The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-06-01
HER SECRET.

1aIungUon, joined himself in marriage
70 Ada, relict Of the late Isaac Abrahams,
his friends evinced considerable surprise
az the step. The widow was, indeed, as
tney admitted, young and fascinating
and had, moreover, inherited very SUBJ
stantial fortune from her previous hus-
band. But then she was dreadfully ex-
travagant in her habits, and had lately
developed perfect mania for gambling.
In fact, her losses on the turf and at
the card tables were becoming quite the
talk of society, and it is certain that
even during the short period which
elapsed between her first husbands death
and the date of her second marriage her
fortune must have been materially di-
minished by the drains she made upon
It. In another year or two at her pres
ent rate she would, SO Toms friends
said, run through it altogether, and then
he would find himself in the unenviable
position of having to support recklessly
spendthrift wife entirely out of his own
pocket.
A few of his greatest intimates i'm
pressed this upon him before he took the
final plunge, and urged him to back out
of his engagement ere it was yet too late.
But Tom turned deaf ear to their adj
vice. He was very much in love with
the charming widow. And, besides, he
, entertained strong hope that after their
] union he should be able to reform, or at
( least control, his wife's extravaganza.
! Instead, therefore, of trying to cry off
! the match, he hurried it forward to the
/. best of his ability, in order that she
might have as short an interval as pos
sible in which to enjoy the unchecked
expenditure of her money.
I But when he was married to the lady
+, he found that his hope of being able to
: reform her had been decidedly chimer-
ical. Self willed and headstrong, she
lwould scarcely endure advice, much less
.any semblance of restraint. So, after a
few months of useless remonstrance, he
sgave up all attempt at genuine reforma-
.tion as bad job, and had to content
himself with showing silent disapproval
sof her extravagances, or with throwing
in their way such feeble obstacles as he
Scould These were slight enough, for
L her fortune was entirely at her own con-
gtrol. Still they were not quite fruitless.
" And as time went on, people noticed
u that Mrs Partington's gambling transac-
u tons were on much smaller scale.
n Her best friends began to hope that the
instincts of the mother were beginning
to assert themselves over the cravings of
4 the gambler, and that it was thought for
4 the little one whom she was soon expect
cling that thus checked her in her career
$of mad extravaganza. 1t is certain at
any rate, that, as time went forward,
1she grew every day more out of spirits.
land nothing was more likely-for with
jail her faults, she was soft hearted wom-
an-than that she should be fretting over
her past selfish extravaganza, as a sort of
robbery perpetrated on her unborn Off
spring. Perhaps, also, her weakened
physical condition contributed its quota
to this altered frame of mind. But
whatever the reasons may have been,
the fact was undoubtedly there. And
each day the once hghthearted and reck-
less woman grew more moody and de-
pressed.
Tom appeared to notice this change in
his wife. His manner toward her, al
ways kind and attentive, became actual
ly tender in its consideration, and he
tried his hardest to soothe away her
gathering depression of spirits. He was
not able to be with her much in the day
time, for, shortly after his marriage, be-
ing tired of having nothing to do, he had
put some of his money into "business"
in the city, where his constant presence
was now required; but he regularly spent
his evenings at home, hardly ever going
to the theater or to his club.
His wife seemed to feel his considerate
tenderness very deeply, for several times,
as he sat beside her of an evening, with
his arms thrown caressingly around her,
she suddenly buried her face on his
shoulder and burst into tears-ike ono
whose remorse is awakened by unmerited
and unlocked for kindness. On each of
these occasions Tom felt by certain
subtle and inpalpable instinct that his
wife was on the very verge of making
some confession-perhaps of sorrow and
regret for her defiant attitude toward
him in the past But although by his
comforting words and soothing caresses
he did his best to invite her confidence,
the confession which he felt to be hang
ing on her lips never issued from them.
Meanwhile, what was so clear to her
husband did not escape the notice of Mrs.
partington's female friends. OF these
she nad many, but by far the most
favored and confidential of them was
Mrs. Brandon, an old schoolfellow with
whom she had kept up lifelong init
macy. Mrs. Brandon, who was at once
very lively and highly sensible lady,
had, at an early period, detected the. I'M
usual gloom which had come over her
friends manner, and rallied her upon
taking her new position SO seriously.
''My dear Ada" she said at last, in the
course of an afternoon call, during which
Mrs. Darlington had been more dull than
ever, 81 should never have encouraged
you to accept Tom If I had foreseenwhat
q deplorable effect your second dosesof
matrimony would have upon you. Do
you know that in the twenty minutes
have been here, the only original obser-
vction you have made was to ask me
wnetnel had enough sugar? What is
the matter with yv~ todayP
Mrs. Darlington muttered Something
about "bad headache"
"But have you always bad headache
nowadays?" continued Mrs. Brandon,
more seriously. ~ should not have al
lnded to the subject if this were the first
time that have seen you thus But for
weeks l have observed you growing
more and more gloomy and depressed.
You are getting quite unlike your old
self, and l cannot help feeling seriously
uneasy about you. What does it mean?"
To Mrs. Brandon's surprise her friend,
instead of answering, only burst into
tears and buried her face in her hand
kerchief Evidently, thought Mrs.
Brandon, the once gay and sprightly
Ada Isaacs was very changed indeed.
"Come, Ada" she said, drawing her
chair closer, and taking one of her
friends hands, ''you have something on
your mind. l thought so before; now I
am sure of it. Tell me all about it. 1t
will do you good to confide in some one,
and you and l have never had secret
from one another during the last twenty
years. Is it anything to do with TomP"
mo, no-indeed it isn'tl Pray don't
think thatp sobbed Mrs Partington.
"Well, that's a mercyp observed Mrs.
Brandon. "Then it must be something
to do with yourself. What is it,"
There was short pause, during which
Mrs Partinpton'a eoha sliob+lv ,,,b