
exasperating because John had just gener-
ously put into her little, shapely hand
brand new ten-dollar bill. And here began
the trouble.
"What's the matter ?" 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
-"no,o what is it ?"
Betty, who had Just begun to change the
sigh into merry little laugh ripping all
over the corners Of the red lips, stopped sud
denly, tossed her head, and with small
jerk, no ways conciliating, sent out the
words, You needn't insinuate that I'm al
ways troublesome !"
al didn't insinuate-who's talking OF in
sinuating 2" cried John, thoroughly ill.,
censed at the very idea, and backing away
few steps, he glared down from his tre-
mendous height in extreme irritation, It's
you yourself that's forever insinuating, and
all that; and then to put it on to me, it's
abominable |"
The voice was harsh, and the eyes that
looked down into hers were not pleasant to
behold.
And if you think, John Peabody, that
you miss your guess-that's all !" cried
Betty, with two big, red spots coming in her
cheeks as she tried to draw her little, erect
figure up to its utmost dimensions. " For
ever insinuating guess you wouldn't have
said that before married you Oh, now you
can, of coursel''
"Didn't you say it first, I'd like to
know ?" cried John in great excitement,
drawing nearer to the small creature he
called wife, who was gazing at him with
blazing eyes of indignation-"I can't en-.
dure everything"
"And if YOU bear more than | do" cried
Betty, wholly beyond control now, "why
then III give up" and she gave bitter little
laugh, and tossed her head again.
And here they were in the midst OF a
quarrel These two who but year before
had promised to love and protect and help
each other through life.
"Now," said John, and he brought his
hand down with such bang on the table
before him that Betty nearly skipped out Of
her little shoes, only she controlled the start
for she would have died before she had lei
John see it, "we'll have no more OF thi:
nonsense" his face was very pale, and the
lines around the mouth so drawn that il
would have gone to any ones heart TO have
seen their expression.
81 don't know how you will change it OIL
help it," said Betty lightly, to conceal he
dismay at the turn affairs had taken, SIN
sure" and she pushed back, with a saucy
Indifferent gesture, the light waving hal
from her forehead.
That hair that John always smoothet
when he petted her when tired or disheart
ened. Her gesture struck 10 his heart as h.
glanced at the sunny hair, and the cool, in
different face underneath, and before HI
knew it he was saying, "There is no hell
for it now, suppose"
"Oh yes, there is" said Betty, still in tn,
cool, calm way that ought not to have de
ceived him. But men know so little o.
women's hearts, although they may liv'
with them for years in closest friendship
"You needn't try to endure it, John Pea
body, if you don't want to. Pm sure dom
care p
"What do you mean? ?" Her husband
grasped her arms and compelled the merry
brown eyes TO look up to him.
81 can go back to mothers" said Betty
provokingly. "She wants me any day, ant
then you can live quietly and live to sui
yourself, and it will be better all around"
Instead of bringing out violent protesta
tion of fond affection and remorse, whicl
she fully expected, John drew himself up
looked at her fxedly for long, long min
ute, then dropped her arm, and said through
white lips, very slowly;
"Yes, it may be as you say-better al
around. You know BEST" and was gon
from the room before she could recover iron
her astonishment enough to utter sound
With wild cry Betty rushed across tn
| 4rot tAuotnr ha tam -dallar hill
agely as far as she could throw it, and fling
ing herself on the comfortable old sofa
broke into flood of bitter tears--the frs
she had shed during her married life.
How could he have done it-oh, wha
have | said-oh John, Johnl l'
The bird twittered in his little cage owe
in the window among the plants. Betty re
membered like flash how John and sh
filled the seed.cup that very morning, how h
laughed when she tried to put it in betweel
the bars, and when she couldn't reach with
out getting upon chair, he took her in hi
great arms, and held her up, just like child
that she might fix it to suit herself. An,
the I" bits that he said in his tender way
why they had gone down to the depths o
her foolish little heart, sending her abou
her work singing for very gladness OF spirit
And now i
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into he
rosy ears to shut out the birds chirping.
" If he knew why sighed" she moanec
"Oh, my husband Birthdays-nothin
will make any difference now. Oh, why can
die ?"
How long she stayed there, crouched dow
on the old sofa, she never knew. Over an
over the dreadful scene she went, realizin
its worst features each time in despair, unit
voice out in the kitchen said, " Betty !
and heavy footsteps proclaimed that som
one was on the point of breaking in upol
her unlimited.
Betty sprang up, choked back her sobs an,
tried with all her might to compose herself
aud remove all traces of her trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible one sh
could have under the circumstances. Crowd
ing herself on terms OF the closest intimac.
with the pretty bride, who with her HUSBAND
had moved into the village twelvemontl
previous, Miss Elvira Simmons had made tn
very most of her opportunities, and by din
of making great parade over helping her il
some domestic work, such as house-cleaning
dressmaking and the like, the maiden lad,
had managed to ply her other vocation, tha
of news-gatherer, at one and the same tim
pretty effectually.
one always ny hcf ndint
though Betty inly resented it and she mad
a great handle OF her friendship on ever
occasion, making John rage violently, an,
vow a thousand times the "old maid shoul
walk
But she never had-and now, scentin
dimly, like carrion after its prey, tina
trouble might have come to the pretty littl
white house, the make-mischief had com
| ts, 40, xunrl tf layaatattn.. kaA
commenced
"Been crying ?" she said, more plainl
than politely, and touching the pretty chez
with her long, thin forefnger. "l wouldn
he amt worth it,"
"What do you mean 2" cried Betty, i
the EXTREMIST CONSERVATION and indigns
ton.
"Oh nothin'," said Miss Simmons car,
lessly, and sinking down into the prett
chintz-covered rocking-chair with an energ
that showed she meant to stay, and mad