Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-04-17
Nobody but John.

the clack OF the shutting gate Tell Oh
my ears, and / looked at Maggie's
soiled, untidy dress and tumbled
hair.
Maggie started and glanced hasti-
ly from the window she sat down
again in careless way, remarking,
as she did so:
"It's nobody but John J"
Nobody but John?" And who do
you think John was? Only her hus-
band.
Nobody but John
A few moments afterward John
Fairburn came into the room where
we were sitting, and gave me one OF
his frank, cordial greetings. / had
known him for many years, and long
before his marriage. l noticed that
he gave an annoyed glance at his
wife, but did not speak to her. The
meaning of his annoyance and in
difference was plain to me: for John
had come from a neat and tidy fam
ily. His mothers housekeeping had
always been notable. She was poor,
but ''as time and water are to be had
for nothing this was one of her
sayings-she always managed to
have things about her clean and or
derby.
Maggie Lee had a pretty face,
bright eyes and charming little ways,
that were very taking with the young
men, and so was quite belle before
she got out of her teens. She had
knack of fxings ribbons or tying a
scarf, or arranging her hair, shawl or
dress in way to give grace and
charm to her person. None but her
| most intimate friends knew of the
untidiness that pervaded her room
and person when at home and away
| from common observation.
Poor John Fairburn was taken
when he married Maggie Lee. He
thought that he was getting the
sweetest and most orderly girl in
town; but discovered too soon that
he was united to a careless slattern.
She could dress for other peoples
| eyes because she had natural love
| for admiration but at home, and for
her husband, she put on an old dud
and went often looking "like the old
scratch" as the saying is.
On this particular occasion of
which | am speaking-it was after
she and John had been married over
q year-her appearance was almost
disgusting. She did not have on
even a morning dress; only a faded
and tumbled chintz sack above a
soiled skirt, slippers down at the
heels, and dirty stockings. Her
hair looked like hurrah's nest, if
any one knows what that isl don't
but suppose it is the perfection of
disorder. No one could love such a
looking creature. That is simply i'm
possible.
"Nobody but John % looked at
the bright handsome young man, and
wondered. He ate his dinner almost
in silence, and then went back to his
work. l had never seen him sc
moody.
ssWhat's come over John?' l ask.
ed as he went out.
''Oh, don't know" his wife an
swered. Something's wrong at the
shop suppose. He's had trouble
with one of the men. He's foreman
you know"
care you sure it's only that?"
asked looking serious.
''That or something else about hi'
work. There's nothing else to wor
ry him."
| was silent, debating with mysel
whether good or harm would come o
: little plain talk with Johns wife
|
She was rather quick tempered,
knew, and quick to take offense. A
last I ventured to remark: "Mayb
things are not just to his liking a
/ home"
e "At home! % Maggie turned on m
S with a flash of surprise in her face
"What do you mean?''
''Men like beauty and taste an
neatness in their wives as well as i
! their sweethearts, | said.
n The crimson mounted to her hail
n At the same moment | saw her glanc
! at a looking glass that hung opposit
t her on the wall. She sat very still
= yet with startled look in her eyes
/ until the flush faded and her face be
o came almost pale.
u ''Maggie, said I, rising and draw
II ing my arm around her, ''come u
stairs. l have something very ser
. Gus to say to YOU
= We walked from the little dinin
E. room up to her room in silence.
4 then said, "Maggie, | want to te
n you about a friend of mine who mac
s. a shipwreck of happiness and lif
: 1t is sad story but l am sure
7 will interest you deeply. She W;
ye my cousin, and her name was"
of Maggie bent forward, listened a
Ks tentively, "What?' she asked, as
II hesitated on the name.
= .1Helen."
mot Helen White, who marie
John Harding, and was afterward d
: = serted by her husband?'
= eyes, my poor dear cousin Hele