Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-06-08
GEORGE BROWNS WIFE.
The Story of Her Marriage by a
Defeated Rival

So they're married at last, are. they?
Married last Wednesday, Well, all I've
got to say is, wouldn't have thrown
myself at a mans head, and acted the
way she did, not if never had an Of
fer in my life. Oh, yes; | know he
thinks she's everything perfect now.
Men always was easy to be made fools
of But he'll find out the difference be-
fore long, or I'll lose my guess.
Then how was it she happened to be
working for me? Well, my cousin
recommended her, in the first place.
She'd been sewing in her shop for
month, and the quickest filter they
had And when Ann found she wanted
place In the country, and wouldn't
stay anywhere else, twas natural to
write to me. Of course, 'twould be an
accommodation to the girl. And
thought as long as ! needed somebody
to help, and here was a chance to get a
city dressmaller for what I'd have to
pay country one, might as well
have her. Good nature always was my
worst fault; I've suffered great deal
from it in my life, and it's likely l al
ways will. But must say right here,
Mis- Jones, that never, never, did | get
so shamefully taken in as did when
hired Betsey Sellers to work for me.
(''Bessie" was what she liked to be
called, but | want going to put up
with any sentimental nonsense.
called her Betsey every time, Not
but what she understood sewing well
enough; but there's other ways of de-
ceiving people besides shirking And
before get through you'll agree with
me,
Pretty? No. At any rate, l never
took much stock In her looks. A slim,
little, white-faced thing she was, with
big blue eyes and red hair-aub burn,
suppose they'll call it now-aud some.
how or other, suspected everything
want right with her from the very
first. It want so much her shy, lady.
like ways that set me against her as II
was that fashion of looking down at
her feet and never saying word when
customer came into the shop. Any.
body with half an eye could see 1t want
natural. And then there was her dis
like to tell anything about herself
Which, to my notion, showed that heI
past life want anything she was PROUD
of. If she had been, you would have
heard enough about it Oh, suspected
from the very first she want what she
pretended to bel But aslong as she done
- ,,o,l, ral apd nould ont hv ava
considered it my duty to let well enough
alone, and not be prying. AS said be.
fore, being too good-natured is a faul'
of mine, and Pm willing to own it.
Betsey Sellers had been working fo'
me about four weeks when l got tina
note from Mrs, Johnson, saying W.
were both wanted to sew a week or TIVE
at her house. They'd always had thei
dressmaking done in the city before
but between you aud me, l want Sc
much surprised as l might have been
George Brown and were old schoo
friends. You didn't know that? w
went TO school together down to tn
little red schoolhouse No, we wan
in the same classes. We're-well, yer,
near of an age; but girls always ar
more forward than boys, believe 'twa
the last year | went, and he'd just be
gun; but he managed to see good dea
of me for all of that And his coming
home from the west to settle down,
rich bachelor, and his sister sending OF
for me before he'd been in her house
week, made 1t seem rather pointed
Don't you think so? As for that stor
about Mrs. Johnson's cousin havin
Betsey do some work and liking her S
well she was hired on that account,
never believed a word of it. | suppos
they had to start something like thai
not to make her conduct appear quit
so bad, seeing she made ont to MARI
him.
Set her cap? | should think so! III
not the kind of person to say a wor
against another, and everyone tina
knows me will say the same thing; bu
declare TO you, Mis- Jones, we hadn
been in the house an hour before sh
begun to attract his attention Sa
down the very first evening, when l.
hardly known her 20 open her mout
about her folks before, and con
mencsS to talk of her only brother
who tbNlght of going west for hi
health. Wouldn't he tell her all abou
California? Was the climate as nice a
they said9 Did think her brothe
would be cortar tn IN live out there