The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-01-16

moved into the village a twelvemonth
previous, Miss Elvira Simmons had
made the very most of her opportun-
tiles, and by dint OF making great
parade over helping her in some do
mestic work such as housekeeping,
dress making and the like, the maiden
lady had managed to ply her other
vocation, that of news-gatherer at one
and the same time pretty etfectually.
She always called her by the first
name, though Betty resented it; and
she made a great handle OF her friend
ship on every occasion, making John
rage violently and VOW thousand
times the "old maid" should walk.
But she never had-and now, scent
ing dimly, like a carrion after its own
prey, that trouble might come to the
pretty little white house, the make
mischief had come to do her work;
if devastation he'd not already com.
menced.
"Been crying" she said, more plain
" than politely, sinking down into the
pretty chintz-covered rocking-chair
with an energy that showed that she
meant to stay, and made the chair
creak fearfully.
"Only folks do say that you and
your husband don't live happy-but
la! | wouldn't mind-I know faint
your fault"
Betty's heart stood still. Had it
come to this2 John and she not live
happy To be sure they didn't, as
she remembered with a pang the
dreadful scene of words and hot tenn
pers; but had it gotten around so
sOOn-a story in everybody'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
the effect OF her words, "when they
git to talkin'; so you can't blame me
if things don't 60 easy for you, I'm
surel"
"You tell folks?' repeated Betty,
vaguely, and standing quite still.
''What? | don't understand"
"Why, that the blame is all his'n,"
cried the old maid, exasperated at
her strange mood and her dizziness.
81 cay says |, why there couldn't no
one live with him, let alone that pref
ty wife he's got. That's what | say,
Betty. And then l tell 'em what a
queer man he is, how cross, an"
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
III confusion at the storm she had
raised, and stared blindly into the
blazing eyes and face rosy with right
eous indignation-her only thought
was how to get away from thestorm 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 SUNK back into the
smallest corner of it and took it as
best she could. my husband" cried
Betty, dwelling with pride on the pro-
noun-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 was Johns
fault-"the best, the kindest, the
noblest husband that ever was given
to q woman. I've made him more
trouble than you can guess; my hot
temper has yexed him-I've been cross,
and impatient and"
''Hold," cried voice, you're talk
ing against my wife and in amoment
big John Peabody rushed through the
door, grasped the little woman in his
| arms and folded her to his heart, right
| before old maid and all.
"Ohw said Miss Simmons, sitting
up straight and setting her spectacles
more firmly.
"And now that you've learned all
that you cam" said John, turning
around to her, still holding Betty,
''why- you may 60"
The chair was vacant. A dissOlving
view through the door was all that
was to be seen of the gossip, who
started up the road hurriedly, leaving
| peace behind.
Betty" said John, some half hour
| afterward, what was the sigh for? |
don't care now, but | 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 CALLED me because
couldn't"
Betty smiled and twisted away
from his grasp. Running into the bed
room she presently returned, still smil-
ing, with bundle rolled up in a clean
towel. This she put on her husbands
knee, who stared at her wOnderingly.
Il didn't mean" shesaid, unpinning
the bundle, ''to get it out now, but |
shall have to. Why, John, day after
tomorrow is your birthday?"
so it's" said John. "Gracious
has it come around so soon?"
And you, dear boy" said Betty,
shaking out before his eyes a pretty
brown affair, all edged with silk of the
bluest shade, that presently assumed
the proportions of a dressing gown:
''thls IS to be your present. But you
must be dreadlully surprised, John,
when you get it, for oh, / didn't want
you to know it :"
John made an answer he thought
best. When he spoke again he said,
perplexed, while a small pucker OF be
wllderment settled between his eyes:
But | don't see, Betty, what this
thing" laying one finger on the gown,
"had to do with the sigh"
That" said Betty, and then she
broke into a merry laugh, that got so
mixed up with the dimples and the
dancing brown eyes that for a mo-
ment she couldn't finish. ooh, John,
| was worrying so over those buttons.
| They weren t good, but were the best
could do then. And I'd only bought
EN- yesterday. Two whole dozen.
And when you put that so bill in my
hand, didn't hardly know it, but /
suppose | did give one little bit of a
sigh, for l was so provoked that I had
not waited buying them until to-
day"
John caught up the little woman,
dressing gown and all. don't think
they have ever quarreled since-at
least / have never heard OF it.
Come to Stay.
Mrs. Hendricks Ito Mr.. and Mrs.
Smith, who always manage to drop in
about dinner time)-"Now, you must
I SraE IN l1rrar III, In Iii