St. Landry democrat., 1891-08-01

y
on your mind. l thought 50 before;
now l am sure of it. Tell me all
about it. 1t will do you good to
contide to some one, and you ana L
have never had secret from one
another during the last twenty years.
Is it anything to do with 'TomT
mo; no-indeed it isn't! Pray
don't think that" sobbed Mrs. Par
ting1on.
well, that's a mercy" observed
Mrs. Brandon. "Then it must be
something to do with yourself. What
is it,"
There was short pause, during
which Mrs PartingtOn's sobs slightly
subsidized.
NELL" she SAID presently, "lt's all
your fault"
my fault, dear" exclaimed Mrs:
Brandon.
Your fault" repeated Mrs. Part
ington. at has all come of your III
Producing me to that hateful Pompa-
dour Club. Oh, how l wish | had never
entered the place"
You don't mean to say Mrs.
Brandon paused and looked at her
friend.
II mean to say that, unknown to
Tom, have been playing there every
afternoon, and losing constantly, I'M
til-oh, Nell, promise swear that you
will not tell Tom this!!'
"Of course not. Have we ever be-
trayed one another confidence, dear?
But you must promise me something,
too. Promise that you will tell
Tom"
81? Oh, Nell, you don't know what
you are asking. You have not heard
all yet. would not have Tom know
it for all the world! Rather than
that l would"
Mrs. Partington's sobs had burst
forth again with renewed force. Sud
denly she sank back on the sofa with
cry of pain which alarmed her
friend. Perceiving that she was really
ill, Mrs. Brandon summoned assls-
tance Many minutes did not elapse
before one OF the servants was hurry
ing of for Il doctor.
Very shortly after the arrival Of
that tunctionary Mrs. Brandon her
self left. She drove directly to the
club where Tom Partington occasion
ally called for an afternoon on his
way home from the city. BY good
luck he was there now, and the mes
sage which Mrs. Brandon sent in
quickly brought him to her carriage
door. A very few words passed be-
tween them, but enough to make
Toms face grow to twice it's normal
length.
81 will be off at once" he said.
do" responded Mrs. Brandon,
"but mind, not word yet! Not until
she is quite well again.
Trust men' cried Tom. He was al
ready mailing passing hanson, and
he jumped into it.
When he reached home he sprangu
thesteps and rang the dool.bell sharp
ly. 1t was opened in about half a
second by the cook, who, with a look
ofdeepimportance on herface, gasped
out: "Please, sir, will you be as quiet
as possible. And-and-it's a boy!'
Before her bewildered master had
time to make any inquiries relative to
this information, the doctor, who had
been descending the stairs when he EN-
tered, came up to him and took him
by the hand.
II must congratulate you, my dear
SIR" he said, "on the birth of re-
markably fine son. am glad to tell
you, too, that Mrs, Darlington is 60
ing on as we'll as can be expected. But
she is naturally very weak. So, il you
20 in to see her, do not stop more
than minute or allow her to talk.
Anything calculated to excite her
must be most carefully avoided. |
will call in again later and see how She
is progressing"
At the end of a week it was evident
that Mrs. Partington was only mend
ing very slowly, and the doctor ex-
pressed his conviction to the husband
that something was weighing on the
patients mind, the removal OF which
was essential to her complete recovery.
On the same afternoon, as he sat by
his Wife's bedside, with one of her
hands in his, he said kindly, "Ada,m my
dear you have something on your
mind"
A quick flush overspread her paleface
and she averted his gaze, murnurmg
in q confused tone, What makes you
fancy that, Tom?''
1.-THE eyes of love are quick to see
such things" replied her husband,
tenderly, as he stroked her hair with
his disengaged hand. "Do you think
l failed to remark it just now when,
as your glance fell on the little one
there, a groan escaped your lips? And
you have shown by many other signs
that something is troubling you"
"Oh, Tom" she cried suddenly, lean
ing forward and hiding her face on
his shoulder, "you will not speak SO
kindly when you know the truth. Yet
l must tell you, my-my husband.
You have been so kind and gentle that
l cannot deceive you any longer. But
try, Tom (pleadingly), MOTTO be angry
with me-"
"There is no fear of that" said Tom,
encourgingly,. "Come; little woman,
let lis have the murder out"
"Ah, you do not know what it is
she went on in remorseful tones, "else
you would not treat it SO lightly. Oh,
Tom, Tom, I-I-have lost all my
fortune"
"How did you manage that?" he
asked quietly.
"You may we'll put such question"
she continued, in voice broken by
frequent sobs. "You may well fail to
understand my folly and madness. Oh,
rI,on,i r,or,i tbo,,rb T,ua5 +o COT wan