Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-07-11

sz1G% particular moment no one on
earth could tell. And it was all the
more exasperating because John had
just generously put into her little
shapely hand brand new ten dollar
bill. And here began the trouble.
"What's the matter 20 he said, his
face falling at the faint sound, and
his mouth clapping together in what
those who knew him but little called
an obstinate pucker." ''Now what
is it?n
Betty who just begun to change
the sigh into merry little laugh rip
ping all over the corners of the red
lips, stopped suddenly, tossed her
head and, with small jerk no way
conciliating, sent out the words
"You needn't insinuate, John, that
I'm always troublesome"
81 didn't nsinuate-who's talking
of insinuating?" cried he, thoroughly
incensed at the very idea, and backing
away few steps, he glared down from
his tremendous height in extreme irri-
tation. 'It's you yourself that's for
ever insinuating and all that, and
then for you to put it on me-its real
ly abominablew
The voice was harsh, and the eyes
that looked down into hers were not
pleasant to behold.
"And if you think, John Peabody,
that TIL stand and have such things
said to me, you miss your guess
that's all ~ cried Betty, with two big
red spots coming in her cheeks as
she tried to draw her little erect fig
ure up to it's utmost dimentions.
'Forever insinuating! / guess you
wouldn't have said that before I mar
ried you. Oh, now you can, of course!'
didn't you say it first, I'd like to
know?" cried John in great excite
ment, drawing nearer to the small
creature he called wife, who was gaz-
ing at him with blazing eyes of indig-
nation; 81 can't endure everything "
"And if you bear more than I do"
cried Betty, wholly beyond control
now, ''why, then I'll give up" and
she gave bitter little laugh and
tossed her head again.
Here they were in the midst of a
quarrel! These two, who, but year
before, had promised to love and pro-
tect and help each other through life!
"Now," said John, and he brought
his hand down with such q bang on
the table before him that Betty near
ly skipped out her little shoes only
she controlled the start, for she would
have died before she had let John see
it, "we1l have no more of this non
sensew
His face was very pale, and the
lines around the mouth so drawn that
it would have gone to any ones heart
to have seen their expression.
~ don't know how you will change
it, or help it," said Betty, lightly, to
conceal her dismay at the turn affairs
had taken, "I'm surew and she push
ed back the light, waving hair from
her forehead with saucy, Indifferent
gesture.
That hair that John always smooth
ed when he petted her when tired or
disheartened, and called her child
Her gesture struck to his heart as he
glanced at her sunny locks and the
cool, indifferent face underneath, and
before he knew it he was saying
There is no help for it now, I sup
pose."'
"Oh, yes, there is" said Betty, still
in the cool, calm way that ought not
to have deceived him. But men know
so little of women's hearts, although
they may live with them for years in
closest friendship. "You needn't try
to endure it, John Peabody, if you
don't wantto. I'm sure I don't care!''
"What do you mean?"
Her husband grasped her arms and