Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-08-27
AFTER TIE STORY.


That a woman of my wifes mature years
should be jealous of one of the most eXeln-
plary husbands that the records of matri-
mony can produce is, to say the least OF ii, a
diScouraging circumstance. a man forgetS
that virtue is its own reward, and asks what
is the use of conjugal fidelity.
However, the motto Of married life is Tor
ought to be-: Peace at any price. | have
been this day relieved from the condition of
secrecy that has been imposed OF ne. You
insisted on an explanation some time since.
Here it is at last.
For the ten tnou,amdt!i time, my dear, in
our joint lives Nou are again right. That
letter, marked private, which | received at
the domestic tea-tabic, was what you posi-
lively declared it to be. Il letter from a lady
"a charming Iady-pIuHgcd in the deepest
perpleXily. We had been well known TO
each other for many years as lawyer and
client She wanted advice on this occasion
also, and wanted it in the strictest confidence
Was it consistent with my professional duty
to show her letter to my wife? Mrs Sara
Yin SAYS yes. Mrs. SarraZin's husband says
no.
Let me add that the lady was a person of
unDlemished reputation, and that she was
placed in false position through no fault OF
her own. In plain English, she was dI-
VOrccd. All, my dear (tO speak the strong
language OF the people,. do you smell a rat?
Yes: my client was Mrs. Omond; and to
her pretty cottage i'll the country | betook
myself the next day. There | found my eX-
cellcnt friend, Randall LinIcy, present by
special invitation.
Stop a minute. Why do write all this,
instead of explaining myself by word of
mouth? NV dear, you are member OF an
Old and ilIuStriouS family: you honored me
when you married me: aaI YOU have (aS
your father told me on our Wcd,Iiug-day) the
high and naughty temper of your race. l
forSce an explosion of this temper, and l
would rather have my writing paper blown
up lhan be blown up myself. Is this 4 cow
ardIy confession on my part? All courage,
Mrs. SarraZn, is relative; the braveSt man
living has a COwarlIy side to his character,
though itmay not always be found out. Some
years ago, AT a public dinner | sat next to an
officer in the British army At one time in
his life he had led a fororn hope. At an
other time he had picked up wounded sol
diCr and had carried him Ia the care of the
surgeons through a haiIStorm of the cncmy's
bullets. hot courage and cool courage, this
true hero possessed both. / saw the cow
ardly side of his character. He lost his
color; prrSpiratiOn broke out on his fore
head; he trrmbed; he talked nonsense; he
was frightened out OF his wits. And all for
what? Because he had to get on his legs
and make Il speech!
Well; Mrs Ormond and Randall Linley
and | sat down to our consultation at the
cottage.
What did my fair client want?
She contemplated marrying for the second
time, and she wanted my advice as a lawyer,
and my encouragement as an old friend. I
was quite ready; l only waited for the par
ticuIars. Mrs. Ormond became dreadfully
embarrassed, and said: 81 refer you to my
hrothern law"
l looked at Randall. Once her brother
in-law, no doubt" | said; but after the di-
vorcc-" My friend stopped me there.
"AftCr the divorce, - he remarked, Il may
be her brothcr-n-law again"
If this meant anything it meant that she
was actually going To marry Herbert Lnley
again. | told him plainly that l could not
believe it,
'Why not?" Randall asked.
Saying do want you in one breath, and
| don't want you in another, seems to be
little hard on dyorcc,' | vcnturCd to Sug-
gcSt.
Don't expect me to sympathize with di-
yorcc," Randall said
] answered that smartlv. no, III wait
till you are married.
He took it seriously. Don't miSunder-
stand me" he replied. Where there is alb
solutc cruelty, or where there is deliberate
dGseltiou on the husbands part, | see the
I-e and the reason for divorce. If the I'M
Will protect her. or an honorable man who
will offer her a home, society and law, which
are responsible for the institution of mar
rage, are bound to allow Il woman out
ragged under the shelter Of their institution to
m}rry again. Bat where the nllNband'S fault
is sexual frIilty. sly the English law which
refuses divorce on that ground alone is right,
and the Scotch law which grants il is wrong.
Religion which rightly condemns the sin,
pardons it on the condition OF true ppnitcncc.
Why is a wife not to pardon it for the same
reason? Why are the lives of Il father
mother, and child to he wrecked, when
those lives may be saved by the exercise of
the first of Christian forgiveness of
Injuries? In such a ease as this regret that
divorce exists; and rejoice when husband
and wife and Child are one flesh again. re-
united by the law OF nature, which is the law
of Cod
l might have disputed with him; but
thought he was right, and | wanted to make
sure of the facts
Am | really to understand" | asked,
that Mr.. llcrbcrt Lmlcy is to be the lady's
husband for the second tmc?"
"lf there is no lawful objection to it."
Randall said, "dCcidcdly YES"
My good wife, in all your experience YOU
never saw your husband stare Us he stared at
that moment. Here wfss a lady divorced
from her husband, by her own lawful desire
and at her own personal expense, thinking
better of it after no very long interval, and
proposing to marry the man again. Some
thing to wonder at, surely How did it end?
1t ended in nv admitting my ignorance as
lawyer, ami Offering my encouragement as
n friend. The case being without precedent
in my experience. | dropped my professional
character at the outset. Speaking next rs
friend, had only to say to Mrs. Ormond:
The law has declared You and Mr.. Herbert
Ltnley to be single people Do what other
single people do Buy a license, and give
notice at 4 church. and by all means send
wedding cards to the Judge who divorced
YOU"
Said; and, in another fortnight done. Mr..
and Mrs. Herbert Ljnlcy Were married again
this morning. and Rlndls and | were the
only witnesses present ut the ceremony,
which was strictly private.
2.-T7tC LGICyCr's DfcuSC..
| NypDIpr Nyhathnr fI,n F,,~,,-,,;,,r