Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-07-11
"Why, that the blame is all his'n,


her strange mood and her dullness.
81 say says /, why they couln'd no
one live with him, let alone that pref
ty wife he's got. That's what I say,
Betty And then, / tell EN- what
queer man he is, how cross, and''
"And you dare tell people such
things of my husband ?'' cried Betty,
drawing herself up to her EXTREMIST
height, and towering so over the old
woman in the chair that she jumped
up in confusion at the storm she had
raised, and stared blindly into the
blazing eye and face rosy with indig-
nation-her only thought was how
to get away from the storm she had
raised, but could not stop. But she
was forced to stay, for Betty stood
just in front of the chair, and block
ed up the way, so she skunk back in
to the smallest corner of it as best
she could. "My husband!" Betty
cried, dwelling with pride on the
pronoun-at least, if they were to
part, she would say it over lovingly
| 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-ssthe best
the kindest, the noblest husband
that ever was given to q woman.
I've made him more trouble than
you can guess; my hot temper has
| vexed him-I've been cross, impa-
tient, and"
"Hold!" cried voice, syou're
talking gainst my wife !" and in a mo-
ment big John Peabody rushed
in the door, grasped the little woman
in his arms, and folded her to his
heart, right before the old maid.
"Oh!" said Miss Simmons, sitting
up straight and setting her specta-
cles more firmly.
"And now that you've learned all
that you can," turning round to her
still holding Betty, "why-you may
go!n
The chair was vacant. A dissolv-
ing view through the door was all
that was to be seen of the gossip, who
started up the road hurriedly, leav-
ing peace behind.
Betty" said John, some half an
| hour afterward, swhat was the sigh
| for? / don't care now, but did
think, dear, and it cut me to the
heart, how you might have married
richer. / longed to put ten times
ten into your hand, Betty, but it
CALLED me because / couldn't.
Betty smiled and twisted away
from his grasp. Running into the
bedroom she presently returned,
still smiling, with q bundle rolled
up in clean towel This she put
on her husbands knee, who stared
at her wonderingly.
II didn't mean,' she said, unpin-
ming the bundle, "to let it out, now,
but shall have to. Why, John, day
after tomorrow is your birthday !"
$50 It's !" said John. "Gracious |!
has it come round so soon?"
"And, you dear boy" said Betty,
shaking out before his eyes pref
ty brown affair, all edged with silk
of the bluest shade, that presently
assumed the proportions of a dress
ing gown, "this is to be your present.
But you must be dreadfully surpris-
ed, John, when you get it, for l did
not want you to know! ~
John made the answer he thought
best. When he spoke again, he said,
perplexedly, while small quicker
of bewilderment settled between his
eyes:
"But l don't see, Betty, what this
thing" laying one finger on the
dressing-gown, "has to do with the
Sigh"
"That," said Betty, and then she
broke into merry laugh that gotso
mixed up with the dimples and the
dancing brown eyes that for a mo-