Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-02-07
FIRST DIVORCES CASE.
A Young Lawyer Learns Wisdom from Pretty
Woman.
From the st. Louis Democrat.


like al COILS visits, was delighted by
finding in his Office richly dressed
lady, who announced her desire tC
employ him professionally. With O
beaming smile, that could hardly be
restrained from bnrsting into full
blown laugh, the young Blackstone
handed the lady cushioned arm
chair, and assured her shat he was
"ehtirely and devotedly at her SER
vice."
Seating herself in the proffered
Office chair, the lady ungloved a
small white hand, that literally glis-
tened with diamonds, and applied a
Suez scented handkerchief to her
lips, blushed, and casting her eyes
upon the floor, said:
my business is very particular
it is--pardon me, sir, but you will
not betray me |"
"Betray you? Not tor the world,
madam. You can conflde in me with
the same reliance as in a priest at the
confessional"
"The fact isl want-that is,
have been unfortunate in my mar
riage relations"
The eyes of the lawyer glistened
with pleasure, and drawing his chair
close to the side of the lady, remark
ed:
81 see-I see-you want divorce.
| am just the man To get 1t for you
! am perfectly du fat in matters OF
this kind, although | have never had
case in court. How long have you
been married ?"
"Nine years"
"Nine years? You must have
been very young when you entered
that bissful Il mean wretched
state"
| was a mere child-a foolish mex
perienoed school girl. A doting
mother placed me in the arms of
man old enough to be my father; but
he was rich, and for or three years l
did not know the difference-l was
as happy as though my husband had
been twenty years younger. But
association with other married wo-
men opened my eyes, and | became
wretched | pinned for-well, for a
heart that was more congenial with
my own. A man Of your age, now,
would have suited me better"
Exactly so /" exclaimed the law
yer, rubbing his hands and twisting
his incipient moustache. But your
sufferings will soon terminate; will
get you a divorce, and then-"
80 dear me land Ihen-but |
must not too sanguine. My husband
is very rich, and be will never let me
get divorce if he can help it,"
Madam, you don't know the law
its majesty-its lorious certainty
its magnanimity. Consider your
self divorced, and rest easy"
"WeIl, sir, how shall | proceed =
"Let me see-in the first place,
give me a statement of your griev-
ances."
"That would take q whole week.
You can imagine what a woman like
me must suffer with such husband"
Eyes, yes-cruel and barbarous
treatment-conditiUn intolerable-
neglect, and all that sort of thing.
| will just jot down few Of the
items. Your name is"
"Mrs. -. You must know
my husband"
What, the merchant? He's rich
as Cresus!"
Eyes, he's rich +; but | don't care
for his money! want divorce"
The lawyer wrote down sketch
of the lady's ma rimonial infelcities,
and again assured her that he would
have no difficulty in procuring di-
vorce, with at least SO 900 alimony.
Chow much are you going to
charge me for making me so happy p
asked the lady.
"WelI, Iought to charge you a ST.
900, but out of consideration for your
suff+rings l will only take retainer
of 500, and when it is accomplished
you will increase it to $780,"
"That is extremely reasonable. L
have TO change about me now. .,
yes, here is check for $500 that my
husband gave me to go shopping. |
will only want half of it to-day. Will
you get it cashed for me 2"
alt is after bark hours, but the
check is all right. L will give you
800 for shopping and keep the
check"
The lawyer had that day received
a remittance of a 800 from his father,
and handed it over to the lady, and
placing the check in his poket-book,
bowed his client TO the door. He
was excessively happy at his good
fortune, and that night dreamed OF
angelic clients, sensational divorce
cases, and huge pile of 800 bills.
The next morning be went to the
bank to get his check cashed, and
was thunderstrnck when the teller
informed him that the name of Mr.
was forged Indignant at the
thought that his fair client had been
guilty of so base crime as forging
her husbands name, be hurried to the
store Of Mr.. -, with the inten.
ton of exposing the lady. He was
still more astonished when Mr.. -
informed him that he was q widower
and had not been blessed with a wife
for more than ten years.
Young Blackstone was seized with
fit of melancholy, which still afflict:
him for all his efforts to find the
fair swindler have proved unavailing
He has come TO the conclusion tc
have nothing to do with divorce
cases, and has written to his father
to send him another 500 bill to re
place the one be gave his client for 1
bogus check.