The state herald., 1891-06-26
A QUEER STORY.

When that particularly shrewd and
business-like young man. Mr.. Thomas
Paltington. joined himself to Ada,
relict OF the late Isaac A,rahams, his
friends evinccd Considerable surprise
at the step. The widow was, indeed
MS they confessed, young and fascinet-
ing and had, moreover, inheri,ed a
very substantial fortune trom her
previous husband. But then. she was
dreadfully exuNvagant in her habits
and had lately developed perfect
mania Tor gambling. hut Tom was
very much in love with the charming
widow. And, besides, he entertained
strong hcpe that after their union he
should be able to reform or at least
con''ol his wife's extravaganza.
but when he was married % fhe lady
ne found that his hope of being able
70 refetm her. had been dacidrd,y
.nisierical. Self-willed and heaas,rone
she would scarcely endure advice,
much less my semblnnee Of restraint.
30 aiter Few months ~ useless re-
monstrance he gave UP all attempt at
genuine reformation as bad lob, and
ma 70 centent himself with showing
Siren. disupproval OF her extravaganza
Or With throwing in their way sucl,
feeble obstacles as he could. fhesc
We're slight enough, for her fortune
was entirely a, hut owb control Still
they were NOT quite fruitless.
Ana as time went on people noticed
that Mrs. Partington's gambling tran.
sactions were on u much smaller scale.
Her best fricnds began 10 hope that
the Instincts Of the mother were begin.
ming to assert themselves over the
cravings of the gambler and that II
was thought for the little one, whom
She was soon expecting. that thus
checked her in her carecr Of iiiad cx-
'ravagancc. II IL certain. at any rate,
tha'. as time went forward, she grcr
every day more out of spirits.
Tom appeared 10 notice this change
In his wife. His manner toward her.
always kind uhd attentive became
actually ;chder in its consideration
and he tried his hardest 10 soo,he
away her gathering depression oI
| spirits. He was not able 10 ,o with
her much in the daytime, For, short
~ after his marriage being tired OF
having nothing 10 do, he had to put
some OF his money into Cuisines. in
the city, where his constant presence
was now required; but he regularly
spent his evenings at home. hardly
ever going 10 the thcater or 10 his
club.
His wife seemed 10 feel hia consider.
nie tenderness very deeply. for several
times. rs he sat beside her OF nm even
| ing with MS arm thrown carcssingly
round her she suddenly buried her
ince ON his shoulder, and burst into
tears-liko one whose remorsa +
awakened by unmcritcd and unlocked.
for kindness.
Meantime, what was so clear TO her
husband did not escape the notice of
! Mrs. Partington's fomalo friends. OF
these she had many. but by inr Tho
most favored and confidential OF them
was Mrs. Brandon, an old sch0ol-fcl.
los with whom she had KEEP, mp n lie.
long intimacy. Mrs. Brandon. who
was very lively and n highly sensible
lady. had nj an early period detected
the unusual gloom which had com.
over her friends manner and rallied
her upon taking her new position so
seriously.
My dear Ada" she snid nj last In
the course OF nn afternoon call. during
which Mrs. Darlington had been more
dull ,han ever i should never have
encouraged you to ncccpt Tom II ! had
forcsecn what doplornble ciTec: your
second dose of matl'imony would have
upon you. DO you know iha, in the
twenty minutes have been here. tho
only original observation you have
made was to ask me whether | had
enough sugar? What is the matter
with you to-dny?"
To Mi7s Brandon's surprise her
frienc, instead OF answering only
burst Into tears and buried her face In
her handkerchief. Evidently. thought
Mrr Brandon. the once gay and
sprivhtiy Ada lsaacs was very changed
indeed,
",iell. " she said presently, 81, is NIL
your fault"
My fault. dcarr' exclaimed Mrs.
Brandon.
Your fault, repeated Mrs. Parting
ton. ''lt has all come Of your intro.
ducing mo Ia That hateful Pompadour
club oh, how | wish hnd never
entered the place.
You don, mean to say" Srs.
Brandon paused and looked nt her
fricnd.
''. mean 10 sny that. unknown Ia
Tom. have been playing there every
afternoon. and losing constantly, until
Oh Noll, proinisc-swom that you
will not tell Tom this"'
''of course not Have We ever be-.
,raycd one nnoiher's confidence. dcnrp
But you must promise me something
too. Promls. that you will tell Tom. "
ZIP oh. Nell, you don't know whn,
you are asking. You have not hcur,i
NIL yet. would not have Tom know
I, for nil the world Rather than that
would"
Mr.. par,lng,on's sobs Ind burst
forth again with renewed force Sud.
denly she sank back ON the soin with
n rry Of pain which alarmed her friend,
Porcoivlng that she wns really III. Mrs.
brandon summoned assistance. Many
minutes did not clnpso before one of
the servants wns hurrying oil for u
doctor.
Very shortly after the arrival Of that
func,ionnry, MIS-, brandon lefi herself
She drove direct 10 the club where Tom
Darlington occasionally called of mn
afternoon On his wny home from the
city By good luck he was there now
aud tho message which Mrs. Brandon
sent in quickly brought him To her
carriage door A very few words
| ,,u .-.,, h,t t,,,.,, thou hu, ,unuuh Ia