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


Nelly Palmer was lying on the
lounge in her pretty bedroom, cry
ing, and looking very unhappy.
And yet she had been married only
six months; and to such a "nice,
handsome man." as all the young
ladies declared, that surely she
ought to have been happy with him.
And so she had been, until-until,
to tell the truth-Mr. Bob Palmer
forgetting, or seeming to forget,
that he was married man, had re-
Gently taken to flirting with these
very young ladies, at all the fairs
and parties of Middleton, leaving
his wife to take care of herself.
Surely it was enough TO make any
six months wife cry--especially
one so sensitive as Nellie.
Not that Mr.. Robert Palmer loved
his little wife bit less than on the
day of his marriage-neither that
Nellie suspected him of it, or for a
moment doubted his morals, any
more than she did his cOnstancy.
But Mr.. Palmer was n gay young
man, and loved to amuse himself
and to be amused. He liked the
society of pretty and lively women,
both married and single, aud saw
no harm in it. So, while he hung
over the young ladies' chairs, laugh
ing and paying gay compliments, or
prOmenaded the halls and piazzas
with the young married ladies, his
wife would be looking over a photo
graph album, or cOnversing solemn
ly with some old gentleman, or no.
ticing some shy and awkward child,
while pretending to be unconscious
OF her husbands proceedings. Not
that she was compelled to employ
| herself in this dun way-she, usual
| iy so bright and pretty, and agreea-
| ble-but she had no heart for any
thing else now. OF late all her live
liness aud chattiness had left her
and she answered absently, and
smiled listlesslv, and if compelled
to dance or sing, did so out of time
and tune, to her husbands great
vexation. 1t is thus that many q
young wife settles down into dull
and faded old woman, whilst heI
husband grows handsomer and
heartier, and wonders what on earth
could have so changed her.
'Hallol been crying again, | de
clare!" exclaimed SIR. Bob Palmer
suddenly ceasing his little whistle
as he entered the room, on return
ing from his office. whats tho
trouble now, Nellie? Canary re
fused to sing, or Madame Niglin
not put flowers enough in your new
bonnet?"
"Oh, Bob, how can you sobbet
poor Nellie, beginning afresh.
rLook here, Ellen, said her hus
bdnd, sitting down on the lounge
and speaking more seriously; q
don't like This at all. never com,
home that your eyes are not red anC
swollen with crying. What have
you to cry about, l should like tC
know? It's an insult to me to 90
snivelling about the house after thi,
fashion, and moping away in cor
ners, looking sullen and miserable
as YOU did last night, at Mrs. Mac
Inns. Why, people will think me s
perfect domestic tyrant."
"Ah, Rob, don't speak so. l cam
help it, indeed l do feel so misera
BILE. You make me so, Bob"
"H Well, that as rich. Perhap:
you'll be good enough to let IN,
know of what enormity Eve beer
guilty, that has turned you into /;
modern NiObe?"
'Nothing really wrong, dear; but
OIL ifyou knew how much a wifi
thinks of her husbands love, and
here poor Nellie broke down again
Mr.. Palmer's eyes opened yer!
"Whe,oI,' whistled he, "if this i
not really absurd. So, she's jeal
ous!"
"Indeed no, dear Bob, but-bu
-" she could hardly speak for tn,
choking in her throat-''you can
understand the pride awoman take
in having her husband trust he
with affection aud respect befor,
every one, or how it humbles anC
mortifiss her to be neglected by
him, and have other women consid
er themselves her rivals-ike Isabe
Vaden.;
Mr.. Bob Palmer laughed, and theI
he grew angry.
"You're an absurd little fool. Mel
lie," he said. ''As if Isabel VadeI
were anything to me beyond live
ly and agreeable young woman Il
amuse ones self with at a party
NouSense!r
".She don't think so. said Nellie
''and-and the others don't think so
I | They all think YOU are getting tires
of your wife, and Isabel fatters her
self that she has cut me out, and l
trying to let people see it."
"Fiddlesticks" said Bob, risiu
impatiently from the lounge. "lr
astonished At you, Nellie, and hat
(. really given you credit for NOR
sense, as well as temper" he added
more severely. II wish you'd q
muse yourself IN society, as l do, in