Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-08-26

around. lou KNOW DeSt, ana WIS
gone from the room before she could
recover her astonishment enough to
utter sound.
With a wild cry Betty rushed across
the room, first tossing the ten-dollar bill
savagely as far as she could threw it.,
and fiinging herself on the comfortable
old sofa, broke into flood of bitter
tears-the first she had shed during her
married life.
How could he have done it-oh,
what have I said-oh John, John -
The bird twittered 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 in between the bars, and
when she couldn't reach without get
ting 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 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 for very gladness of spirit. And
now
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into her
rosy ears to shut out the birds chirp-
ing.
If he knew why l sighed" she
moaned. "Oh my husbandp Birth
days nothing will make any difference
now. Oh, why can't dieP"
How long she stayed there, crouched
down on the old sofa, she never knew.
Over and over the dreadful scene he
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 unlimited.
Betty sprang up, choked back her
sobs, and tried with all her might to
compose herself ana remove all traces
of her trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible
one she could have und the circum-
stances. Crowding herself on 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, dressmak-
ng, and the like, the maiden lady had
to ply her other vocation, that
of newsgatherer, at one and the same
lime, pretty effectually.
She always called her by her first
lame, though Betty inwardly resented
{; and she made great handle of her
friendship on every occasion, making
John rage violently, and VOW a thou
and times the "old maid" should walk
But she never had-and now, scentinR
iimly, like a carrion after rs prey, that
rouble might come to the pretty little
white house, the make mischief had
'ome to do her work, If devastation had
eally commenced.
Been cryingm she said, more plain
y than politely, and sinking down into
he pretty chintz-covered rocking chair |
With an energy that showed she meant |
o stay, and made the chair creak fear
ully. "Only folks do say that you and |
'our husband don't live happy but In +! |
wouldn't mind-I know 'tain't your
ault."
Betty's heart stood still. Had 1t come |
o this! John and she not to live hap
lily! To be sure they didn't, as she |
emembered with a pang the dread full |
Gene of words and not tempers; but |
lad it gotten around so soon--a story
n everybody mouth.
With all her distress of mind she was
aved from opening her mouth. So |
Miss Simmons, failing in that, was
orced to go on.
AN tell folks so," she said, rock
ng herself back and forth to witness the |
fleet Of her words, when they git to
akin SO you can't blame me, il things
Ion't go easy for you I'm sureI''
"You tell folks soF" repeated Betty
'aguely, and standing quite still.
WhatH I don't understand"
"Why, that the blame is all his'n,'
ried the old maid, exasperated at her
TRANCE mood and her dullness. "I say,
ays /, why they couldn't no one live
With him, let alone that pretty wife he's
ot. That's what say, Betty. And then
ell 'em what a queer man he is, how
ross. an"
And you dare TO tell people such
hings of my husbandP" cried Betty,
rawing herself up to her EXTREMIST
eight, and towering SO over the old
Voman in the chair that she jumped
n confuion at the storm she had raised
nd s.ared blindly into the blazing eye