The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-02-26
Taken at his Word.

mS NOlF UhnobPy' AIM ) Se SiN h.su
been married only six months, and to
such mice, 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, Bob Palmer, forgetting,
or seeming to forget, that he was mar
ried man, had recently taken to flirting
with these very young ladies at all the
parties in 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 Robert Palmer loved his lit
tie wife bit less than on the day of
his marriage that Nellie sus-
pected him of it, or for moment doubt
ed his morals any more than she did his
constancy. But Mr. Palmer was gay
Young man, and loved to amuse himself
and to be amused. He liked the society
of pretty and lively women, both mar
ried and single, and in word he liked
to firt and saw no harm in it. So,
while he hung over TIE young ladies
chairs, laughing and paying them gay
compliments, or promenading with the
young married ladies, his wife would be
looking over a photograph album or con-
versing solemnly with with some old
gentleman, or noticing some shy or
awkward child, while pretending to be
unconscious of her husbands proceed
ings. Not that she was compelled to
enjoy herself in this solemn way-she,
usually so bright and pretty and agree
able-but she had no heart tor anything
else now. OF late all her liveliness and
chattiness had left her, and she an
swered absently and smiled listlessly,
and if compelled to dance or sing did so
out of time and out of tune, to her hus-
bands great vexation. 1t is thus that
mahy a Young wife settles down into
dull and faded old woman, while her
husband grows handsomer and heartier,
and wonders what on earth should have
so changed her.
"Hello been crying again, l de-
clare - exclaimed Bob Palmer, sudden
ly ceasing his little whistle as he entered
the room on returning from his Office
What's the matter now, Nellie? Can
airy refused to sing, or Madame Viglini
not put flowers enough in your bonnetP
ooh, Bob how can you p sobbed
she, beginning afresh.
"Look here, Ellen" said her hus-
band, sitting down on the lounge and
speaking more seriously, " / don't like
this at all. I never come home that
your eyes are not red and swollen with
crying. What have you to cry about, l
should like to knowl It's an insult to
me to 60 sniveling about the house in
this fashion, and mopiDg away in cor
ners, looking sullen and miserable, as
you did last night at Macklin's. Why,
people will think me perfect domestic
tyrant %
"Ah, Bob, don't speak 50 I can't
help it, indeed l do feel so miserable.
You make me so, Bob p
"Ii Well, that is rich Perhaps
you will be good enough to let me know
of what enormity I've been guilty that
has turned you into Modern Niobe ?"
Nothing really wrong, dear but,
oh if you knew how much a wife
thinks of her husbands love, and
Here poor Nellie broke down again,
and Mr.. Palmer's eyes opened very
wide
"Whew !" whistled he /" if this isn't
yally absurd. So, she's jealous p
" Indeed, no, dear Bob. But-but y
she could hardly speak for the choking
in her throat )" you can't understand
the pride woman takes in having her
husband treat her with affection and re-
spect before every one, or how it hum
bles and mortifes her to be neglected by
him, and have other women consider
themselves her rivals-like Isabel Ba
den."
Bob Palmer laughed outright, and then
he grew angry.
"You're an absurd little fool, Nellie, "
he said. Gas if Isabel Baden were any
thing to me beyond pleasant and
agreeable young woman to amuse ones
self with at party. Nonsense y
''She don't think SO" said Nellie ;
''and-and the others don't think So
They all think you are getting tired of
your wife, and Isabel fatters herself that
she has cut me out, and is trying to let
people see it,"
"Fiddlesticks y said Bob, rising i'm