Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-10-03
A RECKLESS MOOD.
Why Mrs. Dunstan Mourned De-
parted Husband.

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
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 l loved you'll" she echoed, scorn-
fully. "Well, perhaps you are right in
saying that. have often wondered at
tho strange whim which led me to ac-
cept you instead Of"
''Of Fred Hammond, why don't you
say?" he finished, with a bitter sheer,
as Zoe paused, trife shocked at her
own temerity. "You can't deny that
1t was his name which was on your lips,
as it is evidently his image which fills
your heart. Fred Hammond, the fas-
cinating Lothario, whose attentions to
you last night made you the talk of the
roams, 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,
Zoe?"
~ shall deny nothing" she flashed
out, in white heat of passionate scorn,
her largo, dark eyes blazing, and her
very lips blanched to the hue of snow
drift. "You have drawn fascinating
picture of what might have been, and it
is n thousand pities that it never can
be realized. How cruel you are to re-
mind mo that am not free to undo the
past"
''By heaven, then, you shall be-" he
retorted, desperately. 'From this hour
you shall not DO troubled with my pres
once, nor your actions trammoled by
my tyranny as you are pleased to
term my consideration for my good
name. am going to leave you for
ever, Zoo, 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 the truth at lastl If | had
known 1t sooner, how much sorrow
might have been spared us both"
He stopped, his voice growing husky
and broken toward the last cast one
lingering, passionate look upon the
young wife he had loved 50 we'll, turned
away from her without another word,
and then was gonel
Gonel Zoe, listening TO the echo of
his footsteps down the hail. down tho
broad, shallow stairs, awoke at last
from tho trance which had held her
since the 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 gesture of
passionate anguish and entreaty.
Earle, Earlel como backl" she cried.
II did not mean it. You drove me wild
with your cruel suspicious. love nc
one-want no one-but you'll IL Oh,
God"-as the great front door below
swung to with heavy crash-"he is
gone-gone foreverp
The wild, yearning voice, intense
with the agony of 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 Zoo Dun,
stan, the deserted wife, sunk down upor
the carpet like one stricken by a mortal
blow.
Weeks passed before she know any
thing moro of that terrible day.
Brain fever had seized upon her, anC
1t seemed many times as though hel
life must pay the forfeit of her share II
its 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 thC
effervescent sparkle of champagne il
her lovely eyes, and flushing, rounded
cheeks, and dainty, scarlet lips, hat
been Zoe Dunstan before that Inflated
day. Beautiful she was yet, but tina
sparkling brilliancy was gone, and {
desthless sorrow looked out from those
marvellous dark eyes whose witchery
had ensnared so many hearts,
When she was strong enough to bea,
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 h,
had sailed for Europe on the very dal
that he had left his wife and home
how, little later, the world had beef
startled by the news of an awful dis
aster-the noble ship on which he has
taken passage had been wrecked il
mid-ocean, and Earle Dunstan's nam,
was among the list Of those who wer,
known to be lost
Zoe listened to the awful tale in pi,l