The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1885-04-01
TWO DOZEN BUTTONS.

Betty sighed. Now, why she should
have sighed at this particular moment
no o1e on earth could tell. And it was
az the more exasperating because John
mad just generously put into her little
shapely hand a brand new ten dollar bill
And here began the trouble.
whats the matter2" he said, his face
FALLING at the faint sound and his mouth
clapping together in what those who
knew him bit little called an obstinate
pucker. New what is it2"
Betty, who had just begun to change
the sigh into merry little laugh rip
pling all over the corners of -the red lips
stopped suddenly, tossed her head, and,
with a small jerk no way conciliatory
sent out the words:
"You needn't iGsinuate, John, that
am always troublesome" p"
II didn't insinuate-who's talkingof
insinuating7n cried he, thoroughly in.
censed at the very idea, and backing
away few steps, he glared down from
tremendous height, in extreme irrita-
.ition. ''Its yourself who is forever in
fsinuating and all that, and then for you
1.-The voice was harsh and the eyes that
bokea down into hers was not pleasant
70 behold.
"And if you think, John Peabody,
that I'll stand and have such things said
70 me, you miss your guess--that's ALL"
cried Betty, with two big red spots COM
ing in her cheeks, as she tried to draw
her little, Jerect figure TO its utmost di-
mensiops. Forever insinuating
guess you wouldn't have said that before
married you. oh, now you can, of
course ~
Didn't you say it first, I'd like to
knows" cried John, in great excitement,
drawing nearer the small creature he
called t'wiie, /" who was gazing at him
with ,lazing eyes of Indignation; ~
can endure everythinglp
''And if you bear more than do, !"
cried Betty, wholly beyond control now,
''why, then, l'll give up, and she gave
bitter little laugh and tossed her head
again.
And here they were in the midst of a
quarrel. These two who, but year be-
fore, had promised to love and protect
and help each other through life.
"Now," said John, and he brought
his hand down with such bang on the
table before him him that Betty nearly
skipped out of her little shoe-only she
controlled the start, for she would have
died before she had let John see it, 1--WE
will have no more of this nonsensep
His face was very pale and the lines
around the mouth so drawn that it would
have gone to any ones heart to have
zen their expression.
II don't know how you will change
or help it, said Betty lightly, to hide
er dismay at the turn affairs had taken,
N sure and she pushed back the light,
aving hair from her forehead with a
aucy, Indifferent gesture.
That hair that John always smoothed
when he petted her, tired or disheart-
ened, and called her "child.n Her ges-
turc struck to his heart as he glanced at
her sunny locks I'D the COOL indifTer-
ent face underneath, and before he knew
II he was saying
"There is no help for it now, 1 sup
pose"
q .'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 en-
dure it, John Peabody, if you don't
want TO. I'm sure l don't carem
"What do YOU mean2
Her husband grasped her arms and
compelled the merry brown eyes to look
up to him.
II can go back to mothers" 4" said
Betty, provokingly. ''She wants me
any day, and then you can live quietly
and to suit yourself, and it will be bet
ter all around"
Instead of bringing out a violent pro-
y testation of fond affection and remorse,
which sic fully expected, John drew
himself up, looked at her fXedly for a
long, long minute then dropped her
arm, and with white lips said slowly:
"Yes, it may be better as you say, bet
ter all around You know best" and
was gone from the room before she
could recover from her astonishment
enough TO utter a sound
With a wild cry Betty rushed across
the room, first tossing the ten dollar
bill savagely as far as she could throw
it, and finging herself on the comforta-
Bile old sofa, broke into flood of bitter
tesrs-the first she had shed during
her married life
"How could he have done it. Oh
what have said2 Oh, John, Johnn
The bird twittered in his little cage
over in the window among the plants
Betty remembered like fash how JOIN
and she had(illed the seed-cup that yer!