The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-06-20

drew himself up, looked at her tixedly
for long, long minute, then dropped
her arm, and said through white lips
very slowly
ayes, it may be as yop say, better all
around. You know best = and was
gone from the room before she could
recover from her aytonishment enough
to utter sound.
With avid cry Betty rushed across
the room, first tossing the ten dollar
bill savagely as far as she could throw
it, and, flinging herself on the com
Portable old sofo, broke into food of
bitter tears-the first she had she'd
during her married life,
"How could he have done it-oh,
what have said? Oh, John, Johnw
The bird twittered in his little cage
over in the window among the plants.
Betty remembered like II flash how
John and she filled the secd-cup that
very morning, how he laughed when
she tried to put it in between the bars,
and when she couldn't reach without
getting upon chair, he took her in
his great arms, and held herup, just
like child, that she might fix it to
suit herself. And the "bits" that he
said in his tender way, they had gone
down to the depths OF her foolish little
heart, sending her about her work
singing for very gladness of spirit,
And now!
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into
her rosy ears to shut out the birds
chipping,
"lf he knew why | sighed" she
moaned. "Oh, my husband! Birth
u days-nothing will make any differ
u ence now. Oh, why cant | die?"
IL How long she stayed there, crouched
'e down on the old sofa, she never knew
II Over and over the dreadful scene she
n went, realizing its worst features eacl
l. time in despair, until heavy footsteps
proclaimed that some one was on thu
IS point of breaking in upon her uninvit
Is ed, and voice out in the little kitch
80 en- cried
N Betty"
Is Betty sprang up, choked back he
sobs, and tried with all her might t,
re compose herself and remove all trace
- of her trouble.
IS, The visitor was the worst possible
d, one she could have under the circum
6, stances. Crowding herself on term
of the closest intimacy with the prett
NJ bride, who with her husband hat
moved into the village twelvemontI
ng previous, Miss Elvira Simmons ha
~ made the very most of her opportun
1g ties, and by dint Of making great pa
m rade over helping her in some domes
RI tic work, such us housekeeping, dress
n making and the like, the maiden lad
en- had managed to ply her other voci
ny tions, that of newsgatherer, at one an
the same time, pretty etfectually.
'es She always called her by her fir,
lot name, though Betty resented it; an
she made great handle OF her frient
ly, ship on every occasion, making job
gs, rage violently and vow thousan
rs times the "old maid should walk.
ed But she never had-and now, seen
he ing dimly, like carbon after its pre-
up that trouble might come to the prctt
ier little white house, the moke-mischi
Mt had come to do her work, il deva
III. tation had really commenced
Been crying!" she said, more plail
to ly than politely, and sinking down.
te- to the pretty chintz-covered rockir
all chair with an energy that showed 81
NJ meant to stay, and make the cha
ig- creak fearfully. "Only folks do s;
g" that you and your husband don't Ii
o." happy-but In! | wouldn't mind
rol know faint your fault"
she Betty's heart stood still. Had
sed come to this? John and she not to Ii
happy! To be sure they didn't, rs s.
a remembered with a pang the dreadf
ear scene OF words and hot tempers; b
'ro- had it gotten around so often--a stO
lie. in everybody's mouth? With all h
ght distress OF mind she was saved fro
on opening her mouth. So Miss Sil
rly mons, failing in that, was forced to
she on.
uld "An' | tell folks So" she said, roc
see ing herself back and forth to witnt
on the effect of her words, "when they
to talkin', so you can't blame me
mes things don't so easy for you, l
/ it sureP
to "You tell folks so?' repeated Bet
vaguely, and standing quite st
nge "What? ] don't understand you.
to "Why, that the blame is all hist
airs strange mood and her dizziness.
he'd say says I,why they couldn't no Q
her live with him, let alone that pre-
rent wife he's got. That's what Isay, b
ty. And then, ! tell 'em what gu,
avs man he is, how cross, and"
hen "And you dare to tell people ST