The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-02-27

time in despair. until a voice out in the
kitchen said: "Bctty" and heavy foot
falls proclaimed that some one was on
the point of breaking in upon her unn-
vited.
Betty sprang up, choking back her
sobs, 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 under the circumstance
Crowding herself on terms of the closest
intimacy with the pretty bride, who with
her husband had moved into the village
a twelve-month previous, Miss Elvira
Simmons had made the very most of her
opportunities, and by dint Of making
great parade over helping her in some
domestic work such as house cleaning
dress making and the like. the maiden
lady had managed to ply her other voca
ton, that Of news-gatherer at one and
the same time, pretty cfcctually.
She always called hcrby the first name,
though Betty resented it: and she made
a great handle of her friendship on every
occasion, making John rage violently
and VOW thousand times the cold
maid" should walk.
But She never had-aud now, seeming
dimly like a carton after its own prey,
that trouble might come 10 the pretty
little white house, the makemischief
had come to do her work; if devastation
had not already commenced.
"Bcen cryingM 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 crcak fearfully.
"Only folks do say that you and your
husband don't live happy--but la! L
wouldn't mind know faint your
fault"
Bctty's heart stood still. Had it come
to this2 John and she not live happy!
To be sure they didn't, as she remcm-
bcred with pang the dreadful scene of
words and hot tempers; but had it got
ten around so soon-a story in every
body's MOUTH
With all her distress of mind she was
saved from opening her mouth. SO Miss
Simmons, failing in that was forced to
90 on.
d" An tell folks So" she said. rock
ing herself back and forth to witness the
/
talkin'; so you can't blame me if things
don't 90 easy for you, I'm sure"
"You tell folks" repeated Betty,
vaguely, and standing quite still.
"What7 Idon't understand
"Why, that the blame is all his'n,"
cried the old maid, exaspcrated at her
strange mood and her dizziness. 81 say
says /, why there couldn't no one live
with him, let alone that pretty wife he's
got. That's what | say, Betty. And
then tell cm what a queer man he is,
how cross, an
"And you dare to 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 in
confusion at the storm she had
raised, and stared blindly into
the blazing eyes and face rosy with
righteous indignation-he 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 blocked up the
way, so she skunk bask into the smallest
corner of it and took it as best she could.
"My husband!n cried Betty, 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 was Johns fault-"thc best, the kind
est the nohest husband that ever was
given to a woman. I've made him more
trouble than you can guess; my hot
temper has vexed him-I've been cross,
and impatient and
"Hold :" cried voice, "you'rc talking
against my wife, and in Il moment big
John Peabody rushed through the door.
grasped the little woman in his arms and
folded her to his heart, right before old
maid and all.
"Ohl" said Miss Simmons, sitting up
straight and setting her spectacles more
firmly.
"And now that you've learned all that
you can" said John, turning around to
her, still holding Betty, "why-you may
60"
The chair was vacant. A dissolving
view through the door was all that was
to be seen of the gossip. who started up
the road hurriedly, leaving peace behind.
betty" said John, some half hour
afterward, "what was the sigh forl l
don't care now, but did think, dear,
and it cut me to the heart, how YOU might
have married richer | longcd to put
ten times ten into your hand, Betty, and
it CALLED me because | couldn't
Betty smiled and twisted away from
his grasp. Running into the bedroom
she presently returned still smiling, with
a bundle rolled up in q clean towc, This
size put on her husbands knee, who
stared at her wonderingly.
II didn't mean,' she said, unpinning
the bundle, ito get it out now, but
shall have to. Why, John, day after
to morrow is your birthday"
$50 it's" said John. Gracious ha,
it come around so soon"
And you, dear bov," said Betty,
shaking out before his eye pretty,
brown affair, all edged with silk of the
bllest shade, that presently assumed the
proportions of a dressing gown; this i
to be your present. But You must be
dreadfully surprised, John, when yor