Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-09-18
A RECKLESS MOOD.
Why Mrs. Dunsten Mourned De-
parted Husband.

There is limit to even the most pa
tient forbearance. tell you, Zoe, | can
not and will not endure this state of
things any longer If you loved me
you would not defy my wishes as you
do"
Speaking thus, Earle Dunstan
turned and faced his young wife with a
look Of sudden and stern determination
written on every line of his handsome
features.
But all unheeding this, Zoe flashed
her dark eyes upon him derisively,
while short, low laugh of hooking
defiance rippled unsteady from her
scarlet lips.
'If loved your she echoed, scorn-
fully. ''Well, perhaps you are right in
saying that have often wondered at
tho strange within which led mo to ac-
cept you instead Of"
''Of Fred Hammond, why don't you
say?" he finished, with a bitter sneer,
as Zoe paused, trifle shocked at her
own temerity. "You can't deny that
1t was his name which was on your lips,
as 1t Is evidently his image which fills
your heart Fred Hammond, the fas-
cinating Lothario. whose attentions to
you last night made you tho talk of the
rooms, who was an old lover of yours,
as everybody knows, and whom you
would doubtless be willing enough to
marry now were you again free to undo
the errors of the past. Can you deny it,
Doo?"
81 shall dony nothing" she flashed
out. in a white heat of passionate scorn,
her large, dark eyes blazing, and her
very lips blanchcd to the hue of snow
drift "You have drawn a fascinating
picture of what might have been, and it
Is thousand pities that it never can
be realized. How cruel you arc to re-
mind n that am not free to undo the
psst!''
by heaven, then, you shall be-" he
retorted, desperately. ''From this hour
you shall not be troubled with my pres
ence, nor your actions trammeled by
my tyranny as you are pleased to
term my consideration for my good
name. am going to leave you for
over, Zoe, and as soon as the law per-
mits, you will regain your freedom, and
marry the man you love. This is all
that is left me to do for your happiness,
but it is still something. Thank God
that know tho truth at last! If l had
known it sooner, how much sorrow
might have been spared us bothT
lie stopped, his voice growing husky
and broken toward the last, cast one
lingering, passionate look upon tho
young wife he had loved so we'll, turned
away from her without another word,
and then was gonel
Gonel Zoe, listening to the echo Of
his footsteps down the hall, down the
broad, shallow stairs, awo!le at last
from the trance which had held her
sincs tho first word of that terrible
speech fell on her ears.
Like one awakening from some deep,
strange sleep, she suddenly reused her
self and staggered toward tho door.
holding out her arms with a gesture of
passionate anguish and entrcaty.
Earle, Earle! come bacl1I" she cried.
~ did not mean it You drove me wild
with your cruel suspicious. love no
one-want no one-but you! IL Oh,
God!-as the great front door below
swung to with heavy crash-''he is
gope-gone forever!"
The wild, yearning voice, intense
with the agony of a breaking heart
whose sound, even at first had scarcely
gone farther than the white, rigid lips
through which it passed, suddenly
failed-died into silence-and Zoe Dun
stan, the deserted wife, sunk down upon
the carpet like one stricken by mortal
blow.
Weeks passed before she knew any
thing more of that terrible day.
Brain fever had seized upon her, and
it seemed many times as though her
life must pay tho forfeit of her share in
Ats reckless folly.
But at last she crept back to life,
though for months she was only the
shadow of her former SELF
Brilliant and bewitching, with the
effervescent sparkle of champagne in
her lovely eyes, and flushing, rounded
cheeks, and dainty. scarlet lips, had
been Zoe Dunstan before that Inflated
day, Beautiful sho was yet, but that
sparkling brilliancy was gone, and q
deathless sorrow looked out from those
marvellous dark eyes whose witchery
had ensnared so many hearts.
When she was strong enough to bear
It, they told her every thing; how
they had tried to find her husband
when they discovered her stricken
down by that almost fatal shock; how
they had searched vainly for him every
where, only to learn, at last that he
had sailed for Europe on the very day
that he had left his wife and home;
how, little later, the world had been
startled by the news of an awful dis
sster-the noble ship on which he had
taken passage had been wrecked in
mid-ocesn, and Earle Dunstan's name
was among the list Of those who were
known to be lost
Zoe listened to the awful tale In pitt
full silence Her lovely face grew q
shade paler and sadder than before, II
that were possible. and she sat for
awhile with her dark eyes staring
straight before her, and both small,
white hands clasped tightly over her
heart
He had forsaken her forever, and she
could never have hoped TO look on his
dear race again Now the lonely, re-
morseless sea would hide it from all
other eyes as we'll as hers. After all,
perhaps, she would rather have it so.
But three years passed away. and
Zoe, after long period Of mourning
and eecluaious once more begaa ~