Wichita eagle., 1888-08-14
TAKEN AT HIS WORD.

ala n ~ II l1O " NAtOs
Nellie Palmer was lying On the lounge IN
her pretty bedroom, crying and looking very
unhappy. And yet she had been married
only six mouths, and 10 such nice, hand
some man." as all the young ladies declared,
with him. And 30 siae had been until, to tell
the truth, NJ. Bob Palmer, forgetting, o.
seeming to forget, that he was married
man, had recently taken 10 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
a1 months wife cry, especially one 50 sensi-
tive as Nellie.
Not that Mr. Robert Palmer loved his little
wife a bit less than on the day Of his mar
Rage, neither that Nellie suspected him Of it,
or for q moment douoted his morals, any
more than che did his constancy. But Mr..
Palmer was gay young man, and loved to
amuse himself and to be amused
"Hall0l been crying again, declarer e1-
claimed Mr.. Bob Palmer, suddenly ceasing
his little whistle as he entered the room, on
returning from his Office. What's the mat
ter now, Eeihes Canary refused to sing, or
Nina. Viglini not pat flowers enough in your
bonnetF
'.Oh, Bobi how can your sobbed Nellie,
beginning afresh. II you knew how much a
wife thinks OF her husbands love, andn-
Here poor Nellie broke down Mr..
Palmer's eyes opened very wide.
''Whewi" whistled he; 'if this isn't really
absurd So she's JEALOUSY
Indeed, no, dear Bob! But-but"-she
could hardly speak for the choking in her
throat-''you can't understand the pride q
woman takes in having her husband treat
her with affection and respect before every
one, or how ii humbfes and mortides her to
be neglected by him, and have other women
consider themselves her rivals-hke Isabel
Baden"
Mr. Bob Palmer laughed outright, and then
he grew angry.
You're an absurd little fool, Nellie" he
said. ''As II Isabel Baden were anything to
me beyond pleasant and agreeable young
woman to amuse ones self with at a party
Nonsensei"
''She don't think so,n said Nellie: sand
and the others don't think 80. They ell think
you are getting tired Of your wife, and Isabel
fatters hersef th3t she has cut me out, and
is trying TO let people see it."
''Fiddlesticks!" ssid Bob. rising impa-
tiensiy from the lounge. I'm astonished at
you, Nellie, and had really given you credit
for moro sense. As well as temper" be added,
severely. II wish you'd anuse yourself in
society, as do, instead Of noping about in
this fashion You can't expect to have NE
tied TO your apron strings; and I'd much
rather see you flirting q little yourself than
skulkins away in holes and corners, Ike q
spider, watching your butterfly OF husband
to see Ii you can detect him in 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 His wife sat up, wiped
away her tears and unused awhile, with eyes
flashing and cheeks flushed with wounded
and indignant feeling.
Yes" she said to herself, ''since he has
requested it, viii auuse myself as he does,
and see how be likes it. Ashamed of me, il
hei And be did not use to be so when I was
gay and happy. Oh, Bob, II you o1ly knew
how loved your
And once more, despite her resoluteiy clos
ing her eyes and pressing her fingers upon
them, the tears would come.
There was to be, that very evening, party
at Col Johnston's, and Nellie took particular
pains in dressing herself for it. She bad been
Of late rather careless Oh this point, and was
now rewarded for her extra care by her hus-
bands glance Of approval and his remark
that the pink silk WIS becoming to her In
consequence her eyes and cheeks were
brighter, and her spirits more buoyant, as
she entered Mrs, Johnstons crowded draw
ing rooms Scarcely had they paid their re-
spects TO tie hostess when Mr.. Palmer &C.
costed, or rather was accosted, BY Miss
Baden, a brilliant, confident girl, who tried
TO ensnare him before his marriage: and. at
the same moment, q gentleman addressed
Mrs. Palmer. She answered mechanically,
unable to withdraw her attention from her
husband and his companion, until, seeing
something In Miss Baden's glance ct herself
which she did nos Hke, her pride again
sweke, and she turned, IS with sudden de-
termination, 70 the gentleman at her side
30 was a recent conner to the town, very
Pleasant and handsome, and Nellie
Palmer forthwith began to try and
make herself agreeable to him He
looked 50 pleased, and was himself
30 agreeable, that it soon cost her no
effort 10 converse; and then her Old Lively
spirits returned; and, to Der surprise, she
found that she was enjoying hersek Her
husband didn't much notice this but Miss
Baden did; and her Irritation with Mr. Pal
nuer lost much Of It's charm now that his
wife Gid not appear mortified and Jealous.
and that people co0ldnr see that she was so
Wherefore Miss Baden grew Indifferent, and
Mr.. Palner 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 'sholes and
corners which she was wont OF late to ire
Quent &c became rather puzzled
She's got in the dumps again, suppose
WIS his thought, land Is trying to disguise il
under the preeense Ct being i'll Dare say
shall End her crying or fainting away in the
conservatory, with fans and smelling bottles
round her, or perhaps she's gone home
At that instant little laugh az bis elbow
startled him, and tn ming, be saw Nellie,
bright and flushed, talking to very hand
some man, who appeared quite absorbed IN
her. NJ. Palmer stared moment ct tee un-
conscious ooup,a
why. the deuce WA hi thought, what
on earth can they have been talking about
all this vhiieI' Then. suddenly meeting his
wifeis eye, be smiled and whispered, Ed
joyiog yourself NaIr'
''Oh, yes, dear, delightfully."- Don't trouhls
yourself about oe, pray
&c passed On, bot didn't 80 fsr, aad as he
seocd, whispering soft noshings 70 seuuuaO-
cl Kate NArshal, his eyes occasionally wan
dered 70 his vita How pretty she was look
fny and how gay size wa and bow coques-
tishly she Was exchanging Light repA-see
With shat flirting fellow, Tom Harrison And