The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-07-02
HER SECRET.

HER SECRET.
When that particularly sbrewd and
businesslike young man, Mr.. Thomas
Partington. joined himself il marriage
to Ada, relict Of The late Isaac Abra-
hams. his friends evinced considerable
surprise at the step The widow was,
indeed, as they admitted. young and
fascinating. and had. moreover, inheri-
ted very substantial fortune from her
previous husband. But then she was
dreadfully extravaCant in her habits,
and had lately developed a Ierfect
mania for gambling.
In fact her losses on the turf and at
the card tables were becoming 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 mar
riage her fortune must have been ma
terIally diminished by the drains she
made upon it. In another year or two
at her present rate she would. so Toms
friends said. run through it altogether,
and then he would find himself IN the
unenviable position Of having to sup
port rechlessly 81 cndthrift wife en-
tirely out of his own pocket.
A few of his greatest intimates i'm
pressed this upon him before he took
the final plunge. and urged him to back
out of his engagement ere it was yet too
late. But Tom turned deaf ear to
their advice. He was very much in
love with the charming widow. And,
besides, he entertained strong hore
that after their union he should be able
to reform, or at least control. his wife
extravagance. 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 an
interval Us possible in which to enjoy
the unchecked expenditure of her
money.
But when he was married to the lady
he found that his hore of being able
to reform her had been decidedly chin
erical. Self willed and headstrong, she
would scarcely endure advice, much
less any sembience of restraint. So,
after few months of useless lemons
trance, he gave mp all attempt at gen.
uine reformation as bad job, and had
to content himself with showing silent
disapproval of her extravagances. OF
with throwing in their way such feeble
obstacles as he could. These were
slight enough, for her fortune was en-
tirely at her own control. Still they
were not quite fruitless.
And as time went on, people noticed
that Mrs. Partington's gambling trans
actions were on much smaller scale
Her best friends began to hope that the
instincts of the mother were beginning
to assert themselves over the cravings o
the gambier, and that it was thought
for the little one whom she was soor
expecting that thus checked her in he
career of mad extravaganza. 1t is Ger
tain at any rate. that, as time went for
ward, she grew every day more on: o
spirits, and nothing was more likely
for, with all her faults, she was soft
hearted woman-than that she should
he fretting over past selfish extrava
gance, as sort of robbery rerpetra.et
On her unborn offspring. Perhaps
also, her weakened physical condition
contributed its quota to this altered
frame of mind. But whatever the rea
ons may have been, the fact was un
sloubtedly there. And each da; tn.
once lighthearted and reckless woman
grew more moody and depressed.
Tom appeared to notice this change
in his wife. His manner toward her
always kind and attentive. became ac
tually tender in its consideration, ant
he tried his hardest to soothe away he
gathering depression Of spirits. II,
was not able to be with her much in tn
day time, for, shortly after his mar
riage. being tired of having nothing t,
do, he had put some of his money int
business" in the city, where his con
slant presence was now required; bu
he regularly spent his evenings at home
hardly ever going to the theater or l.
bis club.
His wife seemed to feel his consider
ate tenderness very deeply, for severu
times, as he sat beside her of an even
ing, with his arms thrown caressingl
around her, she suddenly buried he
face on his shoulder and burst int
tears-like one whose remorse is awak
ened by unmerited and unlocked TO
kindness. On each of these occasion
Tom felt by & certain subtle and in
palrable instinct that his wife was O
the very verge Of making some confe
sion-perhaps of sorrow and regret fo
her defian >ttitude toward him in th
past. b.. although by his comfortin
words and soothing caresses he did hi
best to invite her confidence, the CO
feision which he felt to be hanging 0
her lips never issued from them.
Meanwhile, what was so clear to he
husband did not escape the notice {
Mrs. Partington's female friends. c
these she had many, but by far til
most favored and confidential of thel
was Mrs. Brandon, an old schoolfello
with whom she had kept up a lifelor
intimacy. Mrs. Brandon, who was
once very lively and highly sensibl
lady, had, at an early period, detecte
the unusual gloom which had come owe
her friends manner, and rallied ht
upon taking her new position so ser
ouslv.
"My dear Ada" she said at last,
the course of an afternoon call. durin
which Mrs. Darlington had been moi
dull than ever, Il should never ha,
encouraged you to accept Tom if I ha
foreseen what deplorable effect yo,
second dose of matrimony would La,
upon you. Do you know that in Il
twenty minutes 1 have been here, IL
only original observation you have MAD
was to ask me whether I had enoue
sugar. What is the matter with you t
day?"
Mrs. Partington muttered somethir
about bad headache"
But have you always bad headacl
powadsys2" continued Mrs, Brando