Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-14
Taken at His Word.

NeIlle rainier WAS ~ lng on tue
lounge in her pretty Dedr Dom. crying
and look NC very unhappy. And vet
she had been married cnly six months.
and TO such a mice handsome man.
as all the young lad es declared that
surely she ought TO have been happy
with him. And so she had been until.
until, to tell truth. Bob Palmer. forget
ting, or seeming 90 forget that he was
married 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 Sure
ly il was enough to make any six
months wife cry, especially one so sem
sative rs Nellie.
Not tha. Robert Palmer loved his
little wife bit less than on the day Of
his marriage. neither that Nellie sus-
pected him of IL or for moment
doubted his morals any more than she
did his constancy. But Mr.. Palmer
WAS gay young man. and loved to
be amused. He liked the society of
pretty and lively women. both married
and single; and in word he liked to
dirt and saw no harm IN it So. while
he hung over the young ladies chairs.
laughing and paying gay compliments.
or promenading with the young mar
ried ladies. his wife would be looking
over photograph album. or consvers-
ing solemnly with some old gentleman,
or noticing some shy 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 agreeable. but she had
no heart for anything else now. OF
late all her liveliness and chattin ess
had left her. and she answered absent
~ and smiled listlessly. and. if COM
PEELED TO dance or sing. did so out Of
time and out of tune. TO her husband
great vexation. 1t is thus that many
a young wife settles down into dull
and and faded old woman, and her
usband grows handsomer and heart
Ter. and wonders what on earth could
have so changed her.
Hello! been crying again, de-
clarer exclaimed Bob Palmer. sudden
" ceasing his little whistle, as he en-
tered the room, on returning from his
office. What s the matter now. Nell
LEI Canary refused to sing. or Mad.
anne Viglini not put flowers enough in
your bonnet"
''Oh, Bob! how can you?" sobbed
Nellie. beginning afresh.
Look here, Ellen" said her hus-
band. sitting down on the lounge and
speaking more seriously; IL don't like
this at All. / never come home that
your eyes are not red and swollen with
crying What have you to cry about
l should like to know? It's an insult
70 me to have You 60 sniveling about
the house In this fashion. and moping
away in corners. looking sullen and
miserable. as you did last night at
Mackin's. Why people will thi nix me
perfect domestic tyrant'
''Ah. Bob don't speak so! can
help it, indeed. | DO feel so miserable.
You make me so Bob"
81! Well that is rich! Perhaps you
will be good en- ough TO let me know of
what enormity I've been guilty. that
has turned you into modern Niobe? ?"
Nothing really wrong. dear; oh! il
you knew how much wife thinks OF
her husbands love. and"
Here poor Nellie broke down again.
Mr. Palmer's eyes opened very wide.
"Whew!' whistled he; IF this ism /
really absard. So. she's jealous,
Indeed, no. dear Bob! But--but-"
she could hardly speak for the chok-
ing in her throat-''vou can't under
stand the pride woman takes in hav-
ing her hus band treat her with affection
and respect before every one. or how
il humbles aud mortities her to be neg.
lected by him. and have other women
consider themselves her rivals--lke
Isabel Baden.
Bob Palmer laughed outright and
then he grew angry.
You're an absured little fool
Nellie" he said. las il Isabel Baden
was anything to me beyond a woman to
smuse ones self with at party. Non
sense"
She don't think So" said Nellie;
''and-and others don't think so. They
all think YOU are getting tired of your
wife. and Isabel flatters herself that she
has cut me out and is trying 10 let
people see it,"
'.F.ddlesticks" said Bob. rising i'm.
pat emily from the lounge I'm as
tonished at you. Nellie, and had alreadg
given you credit of more sense as well
as temper" he added. severely. IL
wish you'd amused yourself in society.
as DO. instead OF mopAg about in
this fashion. You can't expect TO have
me tied to your apron strings; and I'd
much rather see you flirting little
yourself than sulking away in holes
and corners. like spider. watching
your butterfly of IA husband to see il
yon can detect him doing wrong You
make me quite ashamed Of you de-
clare"
Mr.. Palmer took his hat and walked
out Of the room, with an air of mingled
dignity and injured innocence. Hi'
wife sat mp. wiped away her tears and
1. al. a II.