The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-05-15
A WIFE'S REVENGE.

Nellie Palmer was lying on the
lounge in her pretty bedroom crying
and looking very unhappy. 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
until. to tell the truth, Mr.. Bob
Palmer, forgetting or seeming to for
get 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 sensitive as Nellie.
Hello! been crying again. | de-
clare!' exclaimed Mr.. Bob Palmer,
suddenly ceasing his whistle, as he en-
tered the room, on returning from his
office. Whats the matter now, Mel
liep Canary refused to sing, or
Madame Viglini not put flowers enough
in your bonnetp"
''Oh, Bob, how can youp" sobbed
Nellie, beginning afresh.
Look here, Ellen" said her hus-
band, sitting down on the lounge, and
speaking more seriously: Il don't
like this at all. / never come home
that your eyes are not red and swollen
with crying. What have you to cry
about, / should like to knowp It's an
insult to mo to go on sniveling about
the house after this fashion, and mop
ing away in corners, looking sullen
and miserable, as you did last night,
at Mrs. Macklin's. Why people will
think me perfect domestic tyrant!"
''Ah, Bob, don't speak so. can't
help it. indeed. do feel so miserable.
You make me SO, Bob"
II! Well, that is rich! Perhaps you'll
be good enough to let me know of
what enormity I've been guilty that
has turned you into modern Niobep"
Nothing really wrong. dear; but,
oh! if you knew how much u wife
thinks of her husbands love; and"
Here poor Nellie broke down again.
Mr.. Palmer's eyes opened very wide.
"Whewm whistled he; IF this isn't
really absurd. So she's jealous!"
Indeed, no. dear Bob! But-but
- she could hardly speak for the
CuOhIuS III HGl NOu Odh
derstand the pride woman takes in
having her husband treat her with af-
lection and respect before any one, or
how it humbles and mortifies her to be
neglected by him. and have other wom-
en- consider themselves rivals-like Is
abel Baden"
Mr.. Bob Palmer laughed outright,
and then he grew angry.
You're an absurd little fool. Mel
lie," he said. las if Isabel Baden
were anything to me beyond a pleas
ant and agreeable young woman to
amuse ones self with at party. Non
sensel'
''She don't think so," said Nellie;
'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, said Bob, rising i'm
patiently from the lounge. I'm as
tonished at you, Nellie. and had really
given you credit for moro sense as
well as temper" he added severely.
II wish you'd amuse yourself in So
ciety. rs do. instead of going moping
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 a
husband, to see il you can't detect him
in doing wrong. You make me
ashamed of you, I declare"
Mr.. Palmer took his hst 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 1 will amuse myself as
he does and see how he likes it.
Ashamed of me, is hep And he did
not used to be so when l was gay and
happy. Oh, Bob, If you only knew
how loved your
And once more despite her resolute-
ly closing her eyes and pressing her
fingers upon them, the tears would
come.
There was to be, that very evening.
a party at Colonel Johnson's; and Mel
lie took particular 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 that pink silk was be-
coming to her. In consequence her
eyes and cheeks were brighter. and
her spirits more buoyant, rs she en-
tered Mrs. Johnson's crowded draw
ing-rooms. Scarcely had they paid
their respects to the hostess. when Mr..