Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-10-26
TAKEN At HIS word.

lQAuu Ill II1u W OAlD'
Yes, Nellie Palmer was lying OH
the lounge in her pretty bedroom,
crying and looking very unhappy
and yet she had been married only
six months, and to such a "nice,
handsome man." as all the young
ladies declared, that surely she
ought to have been happy with
him. And so she had been until,
to tell the truth, Mr.. Bob Palmer,
forgetting or seeming to forget
that be was a 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. Surely,
it was enough to make any Six
months wife cry, especially one so
sensitive as Nellie.
Not that Mr.. BObert Palmer
loved his wife a bit less than on
the day of his marriage, neither
that Nellie suspected him Of it, or
for a moment doubted his con.
stancy. But Mr.. Palmer was a
gay young man, and loved to
amuse himself and to be amused.
"Hello! been crying again, l
decIarew exclaimed Mr.. Robert
Palmer, suddenly ceasing his little
whistle, as he entered the room, on
returning from his office. "Whaps
the matter now, Nellie2 Canary
refused to sing, or Nine. Viglini
not put flowers enough on your
bOnnet?"
"Oh, Bob ! how can you y
sobbed Nellie, beginning afresh.-
"If you knew how much a wife
thinks of her husbands love,
and -"
Here poor Nellie broke down
Mr.. Palmer7s eves opened very
wide.
"Whew y whistled he; "if this
isu't really absurd. So she's
jealous :"
"Ind Iced, no, dear Bob! But
but"-sbe could hardly speak for
this choking in her throat-"you
can't understand the pride woman
takes in having her husband treat
her with affection and respect be-
fore every one, or how 1t humbles
and mortifies her to be neglected
by him, and have other women
consider themselves her rivals
like Isabel Baden"
Mr.. Bob Palmer laughed out.
right, and then he grew angry.
"YOu're an absurd little fool,
Nellie" he said. GAS if Isabel
Baden were anything to me beyond
a pleasant aud agreeable young
woman to amnse ones self with at
a party. Nonsense
"She don't think So" said Nellie ;
"and-and the others don't think
sou are getting tired of your wife,
and Isabel fatters herself that she
has cut me out and is trying to
let people see it,"
"Eiddlesticks " said Bob, rising
impatiently from the lounge. "Pm
astOnished at you, Nellie, and had
really given you credit for more
sense, as well as temper he added,
severely. 81 wish you'd amHse
yourself in society as l do, instead
of mopiDg about in this fashion,
You can't expect to have me tied
to your apron strings; aud I'd
much rather see you flirting little
yourself than skulking away in
holes and corners, like a spider,
watching your butterfly of a has.
band to see if you can detect him
in doing 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 tears flashing aud cheeks
flushed with wounded and indig'
nant feeling. ~. ..t
eyes," she said to herself, "slDce
he has requested it, will amnse
myself 'as he does and see how be
likes it. Ashamed OF me, is be !
And he did not use to be so when
! was gay and happy. Oh, Bob, il
you only knew how loved yOup
And once more, despite her reso-
lutely closing her eyes, and pres.
sing her fingers upon them, tears
would come.
There was to be, that very
evening, a party at Col. JObnsOn's,
aud Nellie took particular pains 10
dressing herself for it. She had
been of late rather careless on
-, th,o nofnf ond xuaa now raW ri AL