Daily globe., 1883-06-03

Huu Su0 Iuleu Tic Seeu-Cup tldb very
morning, how he laughed when she tried
to put it in between the bars, and when
she couldn't reach without getting upon
chair, he took her in his great arms.
and held her up, just like child, that
she might fix it to suit herself. And the
"bits" that he said in his tender way
they hadgone down to the depths of her
foolish little heart, sending her about
her work singing for very gladness of
spirit. And now!
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into her
rosy ears to shut out the birds chirp-
ing.
eff he knew why 1 sighed" she
moaned. "Oh, my husband Birth
days-nothing will make any difference
now. Oh, why can't I dep"
How long she stayed there, crouched
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 !" and heavy foot
steps proclaimed that some one was on
the point of breaking in upon her unin-
vited.
Betty sprang up, choked back her
sobs, and tried with all her might to
compose herself and remove all traces
of 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
twelvemonth previous, Miss Elvira
Simmons had made the very most of her
opportunities, and by dint of making
great parade over helping her in some
domestic work, such as house-cleaning,
dressmaking and the like, the maiden
lady had managed to ply her other voca-
tion, that of newsgatherer, at one and
the same time, pretty efectually.
She always called her by her first
name, though Betty resented it; and she
made great handle of her friendship on
every occasion, making John rage vio-
lently and VOW thousand times the
"old maid" should walkl
But she never had-and now, scouting
dimly, like carrion after its prey, that
trouble might come to the pretty little
white house, the make-mischief had come
to do her work, if devastation had really
commenced.
"Been crying y 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 fear
fully. "Only folks do say that you
and your husband don't live happy-but
la! l wouldn't mind-I know 'tain't your
fault"
Betty's heart stood still Had it come
to this! John and she not to live happyl
To be sure they didn't, as she remem-
bered with pang the dreadful scene Of
words and hot tempers; but had it got
ten around so soon-a story in every
body's mouth?
With all her distress of mind she was
saved from opening her mouth. Sc
Miss Simmons, failing in that, was
forced to go on.
can L tell folks SO" she said, rocking
herself back and forth to witness the e.
feet OF her words, "when they git tc
talkin', so you can't blame me if things
don't go easy for you, I'm sure!"
"You tell folks SOP" repeated Betty,
vaguely, and standing quite still.
"What? I don't understand"
"Why, that the blame is all his
cried the old maid, exasperated at her
strange mood and her dullness. "I say.
says [, why they couldn't no one hive
with him, let alone that pretty wife he's
got. That's what 1 say, Betty. And
then tell 'em what 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 wo-
man in the chair that she Jumped in con-
fusion at the storm she had raised. and
stared blindly into the blazing eye and
face rosy with righteous Indignation
her only thought was how to get away
from the storm she hadraised, but could
not stop. But she was forced to stay,
Tor Betty stood just in front of the chair,
and blocked up the way, 80 she
skunk back into the smallest corner of
it and took it as best she could. "My
husband!" cried Betty, dwelling with
pride on the pronoun-a 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 ever
Waa OivpD IN q 1uopaoD T,,,o ,SI. L.: