News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-06-08

hOW lOuS SAO stay Gu eiICAO, OAOuOIS~'
down on the old sofa, she never knew.
Over and over the dreadful scene she
went, realizing its worst features each
time in despair, until voice out in the
kitchen said, "Betty p and heavy foot
steps proclaimed that some one was OF
the point of breaking in upon her unin
vited.
Betty sprang up, choked back hel
sobs and tried with all her might tt
compose herself and remove all traces
of her trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible one
she could have under the circumstan'
ces. Crowding herself on terms of the
closest intimacy with the pretty bride:
who with her husband had moved into
the village twelvemonth previous,
Miss Elvira Simmons had made the
very most of her opportunities, and by
dint of making great parade over help
ing her in some domestic work, such
as house cleaning, dress-making, and
the like, the maiden lady had managed
to ply her other vocation, that of news
gatherer, at one and the same time,
pretty effectua!ly.
She always called her by her first
name, though Betty resented it; and
she made a great handle of her friend
ship on every occasion, making John
rage violently, and VOW a thousand
times the sold maid should walk
But she never had-and, now, scent
ing dimly, like carton after its prey,
that trouble might come to the pretty
little white house. the make-mischiei
had come to do her work, if devastation
had really commenced.
"Been crying |" she said, more plain
ly than politely, and sinking down into
the pretty chintz-covered rocking-chair
with an energy that showed she meant to
stay, and made the chair creak fearfully.
''Only folks do say that you and your
husband don't live happy-but la ! 1
wouldn't mind-I know 'taln't your
fault"
Betty's heart stood still. Had
it come to this John and she
not to live happy To be sure
they didn't, as she remembered with
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.
can I tell folks So" she said, rock
ing herself back and forth to witness
the effect of her words, when they git
to talkin', so you can't blame me if
things don't go easy for you, i'm
sure ?"
"You tell folks so % repeated Betty
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 dullness. 81 say,
says I, why they couldn't no one live
with him, let alone that pretty wife he's
got. That's what 1 say, Betty. And
then tell 'em what a queer man he is,
how cross, an"
"And you dare to tell people such
things of my husband ?" cried Betty,
drawing herself up to her EXTREMIST
height, and towering SO over the old
woman in the chair that she jumped in
confusion at the storm ne 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 the way, so
she skunk back into the smallest corner
of it, and took it as best she could.
" My husband I" cried Betty, dwelling
with pride on the pronoun-at least, if
they were to part, she would say it over
lovingly as much as she could till the
last moment; and then, when the time
did come, why, people should know
that it wasn't J ohn's fault" the best,
the kindest, the noblest husband that
was ever given to woman. I've made
him more trouble than you can guess;
my hot temper has vexed him-I've
been cross, impatient, and"-
"Hold p cried voice "you're talk
ing against my wife p and in 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
"Oh r. said Miss Simmons, sitting up
straight and setting her spectacles more
firmly.
"And now that you've learned all
that you can, said John, turning round
to her, still holding Betty, "why- you
may gor'
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 hurriedly, leaving peace be-
hind.
"Betty," said John some half-hour
afterward, "what was the sigh for ? I
don't care now, but did think, dear,
and it cut me 10 the heart, how you
might have married richer. / longed to
put ten times ten into your hand,
Betty, and it CALLED me because I
Betty smiled, and twisted away from
his grasp. Running into the bedroom.
she presently returned, still smiling,
with bundle rolled up in a clean towel.
This she put on her husbands knee,
who stared at her wonderingly.
(" didn't mean," she said, unpinning
the bundle, 8" to let it out now, but 1
shall have to. Why, John, day after
tomorrow is your birthday"
$50 It's - said John, "Gracious
has it come round SO soon ?"
"And you, dear boy" said Betty,
shaking out before his eyes a pretty
brown affair, all edged with silk of the
bluest shade that presently assumed the
shape of dressing gown-"this is your
present. But you must be dreadfully
surprised, John, when you get it, for
oh, I didn't want you to known
John made the answer he thought
best. When he spoke again, he said,
perplexedly, while small pucker of be-
wilderment settled between his eyes
But don't see, Betty, what this