Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-15
TAKEN AT HIS WORD.


little guest-room the latest caller had
gone and now the smile faded from
her face, and she sat pensive awhile;
then big tears gushed in her eyes, which
she wiped away with her lace handker-
chief. And yet 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, to tell the truth, Mr.. 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 as sem
sitive as Nellie.
Not that Mr.. 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 constancy. But Mr.. Palmer
was a gay young man, and loved to
amuse himself and to be amused.
"Hallo! Been crying again, declare !"
exclaimed Mr.. Bob Palmer, suddenly
ceasing his little whistle as he entered
the room on returning from his office,
and took seat beside her in the cool
manner that had so quickly replaced the
ardor of the lover. whats the matter
now, Nettie? Canary refused to sing, or
Nine. Viglini not put flowers enough in
your bonnet?"
"Oh. Robl how can your" sobbed
Nettie, raising her head and turning her
tear-stained face toward him. "If you
knew how much wife thinks of her
husbands love and"
Here poor Nettie broke down. Mr..
Palmer's eyes opened very wide.
"Whew !" whistled he. "If this isn't
really absurd. So she's jealousl"
@Indeed, no, dear Bob! But-but-"
she could hardly speak for the choking
in her throat-"you can't understand the
pride woman takes In having her hus-
band treat her with affection and respect
before everyone, or how it humbles and
mortifes her to be neglected by him,
and have other women consider them
selves her rival-like Isabel Baden.
Mr.. Bob Palmer laughed outright, and
then he grew angry.
you're an absurd little fool, Nettie,
he said. "As if Isabel Baden were any
thing to me beyond pleasant and agree
able young woman to amuse ones self
with at party. Nonsense!"
"She doesn't think so, said Nettie;
"and-and the 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 to let
people see it. "
"Fiddlesticks I" said Bob, rising inn
patiently from his seat I'm aston
ished at you, Nettie, and had really given
you credit for more sense, as well as
temper, he added, severely. Il wish
you'd amuse yourself in society as l do,
instead of moping 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 Skulk-
ing away in holes and corners like q
spider, watching your butterfly of hus-
band to see if you can't detect him In
doing wrong. You make me quite
ashamed of you, 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 eyes flashing and
cheeks flushed with wounded and in
dignant feeling.
~Yes, she said to herself, "since he
has requested it. / will amuse myself
as he does and see how he likes it.
Ashamed of me, is he? And he did not
used to be so when / was gay and happy.
Oh, Bob, if you only knew how loved
you!"
And once more, despite her resoiutely
closing her eyes and pressing her fingers
upon them, the tears would come.
There was within a few days party
ut Colonial Johnston's, and Nettie took
particular pains in dressing herself for 1t.
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 spirit more buoyant as she entered
Mrs. Johnston's crowded drawing rooms
carcely had they paid their respects to
/ the host when Mr.. Palmer accosted, or
rather was accosted by, Miss Baden, a
brilliant, confident girl who tried to en-
snare him before his marriage, and at
the same moment gentleman addressed
Mrs. Palmer.
She answered mechanically, unable to
withdraw her attention from her husband
and his companion, until, seeing some
thing 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 a recent conner to the
town, very pleasant and handsome, and
Nettie Palmer forthwith began to try