Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-18
HIS FIRST DIVORCE CASE.
A Young Lawyer Learns wisdom
from a Pretty woman.

angels visits, was delighted by finding
in his Office richly dressed lady, who
announced her desire to employ him
professionally. With beaming smile,
that could hardly be restrained from
bursting into full-blown laugh the
young Blackstone handed the lady a
Cushioned arm chair, and assured her
that he vas entirely and devotedly al
her service"
Seating herself in the proffered Office
chair, the lady ungloved small, white
hand, that literally glistened with dia.
monds, and applied Suez-scented
handkerchief to her lips, blushed, and
casting her eyes upon the floor said:
my husband is very particular-it is
pardon me, sir, but you will not betray
me
"Betray your Not for the world
madame. You can confde in me with
the same reliance as in priest at the
confessional.
"'rhe fact isl want--that is, have
been unfortunate in my marriage rela'
| tionsif8 VI WAgE LN6t. ~.
| THE eyes of the lawyer glistened with
pleasure, and drawing his chair close to
the side of the lady, remarked:
/ see-I see-you want divorce. 1
am Just the man to get it for you. am
perfectly an fat in matters OF this kind,
although have never had a case in
court How long have you been mar
ried?" ..-,
mime years You must have been
very young when you entered that bliss
full mean wretched state
81 was a mere child-a foolish, mex
perienced school girl A doatingmother
placed me in the arms Of a man old
enough to be my father; but he was rich,
and for two or three years | did not
know the difference was as happy as
though my husband had been twenty
years younger. But association with
other married women opened my eyes,
and / became wretched. pined for
well, for a heart that was more congenial
with my own. A man of your age, now,
would have suited me better.
Exactly sol" exclaimed the lawyer,
rubbing his hands and twisting his in
cipient mustache. =" But your sufferings
will soon terminate; l will get you a di-
vorce, and then"
80, dear mel-and then--but | must
not be too sanguine.- My husband is
very rich, and he will never permit me to
get divorce if he can help it.
Madame, you don't know the law
its majesty--its glorious certainty--its
magnanimity. Consider yourself di-
vorced and rest easy.
"Well, sir, how shall l proceedY
- Let me see--in the first place give
me a statement. of your grievances.
That would take a whole week. You
can imagine what a woman like me
must suffer with such a husband.
Eyes, yes-cruel and barbarous treat
ment-- condition intolerable neglect,
and all that sort of thing. / will just jot
down a few of the items. Your name
rMrs. 7. You must know my hus-
band"
What, the merchant Hes rich as
Cresns.p 9aiy
Eyes, he's rich; but l don't care for
that want divorce"
| The lawyer wrote down a sketch OF
the lady's matrimonial infelicities,. and
again assured her that he would have
no difficulty in procuring divorce, with
at least $4,000 alimony.
How much are you going TO charge
me for making me so happyY" asked
the lady. aiI r4fi @
swell, i oughtto charge you thou
sand dollars, but, out. of consideration
for your sufferings, will only take a
retainer of one1 hundred dollars, and
when it is accomplished you will in
crease it to five hundred dollars" ("
"That is extremely reasonable. l have
no change about me new. ., yes, here
is check for two hundred dollars that
my husband gave me to 60 shopping. |
will only want half of it to-day, Will
You get it cashed for me?"
1T is after bank hours, but the check
Is all right. | will give you one hundred
for your shopping, and keep the check. "
The lawyer had that day received a
remittance Of one hundred dollars from
his sfather. and handed it over to the lady,
and, placing his check in his pocket
book, bowed his client to the door He
was excessively happy at his good for
tune, and that night dreamed Of angelic
clients, sensational divorce cases, and a
huge pile of one hundred dollar bills.
The next morning he went to the bank
TO get his check cashed, and was thun-
derstruck 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 a crime
Of forging her husbands name, he hur-
ried to the store of Mr.. T., with the
/ intention Of exposing the lady, He was
still more astonished when Mr. ~ in
formed him that he was widower and
had not been blessed with a wife for
more than ten years. ar.
Young Blackstone was seized with a
it of melancholy, which still afiiicts him,
for ali his efforts to find the fair swindler
have proved unavailing, he has come
to the conclusion to have nothing to do
with divorce cases, and has written TO
his father to send him another SlOO bill
to replace the one he gave his client for