The Opelousas courier., 1896-08-29

bitter tearS-tnc mrs Suc uau eIc"
during her married lite.
Chow could he have done it! Oh
what have | said? Oh John, John!'
The bird twittered in his little cage
over iu the window among the plants.
Betty remembered like q flash how
John and she had filled the sced-cup
that very morning; how he had
laughed when she tried to put it III
between the bars, and when she
couldn't reach without getting upon a
chair he took her in his great arms
and held her up, just like a child, that
she might fix it to suit herself.
And the "bits" he had said in his
tender way, they had gone down to
the depths of her foolish little heart,
sending her about her work singing
for very gladness of spirit. And
now!
Betty stuffed her fingers hard into
her rose ears to shut out the birds
chirping.
eli he only knew why 1 sighed"
she moaued. "O!, my husband!
Notwithstanding will make any
difference now. Oh, why can't l
lie?"
Howlong she stayed there, crouehel
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 q voice out in
the kitchen said: Betty !" and heavy
footballs proclaimed that some one was
on the point Of breaking in upon her
unlimited.
Betty sprang mp, choking back her
sobs, and tried with oil her might to
compose herself and rcmove all traces
of her trouble.
The visitor was the worst possible
II she could have under the circum-
stances. Crowding herself on terms
of the closest intimacy with the pretty
bride, who with her husband, had
moved into the village a twelve-month
previous, Miss Eivira Simmons had
made the very most Of her opportu-
mites, and by dint of making great
parade YER helping her in some do
nestle work such as louse-cleaning,
dress making and the like, the maiden
lady had managed to ply her other vo-
%c,tion, that OF news-gatherer at one
and the same time, pretty effectually.
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 a thousand
times that the odd maid" should
walk.
But she never had-and now, scent
ing dimly, liths a carton after its own
prey, that nouble might come to the
pretty little white house, the make
mischief had come to do her work;
if devastation had not already COM
menced.
"Been crying!" she said more
plainly than politely, sinking down
into the pretty ch~intz-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 end
your husband don't live happy-but,
la! I wouldn't mind-I know tain't
your fault"
Betty's heart stood still. Had it
come to this? John aud she not live
happy! To be sure they didn't, as
she membered with a pang the dread
full scene of words and hot tempers;
but had it gotten around SO soon-a
story in everybody's mouth?
With oil her distress of mind she
was saved from opening her mouth.
SO Miss Simmons failing that was
forced to 60 on.
can I 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 go easy for you, I'm
sure!" =
"You tell folks?" repeated Bettyk
vaguely, and standing quite stills
"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
sly, says ], why there couldn't no one
live with him, let alone that pretty
wife he's got. That's what I say,
Betty. And then I tell 'em what q
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
in confusion at the storm she had
raised, and stared blindly into the
blazing eyes and face rosy with right