Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-20
THEIR SEPARATION.
It Wasn't Half So Pleasant as
the Reconciliation.

was the use of passing the whole OF their
lives in the atmosphere Of wrangllng and
recrimination in which the first five years
of their welded existence had dragged mis-
erably on! They had married too young,
that was the whole secret of it, Edward
Moxon at twenty-one and Ida Beverley at
eighteen, had taken each other for better,
for worse, with little more thought than
they would have devoted to the taking of a
partner for waltz.
Then came the leisurely repentance He
was hot-tempered, hasty, intolerant; she
was spoilt, petulant, jealous and eXacting.
They were getting into debt, too, through
her extravagant Encouragement Of his far
from princely income.
At last Edward Moxon, who was an en-
gineer, young man of talent, with career
before him, boldly preached the subject of a
separation. 1t could be managed without
the least scandal, as he could exchange
places with another young fellow who had
gone to Eastern Russia, and who was trying
to get off the journey in order to remain
with his wife and children. Now, the Mox-
Ons had no children, and they were misera-
BILE together. At first the idea of separation
shocked Ida, but brooding over it for two or
three more unhappy weeks made her at
"
ne got the coveted post it was understood
that, unless they should change their minds
before lac returned to England, and signify
the fact to each other by letter, the separa-
ton should be permanent.
When Edward MoXon returned to En-
gland six months later his wife had disap-
peared, and all that he could learn about her
was that she and her mother had left En-
gland and We're travelling abroad.
Then, of course, he saw his mistake, and
knew that even the old EARRING life they had
led together would have been better than
this freedom which was no freedom. He
saw that the fault between them had not
been entirely on the side of the pretty girl
wife whom he had taken from a luxurious
and extravagant home, and had neverthe-
less expected to find model of all house
wifely virtues. There was nothing to be
done now, however, but to hope that time
would come when the spirit would prompt
her to return. In the meantime he settled
to bachelor life with his old chum, Jimmy
Constable, who. however, declared him to
be ''spoilt' for companion, and said that
he was no longer fish, flesh, fowl, nor good
red herring.
Still they logged on together, seeing little
of any sort of feminine society, for about a
year, at the end of which period Jimmy one
evening brought home the news that they
had received an invitation to picnic up the
river, which he, Jimmy, had accepted for
both of them. To his friends circumstances
he turned deaf ear.
my dear boy" he said, decidedly, ''it's
of no use Directing. You're growing pos
itively musty with seclusion; you must
come out and air yourself. By-the-by," he
added, carelessly, there's Miss Halliwell
going to be there, who is said to be the liv
ing image, except that she isn't so tall, Of
Mrs. Moxon"
Then l shan't go. 1 don't wish to be re-
minded of my FIVE years of welded misery"
"They haven't improved you, certainly.
But my remedy is-forget them"
Jimmy had his way about the picnic. 1t
took place at Sunoury, and Edward Moxon
found, TO his surprise, this return to the
harmless pleasures of life by no means so
irksome as he had expected. Miss Halliwell
was a very pretty girl undoubtedly, tall,
slight aud fair, of the same type as his wife,
as Jimmy Constable had said She was a
desperate fiirt, and Edward, who was i'm
questionable, was really somewhat in love
with her before the day was over 1t was
dark before the party broke up. Some were
to return by rail, and others by boat and
rail. Moxon, who was good oarsman. was
entrusted with pair-oared skin, which he
was TO take as far rs Messengers boat-house
at Richmond. As he insisted on seeing
every body else of before he himself
started. 1t was very late when he sauntered
down to the place where the boats were
moored.
You'll get wet through long before you
get to ,.hinond SIR said one of the men
in cha e of the boats. Its a good long
pull, and. if we doa't have thunder and the
rain comm down like winkin' in about half
an hour, why my name amt Bob Stokes"
Moxon quite agreed with Bob, but he was
in the humor 10 wish to get wet through, so
he got into the skiff and was on the point of
pushing of when Jimmy Constable's voice,
calling to him loudly to stop, caused him 10
turn round.
"Hallo" cried Jimmy, ana in few mo-
ment's he was at the waters edge. "Would
you mind taking a lady passengerl" he
asked, in a low voice Miss Halliwel has
been left behind, and
Moxon seized his oars.
''rd rather not said he, hastily; ''why
can't you take her back."
"Well, here she is, and she says she
rather go with you.''
Moxon caught sight Of the outline of the
black lace hat he had admired so much that
day. Miss Halliwen was close behind
Jimmy.
'I-rm afraid she'll get wet" he said
quickly Look here, I'd really rather not
take her. Jimmy, rm-rm married man,
you know
s'Well, you needn't trouble yourself about
that" answered Jimmy, in the same low
voice. ''for heard to-day that your wife is