Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-10-30
AID IN HIS 7
( A OWN COIN

exclaimed MIR. Bob Palmer, suddenly
ceasing 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?"
"Oh, Bob, how can your sobbed Nell
lie, beginning afresh.
Look here, Ellen" said her husband
sitting down upon the lounge and speak.
ing more seriously. 81 don't like this at
all l never come home that your eyes
are not red and swollen with crying.
What have you to cry about, should
like to know? It's an insult to me to 20
sniveling about the house after this fash
lon and moping away in corners. looking
sullen and miserable. as you did last night
at Mrs. Macklin's. Why, people win
think me perfect domestic tyranty'
"Ah. Bob. don't speak so! can't help
II indeed. | do feel SO miserable. You
make me SO. Bob"
81! Well, that Is richl Perhaps you'll
be good enough to let me know of what
enormity I've been guilty that has turned
you into a modern Niobe?
Nothing really wrong, dear; but. oh, IL
You knew how much a wife thinks OF her
husbands love and Here poor Nellie
UFOke uONu again. MT. eyes
opened very wide.
"Whewp' whistled he. eff 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 hus-
band treat her with affection and respect
before every one. or how 1t humbles or
rnprfffina hpr m ha papianfad Nv, him, nd
have other women consider themselves
rivals, like Isabel Baden"
Mr.. Bob Palmer laughed outright, and
then he grew angry.
you're an absurd little fool, Nellie"
he said. "As il Isabel Baden were any
thing to me beyond a pleasant and agree
able young woman to amuse oneself with
at party. Nonsensew
''She doesn'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 fatters herself
that she has cut me out and is trying to
let people see it,"
"Fiddlestcksw 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. Il wish you'd amuse
yourself in society, as | do, instead of GO
ing mopiug about In this fashion. You
can't expect to have me tied TO your
apron strings, and Id much rather see
you flirting a little yourself than skulk-
ing away in holes and corners like spi-
der. watching your butterfly of a hus-
band. TO see IL you can detect him in do
ing wrong. You make me quite ashamed
of you. declare"
Mr.. Palmer took his hat and walkd
out of the room with an air OF mingled
dignity and injured innocence. His wife
sat up. wiped away her tears and unused
awhile wi:h eyes flashing and cheeks
flushed with wounded and indignant feel
ing.
"Yes." she said to herself, 'since he
has requested IL, | will amuse myself as
he does and see how he likes ii. Asham-
ed of me. is he? And he did not used to
be so when was gay and happy. oh,
Bob, il you only knew how | loved your
And once more. despite her resoutely
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 Nellie
took particular pains in dressing herself
for it. She had been OF late rather care
less 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 becoming to her. In
consequence her eyes and cheeks were
brighter and her spirits more buoyant as
she entered Mrs. Johnson's crowded
drawing room.
Scarcely had they paid their respects
to the hostess when Mr.. Palmer accost-
ed, or, rather, was accosted by Miss Ba-
den, a brilliant. confident girl. who tried
TO ensnare him before his marriage. and
at the same moment gentleman ad-
dressed Mrs. Palmer. She answered
mechanically. unable TO withdraw her at
tention entirely from her husband and
his companion until. seeing something in
Miss Badens 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. lie was a
recent conner to the town. very pleasant
and handsome. and Nellie Palmer forth
with began 10 try and make herself agree
able to him. He looked so pleased and
was himself so agreeable that 1t soon cost
her no effort TO converse, and then her
old lively spirits returned. and. to her
surprise she found that she was enjoy
ing herself Her husband didn't much
notice this. but Miss Baden did. ana her
Irritation with Mr. Palmer lost much OF
its charm now that his wife did not APP
pear mortified and jealous and that people
couldn't see that she was so.
Wherefore Miss Baden grew ndiffer-
ent. and Mr. Palmer bethought himself
10 look after his wife. Not hndlng her
looking over the photograph albums nor
talking TO deaf old Mr. Brown. nor 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 ei-
bow startled him, and. turning he sa"
Nellie, bright and flushed, talking to
Very handsome man. who appeared TO be
unite absorbed in her. Mr.. Palmer stared
n moment TT the unconscious couple
"Wby. the deucer' was his thought.
.What on earth can they have been
LanIy nca.ing his wifo's eye. he smiled
nJ ,,,hisr.yed ..Enioving Yourself. Nell: