St. Landry democrat., 1891-08-01
HIS WIFE'S SECRET.

lict of Isaac Jones, his friends evinced
considerable surprise at the step.
The widow was, indeed, as they con-
fessed, young and fascinating, and
had, moreover, inherited a very sub
stantial fortune from her previous
husband.
But then she was dreadfully extra
VACANT in her habits, and had
lately developed perfect mania for
gambling. In fact, her losses on the
turf and at the card table were be-
coming quite the talk of society, and
it is certain that, even during the
short period which elapsed between
her first husbands death and the
date of her second marriage, her for
tune must have materially diminished
by the drains she made upon it.
In another year or two, at her pres
cnt rate, she would-so Toms friends
said-run through it altogether. And
then he would find himself in the I'M
enviable position of having to support
recklessly spendthrift wife entirely
out OF his own pocket. A few OF his
greatest intimates impressed this up
on him before he took the final plunge
and urged him. to back out of his en-
70 1at R,1t
Tom turned deaf ear to their advice.
He was very much in love with the
charming widow And besides, he en-
tertained strong hope that after
their union he should be able to re-
form, or at least control, his wife's
extravaganza.
Instead, therefore, of trying to cry
off the match, he hurried it forward
to the best of his ability, in order that
she might have as short all interval
as possible in which to enjoy the UNI
checked expenditure of her money.
But when he was married to the
lady he found that his hope Of being
able to reform her had been decided
ly chimerical. Selfwilled and head
strong, she would scarcely endure ad-
vice, much less any semblance of re-
straint. So after few months OF
useless remonstrance, he gave up all
attempt to genuine reformation as a
bad lob, and had to content himself
with showing silent disapproval other
extravaganza, or with throwing in
their way such feeble obstacles as he
could.
And as time went ON people noticed
that Mrs. Partington's gambling tran
sactions were on q much smaller scale.
And each day the once light-hearted
and reckless woman grew more moody
and depressed.
Tom appeared to notice this change
in his wife. His manner towards her,
always kind and attentive, became
actually tender in it's consideration,
and he tried his hardest to soothe
away her gathering depression OF
spirits.
His wife seemed to feel his consider
ate tenderness very deeply, for several
times as he sat beside her OF an even
ing, with his arm thrown caressingly
around her, she suddenly buried her
face on his shoulder and burst into
tears-like one whose remorse is awak-
ened by unmerited and unlooked-for
kindness.
On each of these occasions Tom felt
by a certain subtle and impalpable
instinct that his wife was On the very
verge of making some confession-per-
haps of sorrow and regret for her de-
fiant attitude towards him in the past.
But although by his comforting words
and his soothing caresses he did his
best to invite her confidence the con-
fession which he felt to be hanging on
her lips never issued from them.
Meantime, what was SO clear to her
husband did not escape the notice OF
Mrs. Partington's female friends. OF
these she had many, but by far the
most favored and confidential Of them
was Mrs. Brandon, an old school-fel-
low With whom she had kept up life
long intimacy. Mrs. Brandon, who was
at once a very lively and highly
sensible lady, had at an early period
detected the unusual gloom which had
coma over her friends manner, and
rallied her upon taking her new posi-
ton so seriously.
"NIy dear Ada" she said at last, in
the course of an afternoon call, during
which Mrs, Darlington had been more
dull than ever. ~ should never have
encouraged you to accept Tom if /
had foreseens what q deplorable effect
your second dose of matrimony would
have upon you. Do you know that
in the twenty minutes have been
hel ethe only original observation you
have made was to ask me whether l
had enough sugar? What is the mat
ter with you today"
Mrs. Darlington muttered some
thing about a "bad headache"
"But have you always bad head
ache nowadays?" continued Mrs.
Brandon, more seriously. 81
should not have alluded to
the subject if this were the first
time that have seen you thus. But
for weeks l have observed you growing
more and more gloomy and depressed.
You are getting quite unlike your old
self, and cannot help feeling seriously
uneasy about you. What does it
mean?"
To Mrs. Brandon's surprise her
friend, instead OF answering, only burst
into tears and buried her face in her
handkerchief. Evidently, thought Mrs.
Brandon, the once gay and sprightly
Ada was very changed indeed.
"Come, Ada" she said, drawing her
chair closer and taking one OF her