San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-16

old sofa, broke into food OF bitter tears
the first she had shed during her mar
ried life.
"If he knew why I sighed" she
moaned. "Oh, my husband Birthdays,
nothing will make any difference now.
Oh, why can't die?"
How long she stayed there, crouched
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 someone was on the
point of breaking in upon her unin-
vited, and voice in the little kitchen
cried: "~'-N
:" Betty q,
Betty sprang up, choked back her sobs,
and tried with all her might to compose
herself and remove all traces of her
trouble y 49,. . g., 49,.
The visitor was the worst possible
one she could have under the circum-
stances. Crowding herself on terms of
the closest intimacy with hepretty bride
who with her husband had moved into
the village a twelvemOnth previous, Miss
ElVlra Simmons had made the very most
or her opportunities, and by dint of
making great parade over helping her in
some domestic work, such as house
Keeping, dressmakng and the like,
the maiden lady had managed to ply
hef other vocation, that OF news-gatherer,
at one and the same time pretty effect
ually.. - -
She always called her by her first
name, though Betty resented it; and
she made great handle of her friend
shin J>L
rage violently and VOW a thousand times
the "old maid should walk!
But she never had--and now, Scentino
dimly, like a 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. "Only folks
do say that you and your husband don't
live happy-but la l wouldn't mind
L know faint your fault"
BettyS heart stood still. Had it come
to this? John and she not to live happily
To be sure they didn't, as she rCmem-
bcred with pang the dreadful scene Of
words and hot tempers; 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 go on.
AN 1 tell folks So" she said, rocking
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 go easy for you, I'm sure"
"YOu tell folks sou repeated Betty,
vaguely. What? L don't understand
you"
Why, that the blame is all his'n,"
cried the old maid, exasperated at her
strange mood and her dullness. Il say,
says L, why they couldn't no one live
with him, let alone that pretty wife he's
got. That's what l say, Betty. And
then, tell EN- 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 blindiy into the blazing eyes
and facerosy 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
plOchcu up Inc way, 80 SIG SIuIlh DSLCh
into the smallest corner of it and took
it as best she could.
My husband" cried Betty. "The
best, the kindest, the nOblcst husband
that ever was given to Il woman. I've
made him more trouble than you can
guess; my hot temper has vcXed him
I've been cross, impatient, and"
Hold !! cried voice, "yOu're talking
against my wife !" and in a moment big
John Peabody rushed through the door,
graspcd the little woman in his arms,
and folded her to his heart.
con-" 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 round to
her, still holding Betty, "why-you may
gow =
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 l did think, DEAR
,s5:::::@:::;h4N 81 GsA,