The Osceola times., 1885-08-22
A USEFUL LESSON.
Taught by the Interference OF a
Gossipv Spinster.

Gossipv spinster.
Betty sighed. Now why she should
have sighed at this particular moment
no one on earth could tell. And it was
all the more exasperating because John
had just generously put into her little
shapcly hand, a brand-new ten dollar
bill. And here began the trouble.
Whats the matter, he said, his face
falling at the faint sound, and his mouth
clapping together in what those who
knew him but little called an obstinate
pucker." "Now what is it."
Betty, who just began to change the
sigh into merry little laugh. ripping
al over the corners Of the red lips, stop
ped suddenly. tossed her head, and with
small jerk, no way conciliating, sent
out the words:
you needA't insinuate, John, that L m
always troublesomer'
81 didn't insinuate-who's talking of
insinuatingP" cried he, thoroughly in
censed ut the very idea, and backing
away few steps, he glared down from
bis tremendous height in extreme irrita-
ton. "It's you yourself that's forever
insinuating and all that, and then for
you to put it on me-it's really abom-
tnable!"
The voice was harsh, and the eyes
that looked down into hers were not
pleasant to behold.
And il you think, John Peabody,
that I'll stand and have such things said
TO me, you miss your guess-that's ALI"
cried Betty, with two big red spots
coming In her cheeks as she tried to
draw her little erect figure up to its
utmost dimensions. Forever insinuat-
ing guess you wouldn' Z have said that
before ! married you. Oh, now you
can. of courser'
Didn't you say it first I'd like TO
know?" cried John, In great excitement,
drawing nearer to the small creature he
called wife, who was gazing at him with
blazing eyes Of indignation; 'Ican't en-
dure everything!"
And II you bear more than do, {"
cried Betty, wholly beyond control now,
why, then I'll give up" and she gave q
bitter little laugh and tossed her head
again.
Here they were in the midst of a quar-
rel! These two, who, but year before,
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 that Betty nearly
skipped out Of her little shoes, only she
controlled the start, for she would have
died before she had let John see it, "we'll
have no more OF this nonsense!'
His face was very pale, and the lines
around the mouth 30 drawn that 1t would
have gone to any ones heart TO have
seen their expression.
II don't know how you will change
4. or help it." said Betty, lightly, TO
conceal her dismay at the turn affairs
bad taken, I'm sure!' and she pushed
back the light, waving hair from her
forehead with q saucy, indifferent ges-
tore.
That hair that John always smootbed
vheu he petted her when tired or dis
hesrtened, and called her "child." Her
gesture struck to his heart as he glanced
q her sunny locks and the cool, indif-
ierent face underneath. and before he
tnew il he was saying:
There Is no help for it now, I sup
pose"
''Oh, yes there is" said Betty. still in
be cool. calm way that ought not to
nave deceived him. But men know 40
nss'c OF women's hearts, although they
may live with them for years in closest
nendship. "You needn't try TO endure
John Peabody, II you don't want TO.
I'm sure Idon't care"
What do you meanp"
her husband grasped her arms and
compelled the merry brown eyes to look
sp to him.
II can 60 back to mother's," said
BETTY. provokingly. "She wants me any
nay, and then you can live quietly and
nve to suit Yourself, and 1t will be better
oil around"
instead Of bringing out q violent
1roteststion Of fond affection and re-
morse which she fully expected, John
erew himself up, looked st her fxedly
A. es AcuS iuiuuuc, tiCu uiopPcu
oer arm, and said, through white lips
very slowly:
Yes, it may be, as you say. better all
sround. You know best" and was gone
tom the room before she could recover
.om her astOnishment enough to utter
with wild cry Betty rushed across
sn GS room, first tossing the ten-dollar
= S'li savagely IS far rs she could throw
y and, fiinging herself on the COM
S,.aole old sofa, broke into q food Of
;:.Ner tears-the first she had shed dur
'og her married life.
now could he have done it--oh,
"%st ~, have said? Oh, John, John!'
Inc bird twittered In his little cage
ut ~ IN the window among the plants.
uy rcmombered like afiash how John
80 she filled the sced-cup that very
sS9ing, how he laughed when she
,sd Sh to put IL in between the bas. and
rn" Ssn she couldn't reach without getting
s %1 chair he took her in his arms
~ a asad her up, just like q child. that
.S,. S night Hx it to suit berself. And the
sc that be had said In his tender
A&y Aa4 gelp. den y ~ d1psAl