The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-10-07

her eyes, and pressing her fingers upor
them, the tears would come.
There was to be, that very evening, q
party at Colonel Johnston's, and Nellie
took particular pains in dressing herself
for it. She had been of late rather careless
on this point, and was now rewarded fol
her extra care by her husbands glance OF
approval, and his remark that that pink
silk was very becoming to her. In conse-
quence her eyes and cheeks were brighter,
Mrs. Johnston's crowded drawing rooms.
Scarcely had they paid their respects to
the hostess, when Mr.. Palmer accosted, or
rather was accosted by, Miss Walden, bril-
liant confident girl, who tried to cnsnare
him before his marriage; and at the same
moment a gentleman addressed Mrs. Pal
mer. She answered mechanically, unable
to withdraw her attention entirely from her
husband and his companion, until seeing
something in Miss Vaden's glance at her.
self which she did not like, her pride again
awoke, and she turned, as with sudden
determination, to the gentleman at her
side. He was recent conner to the town
very pleasant and handsome-and Nellie
Palmer forthwith began to try to make her
self agreeable to him. He looked so pleased,
and was himself so agreeable, that it soon
cost her no effort to converse; and then her
old lively spirits returned, and to her own
surprise she found that she was enjoying
herself. Her husband didn't much notice
| this, but Miss Walden did; and her Irritation
with Mr.. Palmer lost much of its charm,
now that his wife did not appear mortified
and jealous, and that people couldn't see
that she was so. Wherefore Miss Walden
grew Indifferent, and Mr.. Palmer bethought
himself to look after his wife. Not finding
her looking over photograph-albums. nor
talking to deaf old Mr.. Brown, neither in
any of the "holes and corners ~ which she
was wont of late to frequent, he became
rather puzzled.
"She's got in the dumps again, I sup
pose," was his thought. "and is trying to
disguise it under pretence Of being sick
Dare say shall find her crying in the
ladies' dressing-ro room, or fainting away in
the conservatory, with fans and smelling
bottles round her-or perhaps she's gone
home.''
At that very instant little laugh at his
elbow startled him, and turning he saw
Nellie bright and flushed, talking to very
| hon wi, .fn oh,
sorbed in her. Mr.. Palmer stared a mo-
ment at the unconscious couple.
"Why, the deuce"' was his thought;
"what on earth can they have been talk
ing about all this while ?' Then suddenly
meeting his wife's eyes, he smiled, and
| whispered
Enjoying yourself, Nell?''
ooh yes, dear-delightfully. Don't
trouble yourself about me, pray
He passed on, but didn't go far; and as
| he stood whispering soft nothings to senti-
mental Kate Marshall, his eyes occasionally
wandered to his wife. How pretty she was
looking; and how gay she was; and how
coquettishly she was exchanging light
repartee with that flirting fellow, Tom
Harrison. And all the while the handsome
stranger never left her side. 1t was per-
fectly evident that he admired her. eff
she were not married woman he would
certainly fall in love with her-she-my
uife;." and he felt a little resentful of the
admiration.
Nellie Palmer had never sung more
sweetly or danced more gracefully than
upon this evening.
"Don't you think, Nell, you've danced
enough for one night ?" said her husband,
toward the close of the evening; " for
married asoman?" he added.
"Perhaps So" she answered cheerfully,
"but I've enjoyed myself so much! Really,
I almost forgot that am married woman,
and felt like girl again.
"And behaved like one" he said, rather
coolly. "Who is that fellow that has been
in attendance upon you all the evening? ?"
he inquired, as they walked toward the
dressing room.
"Tlat remarkably handsome man, with
the expressive dark eyes, do you mean?"
81 never noticed his eyes or that he was
at all handsome" he answered, stiffly.
"Oh thought you meant Capt. Lowell,
of the Fourth Artillery. All! here he is
just one moment, dear-I quite forgot"
And Nellie spoke few words to the cap
tain in passing, of which her husband
| Oh OH
"that book"
"Upon my word" he said, sarcastically,
"you appear very intimate already"
because, love, we've discovered that
we're congenial spirits. We like the same
| things-books, music, scenery; indeed,
everything-aud have the same opinions on
most subjects. You know how pleasant it
| is to meet with one who can comprehend
you-not your outer self merely, but with
sort of soul sympathy"
"Soul fiddlesticksn'
"You never did have much sentiment,
Bob" sighed Nellie, in an injured tone.
quick with your wrappings. 1t has been
stupid evening, and l shall be glad to get
home and to bed"
"When Robert Palmer came home next
day, he found his wife, not crying in her
bedroom, but in the parlor practicing new
song.
"Captain Lowell called this morning."
she said; "and I have promised to sing
this for him at Mrs. Campbell's."
| "Ahr' he answered, with an expression
of Indifference; and as his wife again struck
up with the first few notes, he muttered to
himself" Confound Captain Lovell"'
4 At Mrs. Campbel's Captain Lowell was
again in attendance upon pretty Mrs. Pal
mer; and then other gentlemen noticed her
attractions-her piquancy, and coquettish-
ness, and firtaJleness; and SO in very few
weeks Mrs. Palmer was a belle. She did
not seem ia the least to care who her hus-
band was attending upon, and indeed he
could hardly get a word with her at all,
| whom at the cav assemblies which thew