Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-08-30
Taken at His Word,


she had 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 truth. Bob Palmer, forget
ting, or seeming to forget that he was
n 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
IL it was enough to make any six
months wife CRY, especially one so sem
sative as Nellie.
Not that Robert Palmer loved his
little wife bit less than on the day of
his marriage, neither that Nellie sus-
pected him Of it.. or for a moment
doubted his morals. any more than she
did his constancy. But Mr.. Palmer
was gay young man. and loved to
be amused. He lIkoI the society of
pretty and lively women, both married
and single; and in Il word he liked to
ilrt 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-
inc SOlDmnly with sOmo old gentleman,
or noticing some shy awkward child
while pretending TO be unconscious of
her husbands proceedings Not that
she was compelled to enjoy herself in
Al y II, l,,i.. Il, 4
and pretty and agreeable, but she had
no heart for anything else now, OF
late all her livCiincaS and Chattiness
bad left her, aud she answered absent
ly and smiled listlessly. and. if COM
pcllGd to dance or sing. did so out of
time and out of tune, to her husband 8
great vexation. 1t is thus that many
Il young W fc settles down into q duh
and and faded old woman, and her
husband grows handsOmcr and heart
Ter. and wonders what on earth could
have so changed her.
Hello! been CRYING again, ! de-
clare!' excls aimed Bob Palmer. sudden
ly ccasing his little whistle, rs he en-
tered The room, on returning from his
office. What 5 the matter now, Mel
e? Canary refused to sing, or Mad.
anne Figlini not put flowers enough in
your bOnnet?"
"Oh, Bob! how can youP" sobbed
Ncllie. beginning afresh.
Look here, Ellen" said her hus-
band. sitting down on the lounge, and
speaking more seriously; Il don't like
this ut all. | never come home that
your el are not red and swollen with
crying What have you to cry about
! should like to know? It's an insult
to me to have YOU 90 sniveling about
the house in this fashion. and moping
away in corners, looking sulIen and
miserable, as you did last night at
Mackins. Why people will think me
a perfect domestic tyrant."
''Al, Bob, don't speak so! | can t
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 a modern Niobe?'
Nothing really wrong. dear; oh! if
Won knew how much wife thinks oil
her husbands love. and"
Here poor Nellie broke down again.
MIR, Palmer's eyes opened very wide.
"Whcw! whstleI he; ''lf this ism
really absurd. So, she's jealous!
Indeed, no. dear Bob! But--but-"
she could hardly speak for the chok-
ing in her throat-'y0u can't under
stand the pride woman takes in hay.
ing her husband treat her with affection
and respect before every one, or how
it humbles and mOrtilies her to be neg
lected by him, and have other women
consider themselves her rivals-like
Isabel Baden.
Bob Palmer laughed outright, anc
then he grew angry.
You're an absured little foo
Nellie" he said. las if Isabel Bader
was anythingto me beyond a woman tc
amuse ones self with at party. Non
sense"
''She don't think So" said Nellie
''and-and others don't think so. The,
all think you are getting tired of YOU
wife, and Isabel flatters herself that she
has cut me out and is trying to lie
people see il"
''Fddlesticks!" said Bob, rising i'm,
pat emily from the lounge. "Im as
tonished at you, Nellie, and had alread,
given you credit of more sense as wei
as temper" he added, severely. 8.
wish you'd amused yourself in society
rs | do. instead Of moping about il
this fashion. You can't expect to have
me tied to your apron strings; and IL
much rather see you flirting it'll,
yourself than sulking away in hole;
and corners, like spider. watchin!
your butterfly of a husband to see i
you 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 up. wiped away her tears ant
unused awhile. with eyes flashing anc
cheeks flushed with a wounded and in.
dignant feeling.
Yes. she said to herself, "since he
has requested ii, will amuse myself
as he does and see how he likes it
Ashamed of me, is he? And he die
not use TO be when was gay and hap
ply. Oh. Bob, if you only knew how
loved you'll" a...
And once more despite her resolute.
ly closing her eyes and pressing he1
fingers upon them, the tears would
come.
There was to be. that very evening a
party at Col Johnston's, and Nellie
took particular pains in dressing her.
self for it. She had been of late rather
careless on that point. and was now re-
warded for her husbands glance of ap-
prevail and his remark that the pink
silk was becoming to her In conse-
quencc her eyes and cheeks were
brighter, and her spirits more buoyant,
MS she entered Mrs, Johuston's crowd.
ed drawing-room. Scarcely had thew
paid their respects to the hostess.
when Mr.. Palmer accosted, or rather
was accosted by M IS Baden, brilliant,
confident girl, who tried to ensnare
him before his marriage; and at the
Same moment gentlemen addressed
Mrs Palmer. She answered me.
ohan;ca'lv. unable 10 Withdraw her at
tent on rom her hus band and his com
H's"n Latil seeing something in M 81