Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-02-03

fashion. You can't expect to have
me tied to your apron-strings; and
I'd much rather see you flirting 9
little yourself, than skulking away
in holes and corners, like a spider
watching your butterfly of a hus.
band, to see if you can { detect him
in doing wrong. You make me
quite ashamed of you, declare"
Mr.. Palmer took his hat and walk.
ed out of the room, with an ali ol
mingled dignity and injured limo
cence. His wife sat up, wiped away
her tears, and mused awhile with
eyes flashing and cheeks flushed
with wounded and indignant feel.
ing.
"Yes," she said to herself, "since
he has requested il, | tCiH amuse
myself 'as he does and see how he
likes it, Ashamed of me, is hep
And he did not use to be so when ]
was gay and happy. Oh, Bob, il
And once more, despite her reso-
her fingers upon them, the tears
would come. There was TO be that
very evening, party at Colonel
! Johnston's, and Nellie took partic-
ular pains in dressing herself for It.
She had been of late rather careless
| on this point, and was now rewar-
/ ded for her extra care by her hus-
bands glance of approval, and his
remark that the pink silk was very
| becoming TO her. In consequence
her ewes and cheeks were brighter,
and her spirits more buOyant, as she
entered Mrs. JOhnston's- cTOEacEi
drawing rooms. Scarcely had they
paid their respects to the hostess,
when Mr.. Palmer accosted, or rath-
er was accosted by, Miss Walden, a
brilliant, confident girl, who had
tried to ensnare him before his mar
riage; and at the same moment gen.
tleman addressed Mrs. Palmer. She
answered mechanically, unable to
withdraw her attention entirely
FROM her husband and his compan-
ion, until seeing something in Miss
Vaden's glance at herself which she
did not like, her pride again awoke,
and she turned, as with a sudden
determination, to the gentleman at
her side. He was a recent conner to
the tOwn-very pleasant and hand
sOme-and Nelli4 Palmer forthwith
began to make herself agreeable to
him. He looked so pleased, and
was himself so agreeable, that 1t
soon cost her no effort to converse;
and then her old lively spirit re-
turned, and TO her own surprise she
found that she was enjoying herself.
Her husband didn't notice this,
but Miss Walden did; and her hirta-
ton with Mr.. Palmer lost much of
its charm, now that his wife did not
appear mortified and jealous, and
that people couldn't see she was so.
Wherefore Miss Walden grew indif-
ferent, 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" she was wont of late
to frequent, he became rather puz-
zled.
"She's got in the dumps again, 1
suppose" was his thought, land is
trying to disguise it under pretense
of being sick. Dare say shall find
her CRYING in the ladies' dressing
room, or fainting away in the con-
servatory, 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 turn
ing, he saw Nellie, bright and flush
ed, talking to a very handsome man,
who appeared quite absorbed in her.
Mr.. Palmer stared n moment at the
unconscious couple.
''Why, the deucep' was his
thought; "what on earth can they
have been talking about all this
whiIe?" Then suddenly meeting
his wife's eyes, he smiled, and whis-
pered:
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 sentimental Kate Mar
shall, his ewes occasionally wander
ed to his wife. How pretty she was
looking; and how gay she was; and
how cOquettishly she wasSeXchang-
ing light repartee with that flirting
fellow. Tom Harrison. And all the
while the handsome stranger never
left her side. "If she were not a
LlaEElEu
fall in love with her-she- my tC5Te;'
and he felt a little resentul of the
admiration.
Nellie Palmer had never sung
more sweetly or danced more grace
fully 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 a married eco
maRP" he added.
perhaps so" she answered cheer
fully, "but I've enjoyed myself so
much Really, l almost forgot that
am a married a woman, and felt
like a 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.
THAT remarkably handsome man
with the expressive dark eyes, dc
you mean?"
81 never noticed his eyes, or that
he was at all remarkably hand.
some," he answered, stitfly.
"Oh, l thought you meant Capt.
Lovel, of the Fourth Artillery. Ah
here he is-just one moment, dear
| quite forgot" And Nellie spoke
a few words TO the captain in pass
ING. of which her husband could dis
timguish only something about 'that
book"
Upon my word" he said, sarcas
tically, 'you appear very intimate
already"
Because, love, we've discovered
that we're congenial spirits. We
| like the same things gs-books, music
scenery: indeed, everything-anC
have the same opinions on most sub
jects. You know how pleasant IL i:
to meet with one who can compile
bend you-not your outer self mere
ly, but with a sort of soul sympa.
thy"
"Soul fiddlesticks -
'.You never did have much senti
ment, Bob" sighed Nellie, in an in
jured tone.
sentiment be hanged. Come
Nellie, be quick with your wrap
pings. 1t has been q stupid even.
ing, and shall he glad to get home
and to bed"
When Mr.. Robert Palmer came
home next day, he found his wife
not crying in her bedroom, but il
the parlor practicing new song.
Captain LOYel called this morn
ing" she said; 'and l have prom
ised to sing this for him at Mrs
| CampbelPs."
ssAh! :" he answered, with an ex
preston of supreme indifference
and as his wife again struck up Will
the first notes, he muttered TO him
| self-"Confound Captain Lovel -
At Mrs. Campbell's, Captain Low