Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-31
TWO DOZEN BUTTONS.


sighed at this particular moment no one on
earth could tell. And it was all the more exas-
perating because John had just generously put
into her little shapely hand a brand-new ten
dollar bill. And here began the trouble.
whats the natter" 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 p"
Betty. who had Just begun to change the sigh
into merry little laugh rippling all over the
corners of the red lips. stopped suddenly tossed
her head. and, with a small jerk no way con-
cIliatory sent out the words:
'You needn't insinuate, John. that am
always troublesome"
II didn't Observation-Disclosures talking of insinu-
ating?" cried he thoroughly incensed at the
very idea, and backing awaya few steps, he
extreme irritation. Its yourself who is for
ever insnuating and all that, and then for You
to put it on me-its really abOminable."
The voice was harsh and the eyes that looked
down into hers were not pleasant to behold.
And If you think, John Peabody. that FL
stand and have sucn things said to me, you miss
your guess-that's ALI" cried Betty, with two
big red spots coming in her cheeks, as she tried
to draw her little, erect figure to its utmost
dimensions. Forever insjnuating / guess
YOU wouldn't have said that before l married
yOu- Oh, now you can. of cOursei'
Didn't you say it first, I'd like to know"
cried John, in great excitement, drawing nearer
the small creature he called '.wife," who was
gazing at him with blazing eyes of Indignation;
Il can't endure everytninge'
And IL you boar 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.
Aud here they were in the midst Of quarrel
These two VINO, but year before. had promised
to love and protect andhelp each other through
life
Now" said John. and he brought his hand
down with such bang on the table before him
that Betty nearly skipped out of her little shoes
only she controlled the start, for she would
have died before she had let John see 1t, 1--WE
will have no more of this nonsense"
His face was very pale and the lines around
the mouth so drawn that 1t would have gone to
any ones heart to have seen their expression.
Il don't know how you will change it or help
it," said Betty lightly, to hide her dismay at the
turn affairs had taken, 'I'm sure" and she
pushed back the light. waving hair from her
forehead with saucy, Indifferent gesture.
That hair that John always smoOthed when he
petted her. tired OF disheartened and called her
| child" Her gesture struck to his heart as he
glanced at her sunny locks, and the COOL indif-
ferent face underneath, and before he knew it he
was saying:
There is no help for it now, I suppose"
'Oh. yes there is, said Betty, still in that 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 need not try to endure
| it, John Peabody, if you don't want to. I'm sure
| don't carel"
What do you mean?"
Her husband grasped her arms and compelled
the merry brown eyes to look up to him.
Il can 20 back to mothers" said Betty, pro-
vOkingly. ''She wants me any day, and then
you can live quietly and to suit yourself, and it
will be better all around"
Instead of bringing out violent protestation
of fond affection and remOrse, which she fully
expected, John drew himself up, looked at her
fiXedly for long. long minute, then dropped
her arm, and with white lips said slowly:
.Yes, it may be as you say. better ali around.
You know best" and was gone from the room
before she could recover from her establishment
enough to utter sound.
With avid cry Betty rushed across the room,
first tossing the ten-doar bill savagely far as
she could throw it. and f1ingng herself on the
comfortable old sofa. broke into a flood Of Bit
ter tears-the first she had shed during her mar
ried life.
How could he have done it! Oh, what have
/ said? Oh, John, JOhnl'
The bird twittered in his little cage over in
the window among the plants. Betty remem-
bered like fash how John and she had filled
the seed-cup that very morning; how he had
laughed when she tried to put 1t In between the
bars and when she couldn't reach without get
and held her up. just like child, that she
might fix it to suit herself.
And the "bits" he had said In his tender way,
they had gone 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 rose
ears to shut out the birds chirping.
If he only knew why sighed" she moaned.
"Oh my husband. Birthdays nothing will
make any difference now. On, why can't l
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 a
voice out in the kitchen said: "Betty" and
heavy footballs proclaimed that some one was
on the point of breaking in upon her unlimited
Betty sprang up, choking back her ssbs, 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 had under the circumstance. Crowd
ing herself on terms of the closest intimacy
with the pretty bride. who, with her husband,
had moved into the village twevemOnth pre-
yious, Miss Elvira Simmons had made the very
most of her opportunities and by dnt OF max
ing great parade over helping her in some do
nesfic work such as house-cleaning, dress max
ing and the like, the maiden lady had managed
to ply her other VOCATION that OF news-gatherer
at one and the same time, pretty effectually.
She always called her by the first name
though Betty resented it: and she made great
handle or her friendship on every occasion, max
ing John rage violently and VOW a thousand
times the ''Old maid" should walk.
But she never had-and now, scenting dimIy
like carton after its own prey that trouble
might come to he pretty little white house, the
make mischief had come to do her work; If de-
vastatiOn had not alreadycommenced
Been cryingi" she said, more plainly than
politely, sinking down into the pretty chintz-
covered rocking chair with an energy that
showed that she meant to stay and made the
chair creak tearfully.
Only folks do say that you and your husband
don't live happy-but la wouldn't mind-I
know faint your fault"
Betty's heart stood STILL Had it come to this?
John and she not live happy! To be sure they
didn't, as she remembered with a pang the dread
full scene Of words and hot tempers; but had 1t
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.
"An' tell folks so" she said rocking 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?" repeated Betty, vaguely
and standing quite still. What? ] don't un-
derstand.'
why. that the blame is all his'n," cried the
old maid, eXasperated at her strange mood and