The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-04-29


Brown, neither in any of the ''holes
and corners which she was wont of
late to frequent, he became rather
puzzled.
At that instant little laugh at his
elbow startled him and turning. he
saw Nellie, bright and flushed, talking
to very handsome man, who appear
ed quite absorbed in her. Mr.. Palmer
stared moment at the unconscious
couple.
why, the deuce" was his thought;
"what on earth can they have been
talking about all this while?" Then
suddenly meeting his wife's eye, he
smiled and whispered, Enjoying your
self, Nellp"
''Oh, yes. dear, delightfully."-! Don't
trouble yourself about me, pray"
Nellie Palmer had never sung more
sweetly or danced more gracefully
than upon this evening.
Don't you think. Nell. you've danced
enough for one night?" said her hus-
band, toward the close of the even
ing; for married woman?" he add
ed.
Perhaps so." she answered. cheer
fully; ''but I've enjoyed myself so
muchi Really, I almost forgot that
was married woman, and felt like
girl again"
''And behaved like one." he said
rather coolly. ''Who is that fellow
that has been in attendance upon you
all the evening?" he inquired, as they
walked down stairs.
THAT remarkably handsome man,
with the expressive dark eyes, do you
meanPn
II never noticed his eyes or that he
was at all handsome" he answered,
stifly.
''Oh. 1 thought you meant Captain
Lowell, of the artillery. All! here he
is-just one moment, dear-I quite
forgot"
And Nellie spoke few words to the
band could distinguish only something
about that book"
When Robert Palmer came home
ing, as before, in her bedroom, but
in the parlor. practicing a new song.
Captain Lowell called this morn
ing" she said, land 1 have promised
to sing this for him at Mrs. Camp
BELLS"
'Ah," he answered, with an express
sion of Indifference. and as his wife
struck up with the first few notes. he
muttered to himself, "Confound Cap
tain Lowell"
At Mrs. Campbelrs, Captain Lowell
was again in attendance upon pretty
Mrs. Palmer, and then other gentle
men discovered her attractions, her
piquancy, and coquettishness. and
fiirtableness, and so in a few weeks,
Mrs. Palmer was belle. She did not
seem in the least to care who her hus-
band was attending upon, and. indeed,
he could rarely get word with her al
all when at the gay assemblies which
they constantly frequented. He some
times gave her hint that she was "no
longer girl" and that he was hel
husband, but she only laughed, and
said there was no harm done, and thai
she was enjoying herself so delight
fully, and felt herself more a belle
than even when a girl-which wa!
true, because she had not fiirted then
being absorbed. heart and soul, in Boil
Palmer. But now it was Captain Low
ell who appeared chiefly to occupy hel
thoughts. as well as a good part of hel
time. She sang and danced with him
she read the books he sent, and so fire
quent were his visits, so constant hi:
attentions, that at last Mr.. Rober
Palmers wrath burst forth.
"Ellen," he said, as he one da,
closed the door on the departing Cap
tain, Il really can not permit this t.
go on any longer. Your conduct t.
me is most uneXpected-mosta astound
ing. You are by far too intimate witt
this fellow Lowell. He is constantly il
my house, and last evening he scarce
ly left your side, while you stood, fo
two hours the center of group o
chattering. grinning popinjays like him
self"
why, Bob, you yourself blamed m
for playing wall-fower and spider,
and said you were ashamed Of me-"
II am much more ashamed of yol
now" he retorted, severely.
Now, dear, this is quite unreason
able of you. Didn't you tell me that
would please you by enjoying myself
and flirting a littleP You know yol
did" added Nellie. reproachfully; 'ant
now that 1 am obeying you, you ge
jealous"
Jealous! not I. But I am offended
and insulted-yes, and disgusted a
well. If only you could hear the re
marks about yourself and that Lovel
Similar to those that 1 heard in re
gard to you and Miss Baden. 1 pre-
sume," said the wife:
What is Miss Baden to me?" he de
manded angrily.
'And what is Captain Lowell t
me?n
You encourage him, madam. Yo
llirt with him.
"As you do with Isabel Baden"
"a man may do what is not permi'
sible in woman"
! '.Ah, that is itr' said Nellie, wit
her old sigh. You men may negle'
wife-may wear out her heart an
: life with anguish-may expose her
the pity or ridicule of all her acquain
} ances by showing devotion to anoth'
J and she, poor slave, must not pr
sumo to turn, as may even the tran
pied worm, but must bear all in NEE
silence-never even imploring mere.
? lest she offend her lord. But l ha'
had enough of this, Bob; and now
= you do to me will do to you. If yo
r 90 on flirting, so will I. I know yc
| don't care bit more for Isabel Badt
than 1 do for Captain Lowell, but
will not be neglected and humbled
: the sight of the whole world. a
= not slave, but wife, and denal
e the honor due me-"
s Her mood was a new one to her hr
y band. She sat erect and proud. loo
d ing him steadily in the face, wi
: bright, clear eyes, in whose depths
+ could still read great tenderness. al
4 he at once comprehended the who
: matter. He looked at her momel
: as steadily as she at him, and then
d rose and took seat by her side.
:. ''And you really care nothing
: this Lowell, Nellie?"
l. mo more than I ought to do for
II cousin Laura's affianced husband" S
e replied.
J. t.Af1iancedP"
:, "These six months; before I n
l. him, and 1 would have told you of
l. but"
IS She stopped, and looked half arcl
N IN biS fooo Ho understood her a