The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-06-20
was at all handsome" he answered,

was at all handsome" he answered,
stiffly.
"Oh, / thought you meant Capt.
Lowell, of the artillery. ALL here he
is-just one moment, dear-I quite for
got"
And Nellie spoke few words to the
Captain in passing, of which her hus-
band could distinguish only something
about that book
upon my word" he said sarcastic
ally. you appear very intimate al
ready"
Because, love, we've discovered that
we're congenial spirits. We like the
same things-books, music, scenery; in
deed, everything-and 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 fddlesticksl
"You never did have much senti-
ment, Bob" sighed Nellie, in an injured
tone.
Sentiment be hangedl Come, Mel
lie, be quick with your wrapplngs. It
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, as
before, in her bedroom, but in the par
lor, practicing new song.
capt Lowell called this morning"
she said, and I have promised to sing
this for him at Mrs. Campbells."
"Ah!" he answered, with an express
sion of Indifference; and, rs his wife
again struck up with the first few notes,
he muttered to himself, Confound
Capt. LOWELL"
At Mrs. Campbell's, Capt. Lowell was
again in attendance upon pretty Mrs.
Palmer; and then other gentlemen dis
covered her attractions, her piquancy,
and coquettishness, and .tlirtableness 1;
and so, in very few weeks, Mrs. Pal
mer was belle. She did not seem in
the least to care who her husband was
attending upon, and, indeed, he could
rarely get word with her at all, when
at the gay assemblies which they con-
stantly fIequented. He sometimes
gave her hint that she was NO longer
a girl" and that he was her husband
but she only laughed, and said there
was no harm done, and that she was en-
joying herself so delightfully."-, and felt
herself more belle than even when a
girl-which was true, because she had
not firted then, being absorbed, heart
and soul, in Bob Palmer. But now it
was Capt. Lowell who appeared chiefly
to occupy her thoughts, as well as a
good part of her time. She sung and
danced with him; she read the books
he sent; and so frequent were his Wis
its, so constant his attentions, that at
last Mr.. Robert Palmer's wrath burst
forth.
ELLEN" he said, as he one day closed
the door on the departing Captain, Il
really cannot permit this to go on any
longer. Your conduct to me is most
unexpected-most astounding. You
are by far too intimate with this fellow,
Lowell. He is constantly in my house
and last evening he scarcely left your
side, while you stood, for two hours,
the center of a group of chattering,
grinning popinjays, like himself"
why, Bob, you yourself blamed me
for playing wall-Aower and spider and
said you were ashamed of me-"
II am much more ashamed of you
now" he retorted, severely.
"Now, dear, that is quite unreasona-
BILE Of you. Didn't you tell me that l
would please you by enjoying myself
and flirting little? You know you
did," added Nellie, reproachfully; and
now that 1 am obeying you, you get
jealous"
Jealous? not L! But am offended
and insulted-yes, and Disguised as
well. If only you could hear the remarks
about yourself and that Lowell"
"Similar to those that 1 heard in re-
gard to you and Miss Baden, l pre-
sume!" said his wife.
"What is Miss Baden to me?" he de-
handed, angrily.
And what is Capt. Lowell to me?"
"You encourage him, madam. You
firt with him."
GAS you do with Isabel Baden"
"A man may do what is not permissi-
ble in woman"
"Ah, that is it " said Nellie, with her
old sigh. "You men may neglect a
wife-may wear out her heart and life
with anguish-may expose her to the
pity or ridicule of all her acquaintance
by showing devotion to another; and
she, poor slave, must not presume to
turn, as may even the trampled worm,
but must bear all in meek silence,
never even imploring mercy, lest she
offend her lord. But have had enough
of this, Bob; and now as you do to me
will do to you. If you go on flirting,
so will I. know you don't care bit
more for Isabel Baden than do for
Capt. Lowell; but 1 will not be neg
lected and humbled in the sight of the
whole world. / am not q slave, but a
wife, and demand the honor due to mel"
Her mood was new one to her hus-
band. She sat erect and proud, look
ing him steadily in the face, with bright,
clear eyes, in whose depths he could
still read great tenderness; and he at
once comprehended the whole matter.
He looked at her a moment, as steadily
Il