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

Betty sighed. Now, why she should
have sighed at this particular moment
no one ON earth could tell. And it was
all the more cxasperating because John
had Just generously put into her little
shapely hand a brand new ten dollar bill
And here began the trouble.
"What's 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
puckcr. Now what is itl'
Betty, who had just begun to change
the sigh into merry little laugh rip
ping 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 insinuatc, John, that |
am always troublesome"
II didn't insinuate-whos talking OF
insinuating" cried he, thoroughly in.
censed at the very idea, and backing
away a few steps, he glared down from
tremendous height, in extreme irrita.
ton. Its yourself who is forever in
sinuating and all that, and then for you
to put it on me-it's really abominable. "
The voice was harsh, and the eyes that
looked down into hers was not pleasant
to behold.
"And if you think, John Peabody,
that I'll stand and have such things said
to me, you miss your gucss-thats alln'
cried Betty, with two big red spots com
ing in her cheeks, as she tried to draw
her little erect figure to its utmost di-
mansions. "Forever insinuating, |
guess you wouldn't have said that before
married you. Oh, now you can, of
course!n
"Didn't you say it first, I'd like TO
know2" cried John, in great excl EN- mt,
drawing nearer the small creature he
called wife" who was gazing at him
with blazing eyes of indignation 81
can't endure everything!"
"And if you bear more than do, "
cried Betty, wholly beyond control now,
"why, then, I'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, I'VE
will have no more of this nonsensei"
lis face was very pale and the lines
around the mouth so drawn that it would
have gone to any ones heart to have
seen their expression.
II don't know how you will change
it or heln it, 80 said Betty lightly, to hide
her dismav at the turn affairs had taken,
I'm sure. and she pushed back the light,
waving hair from her forehead with a
saucy, indifferent gesture.
That hair that John always smoothed
when he petted her, tired or diSheart-
ened, and called her Child" Her ges-
ture struck to his heart as he glanced at
her sunny locks, and the cool, indiffer-
ent face underneath and before he knew
it he was saying;
"There is no help for it now, l sup
pose
"Oh, yes, there is" said Betty, still
in that cool, calm way that ought not tc
have deceived him. But men know SC
little of women's hearts, although they
may live with them for years in closest
dure it, John Peabody. if you dom
wan: to. I'm sure | don't carew
"What do you meant"
Her husband grasped her arms and
compelled the merry brown eyes to look
up to him.
Il can go back to mothers" sale
Betty, provokingly. "She wants mC
any day, and then you can live quietly
and to suit yourself, and it will be bet
ter all around"
Instead of bringing out violent pro
testation of fond affection and rcmorse
which she fully expected, John drew
himself up, looked at her fixedly for ;
long long minute. then dropped he
arm, and with white lips said slowly:
"Ies, it may be better as you say, bet
ter all around. You know bcst1 anC
was gone from the room before sh
could recover from her astonishmcn
enough to utter a sound.
With a wild cry Betty rushed acrOs
the room, first tossing the ten dolla
bill savagely as far as she could throw
it, and flinging herself on the comforta
Bile old sofa, broke into flood of bite
tears-the first she had shed durin!
her married life.
"How could he have done it! Oh
what have saidl Oh, John, Johnm
The bird twttered in his little Gag
over in the window among the plant,
Betty remembered like flash how job
and she had flied the seed cup that yer
morning; how he had laughed when sh
tried TO put it in between the bars, an
when she couldn't reach without gettn
upon a chair he took her in his grea
arms and held her up, just like a chile
that she might fix it to suit herself
And the "bits" he had said in HI
tender way, they had gone down to tn
depths of her foolish little heart, sendin
her about her work singing for yer
gadness of spirit. And now!
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into he
rose ears to shut out the birds chirpin.
''lf he only knew why | sighed, " 81
noaned. "Oh, my husband! Brit