Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-01-16
closing her eyes and pressing her fingers
upon them, the tears would come. 80

pan1on. until, seeing something in Miss
Baden's glance at herself 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-vcry pleas
ant and handsome and Nellie Palmer
forthwith began to try and make herself
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 surprise, she found that she was
enjoying herself. Her husband didn't
much notice this, but Miss Baden did;
and her filtration 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 Baden grew indifferent,
and Mr.. Palmer bethought himself to
look after his wife. Not finding her
looking over the photograph albums, nor
talking to deaf old Mr.. Brown, neither in
any of the@'holes or corners" which she
was wont of late to frequent, he became
rather puzzled.
"She's got in the dumps again, sup
pose,' was his thought, land is tt ying to
disguise it under pretensc Of being i'll.
Dare say shall find her crying Or faint
ing away in the conservatory, With fans
and smelling bottles round he1--or per-
haps she's gone home.'
At that instant a little laugh at his
elbow startled him and, turning, he saw
Nellie. bright and flushed, talking to a
very handsome man, who appeared quite
absorbed IN her. MIR. Palmer stared a
moment at the unconscious couple.
"Why, the deuce!'' was his thought;
"what on earth can they have been talk
ing about all this whlle?" Then sudden
ly meeting his wife's eye, he smiled, and
whispered, "Enjoying yourself, Ne,l?'
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 nothlngs to
sentimental Kate Marshall. his eyes &C.
casionally wandered to his wife. How
pretty she was looking and how gay she
was, and how coquettishly she was ex-
changing light repartee with that flirting
fellow, Tom HARRISON. And all the
while the handsome stranger never left
her side. 1t was perfectly evident that
he admired her.
"lt she were not a married woman he
would certainly fall in love with her
she-my wife, and he felt a little re-
sentful OF the admiration.
Nellie Palmer had never sung more
swectly, or danced more gracefully than
upon this evening.
Don't you think, Nell, you've danced
enough for one nlght?' said her husband,
toward the close of the evening; 'for a
married woman, he added.
''Perhaps so,' she answered, cheerful
ly; "but I've enjoyed myself so much I!
Really, I almost forgot that I was mar
ried woman, and felt like girl again."
'And behaved like one," he said, rath-
er cody. Who is that fellow that has
been in attendance upon you all the even
ing?' he inquired, as they walked
down stairs.
"That remarkably handsome man,
with the expressive dark eyes, do you
mean?'
II never noticed his eyes or that he
was at all handsome he answered stiff
ly.
ooh, I thought you meant Capt. Low
ell, of the artillery. All! here he is
just one moment, dcar-I quite forgot"
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 s.rcastical-
~, "you appear very intimate already"
because, love, we've discovered that
we're congenial spirits. We like the same
things-books, music, scenery; indeed,
evelything-and have the same opinions
on the most subjects. You know how
pleasant it is to meet with one who can
comprehend you--not your outer self
merely, but with a sort Of soul SYM
athy."
''Soul fddlesticks.'
Bob sighed Nellie, in an injured tone
"Scntiment be hanged! Come, Nellie,
be quick with your wrappings. It has
been stupid evening, and shall be
glad to- get home and to bed"
When Robert Palmer came home next
day, he found lis wife, not crying, as
before, in her bedroom, but in the parlor.
practising new song.
"Capt. Lowell called this morning."
she said, "and have promised to sing
this for him at Mrs. Campbell's.'
"Ah!" he answered, with an express
ion Of Indifference: and, as his wife again
struck up with the first few notes, he
muttered to himself, "Confound Capt.
LovcllW
At Mrs. Campbell's Capt. Lowell was
again in attendance upon pretty Mrs.
Palmer: and then other gentlemen dis
covered her attractions, her piquancy,
her coquettishness and tlirtableness; and
50 in few weeks, Mrs. Palmer was a
belle. She did net seem in the least to
care who her husband attended upon,
and, indeed he could hardly get word
with her at all, when at the gay assem-
blies which they constantly frequcnted.
He sometimes gave her hint that she
was no longer girl, and that he was her
husband; but she only laughed, and said
there was no harm done, and that she
was enjoying herself SO delightfully."-, and
felt herself more belle than even when
not fiirted then, being absorbed, heart
and soul, in Bob Palmer. But now it
was Capt. Lowell " no appeared chiefly to
occupy her thoughts, as we'll as a good
part of her time. She sung and danced
with him; she read the books he sent;
and so frequent were his visits, 50 con-
slant his attentions, that at last Mr.. Rob-
ert Palmer's wrath burst forth.
s"Ellen,' he said, as he one day closed
the door on the departing Captain, II
really cannot permit this to go on any
longer. Your conduct to me is most IN
expected-most unexpected. 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 group of chattering, grinning
popiDjays. like himself.
sWhy, Bob, you yourself blamed me
for playing wall-fower and spider, and
said you were ashamed of me-
II am much more ashamed Of you
now," he retorted, very severely.
"Now, dear, that is quite unreasonable
of you. Did not you tell me that would
please you by enjoying myself and firt-
ing little2 You know you did," added
Nellie, reproachfuily; "ani now that I
am obeying you, you get jealous.
"Jealous? Not I! But am offended
and insuited-yes, and Disguised as we'll.
If you could hear the remarks that hear
about yourself and Lovcll---------''''f
''Similar to those that heard in re-