St. Landry democrat., 1889-02-02
IN HIS OWN COIN. >
Mrs. Palmer Teaches Her Husband
a Much-Needed Lesson.

Mrs. Palmer Teaches Her Husband
Much-Needed Lesson.
Nellie Palmer was lying on the lounge in
her pretty bedroom, crying and looking
very unhappy And yet she had been mar
RED only six months, and to such "nice,
handsome man." as all the young ladies de-
clared, that surely she ought to be happy
with him. And 80 she had been until, to
tell the truth, Bob Palmer, forgetting, or
seeming to 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. Surely it was enough to make any
six-months' wife cry, especially one SO SEN
sitive as Nellie. "a -, -
Not that Robert Palmer loved his little wife
a bit less than on the day of his marriage,
neither that Nellie suspected him of it, or
for moment doubted his constancv. But
Mr.. Palmer was gay young man, and loved
to amuse himself and to be amused.
"Hello! been crying again, declared"
exclaimed Mr. Bob Palmer, suddenly ceas-
ing his little whistle, as he entered the room
on returning from his Office. "What's the
matter now, Nellie? Canary refused to
sing, or Nine. Viglini not put flowers
enough in your bonnet!"
ooh, Bob! how can youG" sobbed Nellie,
beginning afresh eff you knew how much
wife thinks of her husbands love and
Here poor Nellie broke down. Mr.. Pal
mer's eyes opened very wide.
"Whew!" whistled he; "if this isn't
really absurd So she's jealous!''
"Indeed, no, dear Bob! But-but'-she
could hardly speak for the choking in her
throat" you can't understand the pride a
woman takes in having her husband treat
her with affection and respect before every
one, or how it humbles and mortifies her to
be neglected by him and have other women
consider themselves her rivals-ike Isabel
Badenn - iHi"-
Bob Palmer laughed outright, and then he
grew angry.
You're an absurd little fool, Nellie" he
said. GAS if Isabel Baden were any thing to
me beyond a pleasant and agreeable young
woman to amuse ones self with at party.
Nonsenser'
She don't think So" said Nellie; sand
and the others don't think so. They all
think you are getting tired of your wife, and
Isabel fatters herself that she has cut me
wv
Flddlesticks!' ~ said Bob, rising impa-
tiently from the lounge. I'm astonished
at YOU, Nellie, and had really given you
credit for more sense as well as temper"
he added, severely. II wish you'd amuse
yourself in society, as do, instead of mop
ing about in this fashion. You can't ex-
pect to have me tied to your apron strings;
and I'd much rather see you flirting little
yourself than skulking away in holes
and corners like a spider, watching
your butterfly of husband to see if you
can detect him in doing wrong. You make
me quite ashamed OF you, declare.n Z,
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, 'ssince he has
requested it, I will amuse myself 'as he
does,' and see how he likes it. Ashamed of
me, is hes And he did not used to be so
when / was gay and happy. Oh, Bob, if
you only knew how l loved your
And once more, despite her resolutely
closing her eyes and pressing her fingers
upon them, the tears would come.
Z There was to be, that very evening, a party
at Colonel Johnston's, and Nellie took par
ticuIar pains in dressing herself for it. She
had been of late rather careless on this
point, and was now rewarded for her extra
care by her husbands glance of approval and
his remark that the pink silk was becoming
to her. In consequence her eyes and
cheeks were brighter, and her spirits more
buoyant as she entered Mrs. Johnston's
crowded drawing rooms. Sc&. ,cely had they
paid their respects to the hostess when Mr.
Palmer accosted, or rather was accosted by
Miss Baden, a brilliant, confident girl, who
tried to ensnare him before his marriage,
and at the same moment a gentleman adj
dressed Mrs. Palmer. ::s.ee,f 4<z,s,:
She answered mechanically, unable to
withdraw her attention from her husband
and his companion until, seeing something
in Miss Baden's glance at herself which
she did not like, her pride again awoke, and
she turned, as with sudden determination,
to the gentleman at her side. He was re-
cent conner. to the town, very pleasant and
handsome, and Nellie Palmer forthwith be-
gan to try and make herself agreeable to
him. He looked so pleased, and was him
self 80 agreeable, that it soon cost her no
effort to converse; and then her old lively
spirits returned; and, to her surprise, she
found that she was enjoying herself.
Her husband didn't much notice this, but
Miss Baden did; and her alrtation with Mr..
Palmer lost much of it's charm, now that his
wife did not appear mortified and jealous,
and that people couldn't see that she was
so. Wherefore Miss Baden grew indiffer-
emit, and Mr.. Palmer bethought himself to
look after his wife. Not finding her look
ing over the photograph albums, nor talk
fo1I in of
the 'shoies and corners'' which she was
won't of late to frequent, he became rather
puzzled. ses.;zetasl.> 81 ,,,s.sss~s s~t~s,s,A
s'She's got in the dumps again, sup
pose," was his thought, land is trying to
disguise it under the pretense OF being ILL.,
Dare say shall find her crying or fainting
away in the conservatory, with fans and
smelling bottles round her, or perhaps she's
gone home.n
At that instant little laugh at his elbow
startled him, and turning, he saw Nellie,
bright and flushed, talking to very hand
some man, who appeared quite absorbed in
her. Mr.. Palmer stared q moment at the
unconscious couple.
"Wby, the deuce!'' was his thought,
what on earth can they have been talking
about all thus whilel' Then suddenly meet
ing his Wife's eye he smiled aud whispered:
Enjoying yourself, Nells"
Oh yes, dear, delightfully."-! Don't trouble
yourself about me, pray"
He passed in, but didn't go far, and as he
stood, whispering soft nothings to senti-
mental Kate Marshall, his eyes occasionally
wandered to- his wife, How pretty she
was looking, and how gay she was, and
how coquettishly she was exchanging light
repartee with that flirting fellow, Tom Har-
rison. And all the time the handsome
stranger never left her side. 1t was per-
fectly evident that he admired her.
".If she were. not a marrleu woman nc
x1roaIid co,.foinlu fall in love with her. she.