The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-21

Betty stuffed her fingers hard into hel
rosy ears to shut out the birds chirp
ing.
IF he knew why I sighed" she
moaped. "Oh, my husband! Birth
days-nothing will make any difference
now. Oh, why can't I die?"
How long she stayed there, crouchet
down on the old sofa, she never knew,
Over and over the dreadful scene she
went, realizing its worst features each
time in despair, until heavy footsteps
proclaimed that some one was on the
point of breaking in upon her unlimited
add a voice out in the little kitchen
cried:
"Bettyr'
Betty sprang up. choked back hel
sobs, and tried with all her might tc
compose herself and remove all traces
of her trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible one
she colld have under the circumstances.
Crowding herself on terms of the closest
intimacy with the pretty bride, who
with her husband had moved into the
village a twelvemonth previous. Miss
Elvira Simmons had made the most OF
her opportunities, and by dint of max
ing great parade over helping her IN
some domestic work, such as house
keeping, dressmaking and the like, the
maiden lady had managed to ply her
other vocation, that of news-gatherer, al
one and the same time, pretty effectu-
| allv.
She always called her by her first
name, though Betty resented it: and she
made great handle of her friendship on
every occasion, making John rage vio-
lently and VOW a thousand times the
.'old maid should walk!
But she never had-and now, seeming
dimly, like carrion after its prey, that
trouble might come to the pretty little
white house, the make mischief had
come to do her work, if devastation had
really commenced.
''Been crying!' she said. more plainly
than politely. and sinking down into the
pretty chintz-covered rocking chair
with an energy that showed she meant
to stay, and made the chair creak fear
fully. "Only folks do say that you and
your husband don't live happy-but la!
l wouldn't mind-I know faint your
fault"
Betty's heart stood still. Had it come
to this? John and she not to live happy!
To be sure they didn't, as she remem-
bered with pang the dreadful scene
of words and hot tempers: but had it
| gotten around SO Often-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.
can tell folks so, she said. rock
ing herself back and forth to witness
TIE effect of her words, ''when they
git to talkin', so you can't blame me if
things don't 90 easy for you, I'm sure!'
"You tell folks so!' repeated Betty
vaguely. and standing quite still.
what? don't understand YOU"
"Why. that the blame is all his'n."
cried the old maid, exasperated at her
strange mood and her dizziness. 81 say,
says 1. why they couldn't no one live
with him, let alone that pretty wife he's
got That's what 1 say, Betty. And
then, 1 tell 'em what queer man he is.
how cross, and"
"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 eye
and face rosy with indignation; her 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
back into the smallest corner of it and
took it as best she could. 'My hus-
band!' 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
wasn't Johns fault '.the best, the
kindest, the noblest 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, impatient, and"
"Hold!' cried a voice, you're talk
ing against my wife, and in a moment
big John Peabody rushed through the
door, grasped the little woman in his
arms and folded her to his heart right
before the old maid.
| .'Oh!' 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 go!''
The chair was vacant. A dissolvine
view through the door was all that was
to be seen of the gossip, who started up
the road hurriedly, leaving peace be.
hind.
Betty" said John some half-hou,
afterward, "what was the sigh for.
don't care now, but 1 did think, dear
and it cut me to the heart, how you
might have married richer. longed
to put ten times ten into your hand
Betty, and it galded me because
couldn't"
Bette smile and twisted away from
his grasp. Running into the bed room
she presently returned, still smiling,
with a bundle rolled up in clean towel
This she put on her husbands knee
who stared at her wonderingly.
81 didn't mean" she said, unpinnine
the bundle, ito let it out now, but
shall have to. Why, John, day aftel
tomorrow is your birthday
| $50 'tisv' said John, ss(Iracious. has