Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-06-24

Betty remembered liks lash how
John and ahs nllsd ths ssea cup Ehns
very morning. bow "a laughed hsn
abe tried ID put IL basuoon It's hnxn. and
when abe couldn't reach without getting
np0n ohair. hs took her ii hld great
arms, and held hen up. Just Ike child,
that she might 6x if to suik herself
And the ssbits' Tint be said II his tsn-
der way. they bad gone down % Che
depths az her foolish Little heart. send
ing her about her work singing for very
gladness Of spirit. And now
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into
her rosy ears toshut ont the bird chirp-
Ing.
's1 he knew Why sighed" she
moaned. ''Oh. my husband Birth.
days nothing VIII make any difference
now. Oh, Why can't dep
How long she stayed there, crouched
down on the old sofa, she never knew.
Over and over the dreadful scene aha
went, realizing It's worst features each
time II despair, until heavy footsteps
proclaimed that some one was On the
point Of breaking ID upon her uninvited.
and voice out N the kitchen cried:
'sBettyl"
Betty sprang up. choked back her
sObs. and tried with I'll her might 70
compose herself. and remove all traces
Of the trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible
she could have under the circum-
stances. Crowding herself on terms 81
the 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 Opportunities, and By
dint Of making great parade over help
ing her in some domestic work, such
as housekeeping, dressmak:ng and the
like, the maiden lady had managed to
ply her other vocation, that Of news
gatherer, at one and the same time.
pretty efectualIy.
She always called her By her first
name, though Betty resented it: and she
made great handle Of her friendship
on every occasion, making John rage
violently and vow thousand times the
sold maid" should walk
But she never had and now scenting
dimly, like carrion after its prey,
that trouble might come to the pretty
little white house, the make mischief
had come to do her work, If devastation
had really commenced.
"Been crying r. she said, more plain
II than politely. and sinking down into
the pretty chintz-Covered rocking chair
with an energy that showed she meant
to stay, made the chair creak fear
fully. 'Only folks do say that you and
your husband don't live happy but Ia
I wouldn't mind--T know faint your
fault.
Betty's heart stood still. Had IL come
to thise John and she not to live hap
pyl TO be sure they didn't, as she re-
membered with pang the dreadful
scenN Of words and hot tempers; but
had 1t gotten around 90 often-a story
in everybodys mouthS With all her
distress Of mind she was saved from
opening her mouth. Sc Miss Simmons,
failing in that, was forced to 60 on.
''An' / tell folks 80, " she said, rocking
herself back and forth to witness the
effect of her words. sswhen they git TO
talkin'. so you can't blame me il things
don't 60 easy for you, I'm sure T.
''You tell folks sol" repeated Betty,
vaguely, and standing quite still.
'sWhat9 don't understand you.
s'Why, that the blame Is all his'n,
cried the old maid, exasperated at her
strange mood and her dullness. II say,
says /, why they couldn't no one live
with him, let alone that pretty wife he's
got That's what I Bay. Betty. And
then, ! tell 'em what queer man heis,
how cross. and"
ssAnd you dare to tell people such
things 0f my husbandf" cried Betty.
drawing herself up to her EXTREMIST
height. and towering % over the old
woman il the chair that she jumped in
confusion at the storm she had raised,
and stared blindly into the blazing eyes
and face rosy with Indignation her
only thought was how 70 get away from
the storm she had raised, but could not
stop. But she YVES forced to stay, fOr