The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-01-26

,elf. And then "bits'' that he SAID In |
lis tender way, why they had gone
lown to the depths Of her foolish little
heart, sending her about her work sing
ing for very gladness of spirit. And
nowl
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into
her rosy ears to shut out the birds
chirping.
"If he knew why 1 sighed" she
"Oh, my husbandl' Birth
days-nothing will make any difference
now. Oh. why can't dieP
How long she stayed there, cIouched
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: "Bettyl" and heavy foot
steps proclaimed that someone was on
the point of breaking In upon her un-
invited.
Betty sprang up, choked back her
sobs, and tried with all her might to
compose herself and remove all traces
Of trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible
one she could have under the circum.
stances. Crowding herself on terms
of 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 opportuni-
ties, 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
vocation, that of news-gathering at one
and the same time, pretty effectually.
She always called her by her first
name, though Betty inwardly resented
it; and she made great handle Of hel
friendship on every occasion, making
John rage violently and vow a thousand
times the sold maid" should walk.
But she never had-and now, seem
ing dimly, like a carrion after its prey
that trouble might come to the pretty
little white house, the make-mischiet
had come to do her work, If devastation
had really commenced.
"Been crying?" she said, more plainl!
than politely, and sinking down int,
the pretty chintz-covered rocking chai
with an energy that showed she mean
to stay, and made the chair creak fear
fully. "Only folks do say that yo1
and your husband don't live happy
but laI L wouldn't mind-I know
faint your fault"
Betty's heart stood still. Had /
come to this? John and she not to liv
happily To be sure they didn't, as sh
remembered with pang the dreadfu
scene of words and hot tempeTs; bu
had it gotten around so soon-a sic
in everybody's mouthP
With all her distress of mind sh
was saved from opening her mouth. \
Miss Simmons, failing in that, wa
J forced to go on.
: cam 1 tell the folks so," she said
rocking herself back and forth t
witness the effect OF her words, "whe
: they git to talzin', so you can't blam
me if things don't go easy for you, III
sure"
"You tell folks soP" repeated Betty
J vaguely, and standing quite stIl
"Whatp don't understand.
"Why, that the blame is all his'n.
cried the old maid, exasperated at he
strange mood and her dullness. "I sa,
says 1, why, there couldn't no OF
live with him, let alone that prett
wife he's got.' That is what sa,
Betty. And then L tell 'em what
queer man he is, how cross, an"
"And you dare 10 tell people sue
things of my busbandP" cried Bett
! drawing herself up to her extreme
height. and towering so over the o.
; woman in the chair that she jumped
, confusion at the storm she had raise,
| and stared blindly into the blair
eyes and face rosy with righteous indi
nation, her only thought was how to g
away from the storm she had raise
; but could not stop. But she was force
to stay, for Betty stood just in front
the chair and blocked up the way,
she skunk back into the smallest corn,
of it and took it as best she coult
my husbandl' cried Betty, dwellir
with pride on the pronoun-at least,
they were to part, she would say it ov,
lovingly as much as she could till IL
last moment; and then, when the tin
: did come, why, people should know tn
it wasn't Johns fault-''the best, ii
kindest, the noblest husband that W
ever given to woman. I've MAJ
him more trouble than you can gues
d my hot temper has vexed him--I'
9 ben cross, impatient and"
''Holdl" cried a voice; "you're tai
ing against my wifel'' and in a nome
big John Peabody rushed through Il
I door, grasped the little woman in b
d arms, and folded her to his heart, rig
!, before old maid and all.
r "OhI" said Miss Simmons, sitting I
n traight, and setting her spectacle
h more firmly.
"And, now that you've learned 8
+ that you can, "said john, turning rour
$ to her, still holding Betty, "why-yC
d may gol"
h The chair was vacant. A dissolviI
view through the door was all that W
s to be seen of the gossip, who start,
T up the road hurriedly, leaving pea
v behind.
: Betty" said John, some half-hor
L aftaryyard ttUhat NyaS tho ei ph forp