The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-08-29

cam 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 IL things don't go easy
for you, I'm sure"
"You tell folks so1" repeated Betty
vaguely, and standing quite still. "What
don't understand"
"Why, that the blame is all his'n," cried
the old maid exasperated at her strange
mood and her dizziness. al says, says !,
why there 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 tell people such things of
my husband ?" cried Betty, drawing herself
up to her extreinest height, and towering so
over the old woman in the chair, that as she
Jumped in confusion at the storm she had
raised, and stared blindly into the blazing
eyes and 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 tho chair, and
blocked up the way, so she skunk back into
the smallest corner of IL, and took IL MS 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
lON1IlElN us InUtI rs Snp COulu tlli lnt ldst
moment, and then, when the time did come,
why people should know that il wasn't
Johns fault-the best, the kindest, the
noblcst husband that was ever given TO a
woman. have made him more trouble than
You can guess my hot temper has vexed
him; I've been cross, impatient, and"
Hold" cried a voice. "you are talking
against my wife, and in n 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
"Ohr" said Mrs. Simmons, sitting up
straight, and setting her spcctacles more
firmly.
"And now that you have learned all that
you cam" said John, turning round TO her;
still holding Betty" why-you may go!"
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 hur-
| riedly, leaving peace behind.
Betty" said John, some half hour after
| ward, "what was the sigh fori don't care
| now, but | did think, dear, and II cut me
to the heart, how you might have married
richer. | longed to put ten times ten into
your hand, Betty, and it CALLED me because
couldn't"
| Betty smiled, and twisted away from his
grasp. Running into the bed room, she pres
emily returned still smiling, with bundl,
rolled up in a clean towel
This she put on her husbands knee, who
stared at her wonderingly.
81 didn't mean," she said, unpinning TIL,
bundle, "to let it out now, but | shall hav,
to. Why, John, day after tomorrow is your
birthday !"
$50 tits !" said John. "Gracious has i,
come round SO soon ~
"And you, dear boy" said Betty, shaking
out before his eyes pretty brown affair. al
edged with silk of the bluest shade
that presently assumed the proportions of Q
dressing gown, this is to be your present
But you must be dreadlully surprised, John
when you get it, for oh didn't want you
| to know !"
John made the answer he thought best
When he spoke again, he said perplexcdly
while a small quicker of bewiltlerment settled
between his eyes: " But don't see, Betty
what this thing" laying one finger OH TIN
gown, "had to do with the sigh
"That," said Betty, and then she brok
into a merry laugh, that got so mixed up will
the dimples, and the dancing brown eyes
that for moment she couldn't finish. sob
John, was worrying so over those buttons
they weren't good enough, but they were tn
best could do then. And I'd only hough
'em yesterday--two whole dozen. And whel
you put that ten-dollar bill in my hand,
didn't hardly know it, but suppose di,
give one little bit of a sigh, for | was SO pro
voked that hadn't waited buying them til
to-day"
John caught up the little woman, dressing
gown and all ] don't think they have eve
quarrelcd again-at least have never hear