Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-03
CHAPTER xxx.

Mrs Linley's application for a divorce was
heard in the first division Of the Court of Ses-
sion at Edinburgh, the lord president being
the Judge.
To the disappointment Of the large audi
ence assembled, no defense was attempted
on the part of the husband-a wise decision
seeing that the evidence Of the wife and her
witnesses was beyond dispute But one ex-
citing incident occurred toward the close of
the proceedings. Sudden illness made Mrs.
Linley'S removal necessary, at the moment
of ali others most interesting to herSelf-the
moment before the judges decision was an
nOunced.
But. us the event proved, the poor lady's
Withdrawal Wa, the most fortunate circum-
stance ina, GOUId nave occurred, III her OWE
Interests. After CONCERNING the husbands
conduct with unspa:ing severity the lord
president surprised most of the persons pres
ent by speaking of the wife in these terms
Generously as Mrs. Linley has been in
jured. the evidence shows that she was her,
self by no means free from blame She has
been guilty, to say the least of it, Of acts of
indScretion. When the criminal attachment
which had grown up between Dir. Herbert
fessed to her, She appears to have most I'M
reasonably Oyerrated whatever merit there
might have been in their resistance to the
final temptation. She was indeed 80 impul-
sively ready to forgive (without waiting to
see it the event justified the exercise of
mercy) that she owns to having given her
hand 70 Miss WeSterfield at parting, not half
an hour after that young PERSONS shameless
fOFgotfutneSS of the claims of modeSty, duty,
and gratitude had been first communicated
to her. TO say that this was the act of an
inc0nSiderate woman, culpably indiScreet
and, / had almost added. culpably indeli-
cate, is only TO say what she has deserved.
On the next occasion to which / feel bound
to advert her conduct was even more deSerT-
inS Of cenSure. She herself appears to have
placed the temptation under which he fell in
lGrhusband'S way. and so Tin some degree
AZ leaSh to have provoked the catastrophe
which has brought her before this court
all0de, it is needless to say, to her having in
yited the goyerneSS-then out of harm'S way
then employed elsewhere-to return to her
f"rse, and to risk (what actually occurred)
a meeting with Mr.. Herbert Liney when no
third person happened to be present know
that the maternal motive which animated
Mrs. l5nlev is considered by many persG2s,
10 tNttiSc ttiiu CIV ell 70 JUSTLY lnaC HOSV rt-
grett;shle act; and [ have myself allowed q
fSgr weakly aiiowet) more than due weight
t. this consideration in prOnouncing for the
C'vcr"a. Let ne express the earnest hope
that airs. Linley will take warning by what
has happened; and, ii she finds herself here
after placed in other circumstances of diff
Guilty. iet me advise her to exercise more con-
trol over impulses which one might expect
perhaps 10 ind III young girl, but which
are neither natural nor eXcusab in a woman
OF her age"
His lortship then deereed the divorce in the
customary form, giving the custody of the
child 20 the mother.
AZ fast as hired carriage could take him
NJ. Sarla1n drove from the court to Mrs.
Linley'S lodgings to tell her that the one
great object Of securing her right to her child
hal been achieved.
AZ the door he was mex by Mrs. Presty.
SIZE was accompanied by stranger, whose
Iaedcal services had been required. Inter
eStca professionally in hearing the result of
the trial this gentleman volunteered to COM
municate the good news to his patient He