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

terhy of husband to see if you can't
detect him doing something wrong.
You make me quite ashamed Of you, l
declare"
Mr. Palmer took his hat and walked
out of the room with an air of mingled
dignity and injured innocence. His
wife sat up, wiped away her tears and
unused awhile, with eyes flashing and
cheeks flushed with wounded and indig-
nant feeling
EYES," she said to herself, "since he
has requested it, | will amuse myself as
he does. and see how he likes it
Ashamed of me. is he And he did not
used to be so when | was gay and
happy. Oh, Bob, if you only knew how
l loved you p
There was to be that very evening a
party at Colonel Johnson's and Nellie
took particular pains in dressing herself
for it. She had been of late rather care
less on this point, and was now rewarded
for her extra care by her husbands
glance of approval and his remark that
the pink silk was becoming to her. In
consequence, her eyes and cheeks were
brighter and her spirits more buoyant as
she entered Mrs. Johnson's crowded
drawing-rooms Scarcely had they paid
their respects to the hostess, when Mr..
Palmer accosted, or rather was accosted,
by Miss Baden, brilliant, confident
girl, who tried to ensnare him before his
marriage and at the same moment a
gentleman addressed Mrs. Palmer. She
answered mechanically, unable to with
draw her attention from her husband
and his companion, until, seeing some
thing 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 a recent conner to the
town-very pleasant and handsome
and Nellie Palmer forthwith began to
try to make herself agreeable to him.
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 and corners" which she was
wont of late to frequent, he became
rather puzzled.
"Shes got in the dumps again, l sup
pose," was his thought, "and is trying to
disguise it under pretense of being ill.
Dare say l shall find her crying or faint
ing away in the conservatory, with fans
and smelling bottles around hei-or per-
haps she's gone home"
At that instant 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. Mr.. Palmer stared a
moment at the unconscious couple.
"Why the deuce" was his thought !;
what on earth can they have been
talking about all this while Then
suddenly meeting his wife's eye, he
smiled and whispered, Enjoying your
self, Nellr
sob, yes, dear, delightfully."- Don't
trouble yourself about me, pray"
He passed on but didn't 60 far, and
as he stood whispering soft nothings to
sentimental Kate Marshall, his eyes oc-
easionally 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 tlirt-
ing fellow, Tom Harrison. And all the
while the handsome stranger never left
her side, it was perfectly evident that he
admired her.
IF she were not married woman he
would certainly fall in love with her
she-my wife," and he felt little re-
sentful of the admiration.
Nellie Palmer had never sung more
sweetly or danced more gracefully than
upon this evening.
'Don't you think, Nell, you've danced
enough for one night" said her hus-
band toward the close of the evening;
''for a married woman" he added.
perhaps so, she answered cheerfully,
"but I've enjoyed myself SO much |!
Really, I almost forgot that 1 was a
married woman, and felt like 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
went down the stairs.
THAT remarkably handsome man,