The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-02-01

little white house, the make-nischie'
had come to do her work, If devastation
had really commenced.
Sheen cryingPn she said, plain,
" than politely, and sinking down int
the pretty chintz-coyered rocking chail
with an energy that showed she mean
tc stay, and made the chair creak fear
fully. .'Only folks do say that you ant
your husband don't live ~happy--but Ia
I wouldn't mind-I know faint youl
fault"
Betty's heart stood still. Had itcomt
to this! John and she not to live hap
pilyi To be sure they didn't, as she re
membered with a pang the dreadfu
scene of words and hot tcmpers; but hat
it gotten around so story il
everybody's mouth
With all her distress Of mind She wa
saved from opening her mouth. So Mis-
Simmons, failing in that, was forced u
go on.
San I tel folks So" she said, rocking
herself back and forth to witness the eff
feet of her words, "when they get tc
talkin', so you can't blanc me, and il
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," criec
the old maid, exasperatcd at her strange
mood and her dullness, II say" says
I, "why there couldn't no one live WITH
him, let aiono that pretty wife he's got.
That's what L say, Betty and then tel
EN- what u queer mar he is, how cross,
an
''And you dare to tell people such
things OF my h~usband?" 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 at 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 forced to
stay, for Betty stood just in front of the
chair, and blocked up tho way, SO she
skunk back into the smallest corner of
it, and took it as best she could. ''AIy
husband!' cried Betty. dwelling with
pride on tho pronoun-at least, If they
were to part, she would say it over low
ingly as much as she could till the last
moment; and then, when the time did
come, why, people should know that it
wasn't Johns fault-'the best, the
kindest, the noblest husband that was
Eve giyer to woman. I've made him
more trouble than you can guess; my
hot temper has vexcd him-lve been
cross, impatient. and"
..Holl:'' cried 4 voice, 'you are talk
ing against my wife, and in a moment
big John Peabody rushed through the
door, graspcd the little woman in his
arms, and folded her to his heart, before
old maid aud all.
oh said Miss Simmons. sitting up
straigii a@d setting her spcetaclcs moro
firmly
"And, l.ow that you have learned all
that }DI cam" said John. turning
around to her, still holding Betty. why.
you may go!'
The chair was vacant. A dissolving
view through the door was all that was
to BIO seen Of the gossip, who started up
the road hurriedly, leaving peace be-
hind.
betty" said John, some half hour
a%fterwald, what was that sigh for?
l don't care now. but / did think, dear,
and it cut mo to the heart, how you
might have married richer. / longed
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 q bundle rolled up in a clean
towel.
This she put on her husbands knee,
who stared at her wonderingly.
II didn't mean" she said, unpinning
the bundle, ''to let it out now, but l
shall have to. Why, John, day after
tomorrow is your birthdayr'
80 It's" said John. Gracious! has
1t come around SO soonP"
"And you. dear boy" said Betty.
shaking out before his eyes = pretty
Grown affair. all edged with silk Of tho
bluest shade, that presently assumed the
proportions Of q dresSiDg-gown-'this
Is to be your present BuI you must DC
~dreadfully surprised, John, when you
get it, for oh! l didn't want you to
know"
John made tho answer lie thought
best. When he spoke again, he said,
p~erplexedly, while n small pu2Scr of be.
wilderment settled between his eyes:
''But I don't see, Betty, what ihis thing"
(laying n finger on the gown had to
do with the sigh"
THAT" said Betty, and then she
broke into a merry laugh, . at got so
mixed up with the dimplcs and the dane
ing brown eyes, that for a moment she
couldn't finish. .'Oh, John, ! was wor-
rying so over those buttons: but they
were the best l could do then. And I'd
only bought 'em yesterday two whole
dozen. And when you put that ten-dol-
lar bill in my hand l didn't hardly know
it, but l suppose l did give n little bit
of a sigh, for l was so provoked that !
hadn't waited buying them til to-day"
John caught up the little woman,
dressing-gown and all! l D. { think
they have ~quarreled again least l
have never heard of it.