The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-09-01
Selert Stury.
A USEFUL LESSON.
Taught by the Interference of a
Cosby Spinster.

Betty sighed. Now why she should
lave sighed at this particular moment no
,ne on earth could tell. And il was all
he more exaspe, a,lng becsuse John had
ust generously put into her little shapely
land q brand-new ten.dollar- And
lere hegan the trouble
"Wbai's the matter ?" he said, his face
alllng at the faint sound and his mouth
.lapping together in what those who
ynew him but little called an "obstinste
,ucker (" ..Ncw what is it !"
Betty, who just began to change the
,igh into merry little laugh ,rippling all
oVer the corners of the red lips, stopped
suddenly, tossed her head, and with
small jerk no way coHciliating sent out
be words:
You needn't insinuate, John, that I'm
always iroublesome!"
81 didn't insinuate-who's talking of
p cried he, thoroughly in.
censed, at the very idea he glared down
from bis tremendous height in extreme
irritation. sits you yourself that's for
ever insinuating and all that, and then
for You TO put it on me--it's really
y
The voice was harsh and the eyes that
looked down into hers were not pleasant
TO behold.
"And if you think, John reabody,th
I'll stand and have such things ssid to
me, you miss your guess-thats all y
cried Betty With two big red spots coming
in her cheeks as she tried TO draw her
little erect figure up to its utmost dimen
sions. Forever insinuating! / guess
you wouldn't have said that before
married you Oh, now you can, oi
course!'
"Didn't you say It FIRST, I'd like to
knowf" cried John in great excien eut
drawing nearer 10 the small creature be
called wife, who was gazing at him with
blszng eyes OF indignation; II cant
endure everythingf'
"And il you bear more than do
cried Betty wholly beyond control now,
"why, then, I'll give np," and she gave
bitter little laugh and tossed her head
again.
Here they were in the midst Of qnar'
rell These two who, but year before,
had promised TO love and protect and
help each other through lifel
s.Now," said John, and he brought his
hand down with such bang on the table
before him that Betty nearly skipped on,
OF ber little shoes, only she controlled
the start, for she would have died before
she had let John see it; "we'll have nc
more OF this nonsenseF
His face was very pale and the lines
around the mouth go drawn that ii would
have gone TO any ones heart to have
seen their expression.
81 don't know how you will change II
or help it," said Betty lightly, to conceal
her dismsv at the turn affairs bad taken,
I'm sure!" and she pushed back the
light, waving hair from her forehead With
a ssucy, Indifferent gesture.
That hair that John always smoothed
when he petted her when tired or dis,
hesrtened and called her '.child." Her
gesture struck to his heart as he glanced
at her sunny locks and the cool indiffer.
ent face underneath, and before be knew
it he was say ing:
There's no help for it now, sup
posp."
ooh, yes, there is," said Betty in the
cool, calm way that ought not TO have
deceived him; but men know 30 little OF
women's hearts although they may live
with them for years in closest friendship.
You needn't try to endure il, John Pea.
body, If you don't want to. Tn sure
don't care"
"What do you meanf"
Her husband grssped her arms and
compelled the merry brown eyes TO look
up to him.
Il can 60 back to mothers, y Bald Be-,
ty provokingiy. "She wants TIE any dav
and then you can live quietly and live to
suit yourself, and it will be better all
arouud
Instead OF bringing out violent pro.
!estation OF fond affection and ret1orse
which she fully expected, John drew
himself up. looked at her hxedly for 9
long, long minute, then dropped bel
arm, and said, through white lips very
slowly:
Yes, it may he. as you say, better al
around. You know best;" and was
gone from the room before she could re
cover from her astonishment enough to
utter sound
With wild CRY Betty rushed across
the room, Arst tossing the ten dollar bill
savagely as far as she could throw it,
and, e nging herself on the comfortable
cd sofa, broke into food OF bitter
first she had shell during her
married life
SLOW could he have done it--oh,
what have said2 Oh, John, John"
The bird twittered 10 his little cage
over in tue window among the plants,
Betty remembered like flash how John
and she filed the seed cup that very
morning, how he laughed when she tried
to put 1t in between The bars. and when
she couldn't reach without getting upon
a chsiI he took her in his arms and held
her up, Just like a chill, that she nigh
fix il to suit herself. And the "bits'
that he had said ir his tender way, thev
had gone down to the depths Of nes fool.
ish little heart, sending her about 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 be knew why sighed" she moan.
ed "Oh, my husband! Birthdays
will make any difference now.
Oh, why cau't I die p
How long she stayed there, crouched
down on the old sofa, ehe never knew.
Over and over the dreadful scene she
went, realizing its worst features each
time in despair, until. heavy footsteps
proclaimed that some one was on the
point of breaking in upon her uninvited
aud voice out in the little kitchen
cried.
"B2ttyi"
Betty sprane up, choked back hel
sobs, and tried with all her might tC