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

can comprehend you-not your outel
self merely, but with sort of soul sym
pathy."
"Soul fiddlesticks."
"You never did have much sentiment
Bob," sighed Nellie in an injured tone
Sentiment be hanged Come Nellie
be quick with your wrappings. 1t has
been stupid evening, and L shall be
glad to get home and in bed"
When Robert Palmer came home
next day he found his wife, not crying
as before in her bedroom, but in the
parlor practising new song.
Captain Lowell called this morning,
she said, "and have promised to sing
this for him at Mrs. CampbelPs."
"Ah p he answered with an ex-
preston of indifference; and as his wife
again struck up with the first few notes,
he muttered to himself, "Confound
Captain Lowell ~
At Mrs. Campbell's, Captain Lowell
was again in attendance on pretty Mrs.
Palmer; and then other gentlemen dis
covered her attractions, her piquancy
and coquettishness and tlirtableness; and
SO, in very few weeks Mrs. Palmer
was belle. She did not seem in the
least to care who her husband was at
tending upon, and, indeed, he could
ralely get VOID with her at all,
when present at the gay as
semblies which they consequently fire.
quented. He sometimes gave her hint
that she was "no longer girl" and
that he was her husband ; but she only
laughed, aid said there is no harm done,
and that she was enjoying herself SO
delightfully."-, and felt herself more a
belle than even when a girl-which was
true, because she had not f1irted then,
being absorbed, heart and soul, in Bob
Palmer. But now it was Captain Low
ell who appeared chiefly to occupy her
thoughts, as we'll as eood part of her
time. She sang and danced with him i;
she read the books he sent and so fire.
quent were his visits, so constant his at
tentions, that at last Robert Palmer's
wrath burst forth.
"Ellen," he said, as he one day closed
the door on the departing captain, 81
really cannot permit this to 60 one 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
centre of a group of chattering, grinning
popinjays like himself"
"Why, Bob, you yourself blamed me
for playing wall flower and Spider and
YOU were ashamed of me-"
81 am much ashamed of you now" he
retorted, severely.
"Now, dear, that is quite unreasona-
BILE of you. Didn't you tell me l would
please you by enjoying myself and flirt,
ing little You know you did," added
Nellie, reproachfully "and now that l
am obeying you, you get jealous"
jealous not 1 ! But l am offended
and insulted yes, and disguised as
well. If you only could hear the re-
marks about yourself and that Lowell,
''Similar to those l heard in regard to
you and Miss Baden, l presume" said
his wife.
"What is Miss Baden to me :" he de-
manded, angrily.
"And what is this Captain Lowell to
mel'
"You encourage him madam. You
firt with him."
Gas you do with Miss Baden"
"a man may do what is not permits
sible in a woman"
"Ah, that is it p said Nellie with her
old sigh. "You men may neglect wife
may wear out her heart and life with
anguish-may expose her to the pity
and 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 i'm
ploring mercy, lest she offend her lord.
But have had enough of this, Bob ;
and now as you do to me l will do to
you. If you 60 on flirting, so will l. l
know you don't care bit more for Isa-
bel Baden than l do for Captain Lowell
but will not be neglected and humbled
in the sight of the whole world. ! am
not slave, but wife, and demand the
honor due me"