Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-07
ub. Oh. how wish I had never entered

"You don't mean to say" Mrs. Bran
don paused and looked at her friend
s. mean to say that, unknown to Tom, I
have been playing there every afternoon,
and losing constantly. until-Oh, Nell,
prornise-swear that you will not tell Tom
this -
"Of course not. Have we ever betrayed
one another's confidence, dear? But you
must promise me something too. Promise
that you will tell Tom
ZIP 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 would"
Mrs. Partington's sobs had burst forth
again with renewed force. Suddenly she
sank back upon the sofa with a cry Of pain
which alarmed her friend. Perceiving
that she was really i'll, Mrs. Brandon sum-
moned assistance. Many minutes did not
elapse before one of the servants was
hurrying off for doctor.
Very shortly after the arrival Of that
functlonary, Mrs. Brandon herself left.
She drove direct to the club where Tom
Darlington occasionally called Of an at
ternoon 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.
very few words passed between them,
but enough to make Toms face grow to
" will be off at once,'' he said.
"Do," replied Mrs. Brandon. but
mind, not word yet! Not until she Is
quite we'll again.
Trust mel! cried Tom. He was already
hailing passing hanson, and with hur-
ried bow to Mrs. Brandon he jumped into
it.
When he reached home he sprang up the
steps, and rang the door-bell sharply. It
was opened, in about half second by the
cook, who, with look of deep importance
on her face, gasped out: please, sir, will
you be as quiet as possible. And-and-its
boyI'
Under these circumstances Mr.. Parting
ton was compelled to abandon for the
present the hope which he had entertained
OF inducing his wife to confide to him the
trouble which seemed to have recently OPP
pressed her. He accordingly restrained
his patience as best he could and waited
until her strength should return. At the
end Of week, however, it was evident
that Mrs. harrington was only mending
very slowly, and the doctor was by no
means satisfied with her progress. Indeed,
he expressed his conviction to the hus-
band, that something was weighing on his
patients mind, the removal of which was
essential to her complete recovery. After
this Tom resolved to endeavor at the ear
lest opportunity to come to an under
standing 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"
quick flush overspread her pale face
and she averted her gaze, murmuring in a
confused tone, What makes YOU fancy
that, Tom?"
THE eyes Of love are quick to see such
things" replied her husb band tenderly, as
he stroked her hair with his disengaged
hand. " Do you think failed to remark it
just now, when, as your glance fell on the
little one there, groan escaped your lips?
And you have shown by many other signs
that something is troubling you.'
ooh, Tom," she cried suddenly leaning
forward and hiding her face on his Shout
der. "You will not speak SO kindly when
you know the truth. Yet I must tell you
my-my husband. You have been so kind
and gentle that can not deceive you any
longer. But try, Tom, (pleadingly), not to
be angry with me-"
There is no fear of that" said Tom, en-
couragingly. Come, little woman, let us
have the murder OUT
"Ah, you do not know what it isl 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 fire.
quent sobs. You may we'll fail to under
stand my folly and madness. o Tom Tom
though used to set you at defiance in the
matter of gambling, yet your open remon-
STRANGE and silent disapproval in time be-
gan to vex my heart. And when discov-
cred secret gambling club, where could
indulge my Unsuitable passion without
your knowledge, I began to frequent it.
| The game was roulette, the one of all
others in which 1 had always longed to
| join. gave myself up to its destinations,
| and stalking wildly incurred heavy losses
day after day. Then, as my fortune rapid
ly diminished and time went on and
thoughts Of the little one whom was soon
to bear were brought home to me, a chord
of motherly feeling was touched within
me, and hated myself for the wicked folly
in having robbed my child.
II vowed that would win back all that
had lost, and with that intention (for my
strange gamblers craving was somewhat
dying away, staked heavily at the tables.
But my endeavor was nothing else than
throwing good money after bad. 1 lost,
lost, lost, until my whole fortune was gone.
Do not very piteously), reproach me Tom.
My own heart is reproaching me already
almost more than can bear"
"My darling" he replied, 81 have no
thought of reproaching you. If had meant
to do that, should have done it before
this, for have known all about it long
| WHILE"
You have known all about it long
WHILE" she cried, raising her fearful eyes
wonderingly to his. Oh, Tom, how did
you find out?"
Every easily, my pet" he answered,
kissing her forehead, "seeing that the
founder and proprietor of the gambling
club where you lost your money is no other
than-myself."
She regarded him in speeches. amaze
ment. He went on to explain himself
further.
Eyes, it is quite true. When I found
that advice and remonstrance were lost on
you, my dear, I had to look about for an
other method of saving you from the eff
fects of your folly. And the starting of
that private gambling club was the method
which occurred to me. 1t took some work
ing out of details and the employment of a
good bit of capital to get the thing proper
-