The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-02-04

Over and over the dreadful scene she
went, realizing its worst features in des-
psir until . voice out in the kitchen said,
"Bettyr' and heavy footsteps proelained
tbat someone wss IN the point Of break
ing In upon her uBinYited
Betty sprang up, choked back her
sobs, and tried with ell her might 70
compose herself, and remove all trace,
Iof her trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible one
she could have under the circumstances
Crowding herself on terms of the closest
intimacy with the pretty bride, who with
her husband had moved into the village
a t~welvemonth previous. Miss Elvii o
Simmons had made the very most of her
opportunities, and by dint of making
great parade over helping her in soms
domestic work. such as house-clcaniug,
dressmaking. and the like. the lady
maiden had managed to ply her other
vocation. that Of news-gatherer. at one
and the same time, pretty effertually.
She always called her by her arss
name. though Betty idly resented IT,
and she mado a great handle of her
friendship on every occasion. making
John rage violently, and vow a thousand
times the ''old maid should walki
But she never had. and now. seeming
dimly. like a carrion after Us prey. thai
trouble might have come To the pI city
little white house, the make-mischief
had come to do her work, II devastation
had really commenced.
..Been cryingP' she said, more plain
ly than politely, and sinking down into
the pretty c-hintz-covered rocking chair
with an energy that showed she me.ot
TO stay, and made the chair creak fear
fully. '-Only folks do say that You aud
your husband don't live happy-but lal
/ wouldn't mind-I know faint your
fault"
Betty's heart stood still. Had it come
to this! John and she not to live hap
PLY! To be sure they didn't, as she re-
membered with a pang the dreadful
scene Of words and hot tempers; but had
it gotten around so soon-a story in
everybody's mouth!
With all her distress of mind she was
saved from opening her mouth. So Miss
Simmons, failing in that, was forced to
go on.
'An' 1 tell folks So" she said. rocking
herself back and forth to witness the e.
feet of her words, ..when they gsi -
talkin', so you can't blame me, and q
things don't go easy for you. I'm surer'
'You tell folks sor' repeated Betty.
vaguely, and standing quite still
what? Idon't understand"
''Why, the blame is all his'n," cried
the old maid, exasperated at her strange
mood and her dullness, II say" says
1, s.why there could'n t no one live with
him, let alone that pretty wife he's got.
That's what l say, Betty; and then l tell
lam uhat n nuaor WAN ha laxv
an"
"And you dare to tell people such
things of my husbandP" cried Betty.
drawing herself up to her EXTREMIST
height, and towering so over the old
woman in the chair, that, as she jumped
in confusion ut the storm she had raised.
and stared blindly into the blazing eyes
and face, rosy with righteous indigna-
ton, her only thought was how to get
away from the storm she had raised. but
could not stop. But she was fcr~ed to
stay, for Betty stood just in froat Of the
chair, and blocked up the way, 10 sac
skunk back into the smallest corcar G.
it, and took it as best she could. *.
husbandr' cried Betty, dwelling with
pride on the pronoun-at least If they
were to part, she would say il over las-
ingly as much as she could till the last
moment; and then, when the time did
come, why, people should know tLet +.
wasn't Johns fault-s.the best, the
kindest, the noblest husband that was
ever given to I'M I've made him
more trouble than you can guess; INV
hot temper has vexed him-rve bees
cross, impatient, and"
.Holdr' cried a voice, s'you as L.S-
ing against my wife!' and in a
big John Peabody rushed through Ii,
door, grasped the little woman in his
arms, and folded her to his heart, hnfor,
old maid and all.
..Ohr' said Miss Simmons, sitt..- vp
straight and setting her spectacles .-',s
firmly.
.And, now that you have learned u.
that you CAM said John, turning
around to her, still holding Betty, wy
you may goT"
The chair was vacant. A dissolYiny
view through the door was all that was
to be seen Of the gossip, who started up
the road hurriedly, leaving peace be-
hind.
Betty" said John, some half hour
afterward, .'what was that sigh forf
l don't care now, but l did think, dear.
and it cut me to the heart, how yea
might have married richer. / longod
to put ten times ten in your hand, Betty.
and it CALLED me because / 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 o clean
towel.
This she put on her husbands knee.
who stared at her wonderingly.
II didn't mean," she said, unpinning
the bundle, ito let it out now. but l
shall have to. Why. John. day after
tomorrow is your birthenyr
$50 It's" said John. ''Gracious! has
it come around 10 soonP"
"And you. dear boy" said Betty.
shaking Out before his eyes a pratiy
brown affair. oil edged with silk Of the
bluest shade. that presently assumed the
proportions OF q dressdpg-euwn-.this
is 70 be your present. But you must be
dreadfully surprised, John, when you
get it, for oh! 1 didn't want you to
know"
John made the answer he thought
best. When he spoke again, he said.
perplexedly, while a small quicker of be-
wilderment settled between his eyes:
'.But 1 don't see, Betty, what this thing
(aying n finger on the gown ''had 70
do with the sigh"
That" said Betty, and then she
broke into a merry laugh, that got 50
mixed up with the dimples and the dane
ing brown eyes, that for a moment she
couldn't finish. sob, John, / ' was wor-
rying so over those buttons; but they
were the best / could do then. And I'd
only bought EN- yesterday-twc who.s
dozen. And when you put thst ten-dol-