The Gambler's Wife

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John Darrell had a comfortable home and a charming wife, but was unable to conquer his insatiable desire for gambling. One night, when he and his wife are entertaining three other gentlemen at dinner, a game of cards is proposed and at the earnest solicitation of his wife he promises to play but a short while. Unfortunately, he does not keep his promise, but continues to play, and the longer he plays the larger his losses become, until he has lost everything to his pseudo friend, Hubert Dickman. Finally, as a last resort, to recoup, and against the wishes of his wife, who endeavors to restrain him, he stakes his home against the money he has already lost. Needless to say, he loses. In despair he retires to his room to think things over, reading a letter from his wealthy uncle in which he refuses to help him until he has conquered his passion for gambling. The idea occurs to him to rob his uncle. Preparing, he sets out suitable clothes and gets out his gun, and then, lying on the sofa, falls asleep. But bad dreams come to him; he sees himself arise, disguise himself and enter his uncle's house by the window. He then sees himself taking the money from his uncle's bureau, and being disturbed, shoots and wounds the old man, but he himself is shot and captured. There is then mutual recognition by uncle and nephew, but at this moment he rolls of the sofa horrified, and unable at first to believe that it was only a dream. Meantime Dickman has told Mrs. Darrell that he has won the home, and she who never plays determines that she must make an effort to regain the fortune her husband has so recklessly discarded. Staking her jewels against some of the money, she wins, and finally secures, not only all that her husband had lost, but all the ready money that Dickman had on him. Having accomplished her purpose she bids the footman show him out and returns to her husband to tell him of the altered state of affairs. He would fall upon her neck and smother her with kisses, but she tells him that he cannot kiss her until he swears to cease playing for evermore. After a moment's hesitation he takes the required oath, destroys his cards and embraces his wife, feeling sure that he will stick to his promise after the dreadful lesson his dream had given to him.