The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-07-10

"What2 I don't understand.
"Why, that the blame Is an hi5n.
cried the old maid, czasperatod At her
strange mood and her dizziness. ~
say, says I, why there couldn't no one
live with him, lot alone that pretty
wife he's got That's what / say,
Betty Aud then I tell 'em what a
queer man he is, how cross au-"
"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 10 the chair that she jumped
in confusion at the storm she had
raised, aud stared bIiudly into the
blazing eyes and face rosy with right
eous 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 tho smallest corner Of it and took
it as best she could
my husbandl" cried Betty, DWELL
ing 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 aid come, why, people
should know that it was 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-Fve been cross, and
impatient and"
"Hold!" cried a voice, "you'ro
talking against my wife !" and in a
moment big John Peabody rushed
through the door, grasped the little
woman in bis arms and folded her to
his heart, right before old maid and
all
"Ohp 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 60"
The chair was vacant A dissolying
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 bedroom
she presently returned, still smiling,
with bundle rolled up in clean
towel. This she put on her husbands
knee, who stared at her wonderingly.
81 didn't mean" she said, uupin-
ming the bundle, "to get it out now,
but I shall have to. Why, John
day after tomorrow is your birth
day"
$50 tits" said John. Gracious
has it come around so soon?"
"And you, dear boy" said Betty,
shaking out before his eye pretty,
brown affair, all edged with silk Of
the bluest shade, that presently as
sumed the proportions OF dressing
gown; "this is to be your present
But you must be dreadfully surprised,
John, when you get it, for oh, I didn't
want you to know it'll"
John made an answer he thought
best. When he spoke again he said
perplexed, while small pucker OF be
wilderment settled between his eyes
"But I don't see, Betty, what this
thing, laying one finger on the gown
chad to do with the sigh"
THAT, said Betty, and then sh
broke into a merry laugh that got g
mixed up with the dimples and tn
dancing brown eyes that for a momen
she couldn't finish.
ooh, John, was worrying so owe
) those buttons. They weren't good
but they we're the best I could d
4 a, 81 To - 1,.,.e,l,A -, zoo