The Forrest City times., 1891-07-17
HIS WEES SECRET.

When that particularly shrewd and business-like young man, Mir. Thomas Burlington, joined himself to Ada re- 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 vagant 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 s death and the date of her second marriage, her for tune must have materially diminished by the drains she made upon it.
 In anotheryea or two, at her pres ent rate, she would-so Tom friends said-run through it altogether. And then he would find himself in the un- enviabe position of having to support a recklessly spendthrift wife entirely out of his own pocket A few of his greatest intimates impressed thls up on him before he took the final plunge and urged him to back out of his en- gagement ere 1t 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 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 1t forward to the best of his ability, in order that she might have as short an interval as possible in which to enjoy the un- 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 Selfwiled 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 job, and had to content himself with showing silent disapproval ofher extravaganza, or with throwing in their way such feeble obstacles as he could.
 And as time went on people noticed that Mrs. Burlington gambling tran sections were on 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 tsars-like one whose remorse is awak- ened by unmerited and unlooked-for kindness
 On each of these occasions Tom felt by 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- liant 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. Burlington 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 a highly sensible lady, had at an early period detected the unusual gloom which had come over her friends manner, and rallied her upon taking her new posi- tion so serously.
 My dear Ada" she said at last, in the course of an afternoon call, during which Mrs, Burlington had been more dull than ever. 'I should never have encouraged you to accept Tom if had foreseen what a deplorable effect your second dose of matrimony would have upon you. Do you know that in the twenty minutes l have been here the only original observation you have made was to ask me whether 1 had enough sugar? What is the mat ter with you to-day?"
 Mrs. Burlington muttered some thing about "bad headache"
 But have you always Q bad head ache nowadays?" continued Mrs. Brandon, more seriously. "I should not have alluded to the subject if this were the first time that l have seen you thus. But for weeks have observed you growing more and more gloomy and depressed You are getting quite unlike your old self, and 1 cannot helpfeeling seriously uneasy about you. What does it mean?"
 To Mrs. Brandon's surprise her friend, instead of swering, 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