Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-05-02

Betty stuffed her fingers hard into her
rosy ears to shut out the birds chirp-
ing.
"If he knew why I sighed" she
moaned. ooh, my hrsbaldl Birth
dOys-nothing will make any difference
now. Oh, why can't 1 die?"
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-
ton, that of newsgD.lerer, at one and
the same time, pretty effectually.
She always called her by her first
name, though Betty resented it; and she
made a great handle of her friendship on
every occasion, making John rage VIC.
lently and vow a thousand times the
sold maid" should walk
But she never had-and now, seeming
dimly, like corrion after its prey, that
trouble might come to the pretty little
white house, the make-mischief had come
10 do her wolk, if devastation had really
commenced.
"Been crying" she said, more plain
Iy 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
Ia wouldn't mind-I know faint 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 remem-
bered with pang the dreadful sceue 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. So
Miss Simmons, failing in that, was
forced to go on.
can 1 tell folks so" she said, rocking
herself back and forth TO witness the eff
feet 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 SOP" repeated Betty,
vaguely, and standing quite still.
"What? l 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 1, why they couldn't no one live
with him, let alone that pretty wife he's
got. That's what / say, Betty. And
then 1 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 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 had raised, but couli
not stop. But she was forced to stay
for Betty stood just in front OF the chair
and blocked up the way, SO sh,
skunk back into the smallest corner O
it and took it as best she could. "My
husband /" cried Betty. dwelling will
pride on the pronoun- at least, if they
were to part, she would say it over Low
ingly as much as she could till the las
moment; and then, when the time di,
come, why people should know that
: wasn't Johns fault-"the best, tn
I kindest, the noblest husband that eve
] was given to a woman. I've made hin
: more trouble than you can guess; m
' hot temper has vexed him-I've bee
cross, impatient, and"
"Hold !" cried voice, "you're talk
ing against my wife " and in a momen
big John Peabody rushed through til
, door, grasped the little woman in hi
, arms, and folded her to his heart, RICH
' before old maid and all
I "Oh |" said Miss Simmons, sittin
g up straight, and setting her spectacle
more firmly.
"And, now that you've learned o
that you can," said John, turning roun
! o her, still hold ing Betty, "why-yo
( may gol"
The chair was vacant. A dissolvin
d view through the door was all that We
G to be seen of the gossip, who started u
Y the road hurriedly, leaving peace b.
a hind.
Betty" said John, some half hou
j. afterward, "what was the sigh forp
J, don't care now, but I did think, dea
" and it cut me to the heart, how yo
a might have married richer. 1 longed
r put ten times ten into your hand, Bett,
v and it CALLED me because couldn't"
Betty smiled and twisted away fro
II his grasp. Running into the bedroo