Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-08-19
A LESSON, AND HOW TWO LEARNED
1T


1T.
Betty sighed Now why she should
have sighed at this particular moment,
no one on earth could tell. And it was
all the more exasperating because John
had just generously put into her little,
shapely hand a brand new ten-dollar
bill. And here began the trouble.
What's the NATTER" he said, his
face falling at the faint sound, and
his mouth clapping together in what
those who knew him but little call
ed an obstinate pucker" now what Is
it,"
Betty, who had just begun to change
the sigh into a merry little laugh rip
ping all over the corners of the red
lips, stopped suddenly, tossed her head,
and with a small jerk, no ways cOncili-
ating, sent out the words, you needn t
insinuate that I'm always trouble
somer'
II didn't insinuate-who's talking
of insinuating?" cried John, thoroughly
incensed at the very idea, and backing
away q few steps, he glared down from
his tremendous height in extreme irri-
tatiOn. Its you yourself that's for
ever insinuating, and all that, and
then to put it on to me-it's abOmina-
bleI"
The voice was harsh, and the eyes
that looked into hers were not pleasant
to behold
"And if you think, John Peabody,
that III stand and have such things
said to me, 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 Forever insinu-
atingl | guess you wouldn't have said
that before married you! Oh, now you
can, of course"
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; Il
can't endure everything.
"And if you bear more than do"
cried Betty, wholly beyond control
now, why then I'll give up" and she
gave bitter little laugh and tossed
her head again.
And here there were in the midst
Of quarrel! These two who but a
year before had promised to love and
protect and help each through life.
Now" said John, and he brought
his hand down with such a bang on the
table before him that Betty nearly
skipped out of her little shoes, only she
controlled the start, for ST e would have
died before she had let John see it,
well have no more of this nonsense"
His face was very pale, and lines around
the mouth SO drawn that it would have
gone to any ones heart to have seen
their expression.
II don't know how you will change it
or help it." said Betty, lightly, to con
ceal her dismay at the turn affairs had
taken. "I'm sure" and she pushed
back, with 4 saucy, Indifferent gesture,
the light waving hair from her fore
head.
That hair that John always smoothed
when he petted her when tired or dis
heartened, and called her "childie. =
Her gesture struck to his heart as he
glanced at her sunny hair and the cool,
Indifferent face underneath, and before
he knew it he was saying: There is
no help for it now, | suppose"
oh, yes, there Is, said Betty, still in
the cool calm way that ought not to
have deceived him. But men know SO
little of women's hearts, although they
may live with them for years in closest
friendship.
You needn't try to endure it, John
Peabody, if yon don't want to. I'm
sure | don't care :"
''What do you mean p Her hus-
band grasped her arms and compelled
the merry brown eyes to look UP to
him
Il can go back to mothers" said
Betty provOkingly. ''She wants me
any day, and then you can live quietly
and live to suit yourself, and it will be
better all around"
Instead of bringing out violent
prostestation of fond affection and re
morse, which she fully expected, John
drew himself up, looked at her tiXedly
for long, long minute, then dropped
her arm, and said through white lips
very slowly:
YES; it may be as you say-bettel
all around You know best" and was
gone 1IOIll lll6 IOOIlI UclOIt sic COlllU
recover from her establishment enough
toutter a sound.
With wild cry Betty rushed across
the room, first tossing the ten-dollar bill
savagely as far as she could throw it
and tiinging herself on the comfortable
old sofa, broke into 4 flood Of bitter
tears-the first she had shed during hel
married life
How could he have done it-oh
what have | said-oh John, JohnW
The bird twittered in his little cage
over in the window among the plants
Betty remembered like flash how join
filled the seed-cup that very morning
how he laughed when he tried to pu
it between the bars, and when She
tried to put it between the bars, anC
when she couldn't reach without get
ting upon a chair, he took her in his
great arms, and held her up Just like {
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 other foolish little heart
sending her about her work singing fol
rery gladness of spirit. And now
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into hel
rosy ears to shut out the birds chirping
IF he knew why | sighed" sht