Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-07-09
the servants was hurrying of for q

the servants was hurrylng on Tor
doctor.
Very shortly after the arrival of tina.
functionary, Mrs. Brandon left herself.
She drove direct to the club where Tom
Darlington occasionally called OF an
afternoon on his way home from the
city. By good luck he was there now,
and the message which Mrs. Brandon
sent in quickly brought him to her
carriage door A very few words
passed between them, but enough to
make Toms face grow to twice its
normal length.
II will be off at once" he said.
sDo." replied Mrs. Brandon. ''But
mind, not word yet! Not until she
is quite we'll again"
When he reached home he sprang
up the steps, and rang the door-bell
sharply. It was opened, in about half
a second, by the cook, who, with look
OF deep Importance on her face gasped
out: please, sir, will you be as quiet
as possible" Before her bewildered
master had time to make any inquiries
the doctor, who had been descending
the stairs when he entered, came up to
him and shook him by the hand.
II am glad to tell you that Mrs.
Darlington is going on as well as can
be expected. But she is very weak.
So, II you go 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 again later and see how she
is progressing.
At the end OF week, however, 1t
was evident that Mrs. Darlington was
only mending very slowly, and the
doctor was by no means satisfied with
her progress. Indeed. he expressed
his conviction to the husband that
something was weighing on his pa
tents mind, the removal Of which
was essential to her complete recovery.
After this Tom resolved to endeavor
at the earliest opportunity to come to
an understanding with his wife.
So, on the same afternoon, as he
sat by his wife's bedside. with one OF
her hands in his, he said kindly, Ada,
my dear. you have something on your
mind"
IA quick flush overspread her pale
face and she averted her gaze, muir
muring in confused tone What
makes you fancy that Tom?'
The eyes Of love are quick to see
such things" replied her husband ten
derby, as he stroked her hair with his
disengaged hand.
ooh Tom" she cried suddenly,
leaning forward and hiding her face
on his shoulder. 'You will not speak
40 kindly when you know the truth.
Yet must tell you. my-my husband.
Oh. Tom, Tom. have lost all my
fortune"
"How did you manage that?" he
asked. quietly.
"You may we'll put such ques-
ton" she continued in voice broken
by frequent sobs you may well fail
to understand my folly and madness.
O Tom! Tom! though fused to set
you at defiance in the matter of gam
bling, yet your open remonstrance and
silent disapproval in time began to
vex my heart. And when discovered
a secret gambling club. where | could
indulge my Unsuitable passion without
your knowledge, I at once began to
frequent it. The game was roulette
the one of all others in which had
always longed to join. gave myself
up to its destinations. and stalking
wildly incurred heavy losses day after
day. Then, as my fortune rapidly
diminished and time went on and
thoughts of the little one whom / was
soon to bear were brought home to me
chord of motherly feeling was
touched within me. and I hated my
self for my wicked folly in having
robbed my child.
Il vowed that would win back all
that had lost and with that inten.
ton for my strange gamblers craving
was somehow dying away, staked
heavily at the tables. But my en-.
deavor was nothing else than throwing
good money after bad. lost. lost.
lost until my whole fortune was gone.
Do not (very piteously). do not re.
proach me, Tom My own heart is re-
preaching me already almost more thar
l can bear"
MY darling" he replied. II have
no thought OF reproaching you. IL
meant to do that. l should have done
it before this. for l have known al
about it for long while"
''You have known all about it for {
long while" she cried. raising her tear
full eyes wonderingly to his. 'Of
Tom. how did you find out?'
Very easily, my pet, y" he answered
kissing her forehead. ''seeing that tn,
founder and proprietor of the gambling
club where you lost your money is nj
other than-myself.
She regarded him in speeches
amazement He went on to explain
himself further.
Yes, it is quite true. When
found that advice and remonstranc
were lost on you, my dear, ! had t
look out for another method Of savin
you from the effects of your folly. An
the starting of that private gam
. bling club was the method which oc
Cured to me. But tell me. are yO