The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-01-15

~ VIII Oc y very clecfiuf scene, pur
sued Walston- You win be the heroine
il is always so in divorce case. sym
parhy goes with the wife. She can sii
dumbly. and the spectators will swear
that she is an angel. The jurymen feed
on her smiles and her sighs, softenins
with pity and glowing with admiration.
Yes, Margaret, the city viii talk abou;
you your portrait viii adorn sensati IN
al papers, and you will be able to JON in
the great work Of elevating the stage.
8ut Henry. An. Henry, old fellow, you
are in for it. sure enough In divorce
case husband is always guilty until
proven innocent. The guilt clinss, no
matter how you act. If you smile. the
people viii call you a hardened villain.
If you frown, they will pronounce you a
dangerous brute. If you preserve an air
of gentlemanly indifference, thev will
consider you cold-souled scoundrel.
Every change Of countenance will be a
witness against you. Every shift Of atti-
tude will be an added ,iamnation TO
your cause. The husband in divorce
suit Is the same old story of the western
horse thief-he acts guilty even if he is
innocent, and he ought TO be hung, any,
how. Old fellow, l pity you l do, in
deed y
.Thank YOU said Doncaster, cody.
But ! must protest against discussing
this affair here"
And / must insist
Ifit was Walston's intention to make
his friends miserable, he could not have
better succeeded. Henry seemed to stand
it stolidly enough, but Margaret was
evidently uneasy. Both devoutly wished
that Walston had remained out West
But he was obdurate.
Please remember he went on. "tbat
more interests than yours are at stake.
You both come ofgood families-families
that have lived honorably and proudly
Cor years without the taint of scandal.
This thing to them will be a blow of nm
speakable anguish, and it is our duty to
make that blow as soft as we can. Much
viii depend, as said, upon the first
statement Of the case, and upon the scope
OF the evidence. Don't 90 too deep in the
mud, 1t is not necessary under our ac-
commodating divorce laws. This thing
is bad enough. Don't make it any worse
for at its best it will put shadow on both
your lives. Margaret. you will be a her
oine for few days, but it will not last.
To woman's character too much pubIici-
ty is like too much sunshine on photo
grapher's neg2tive-it blurs and ruins Il.
And as for you, Henry, know the ex-
perience will have a dangerous effect.
feel that it viii make you both great
deal more miserable than you are, after
all the romance and beauty Of your love.
But | beg pardon fJr talking 50 much.
I'm taking up time. Let's get to business.
l want you both to explain yourselves,
and then | viii suggest how it shall be
published F.; and in this way we shall
make the least seandalous showing to the
public. 1t may protect you both. Now.
Henry"
Look here, Edward; l object to this
thing
@The objection is overruled. Tell me,
frankly, what is the cause.
Il prefer not"
so would ! but it is for your own and
your family's protection"
There was an uncomfortable silence.
Henry arose, walked up the room and
then back again. Presently he found his
speech, and it came out BY starts and
quits, as If he wanted to say something,
and yet TO say as little as possible.
~NIy statement he began, shall be
brief 4 happy couple come into posses
sion Of money and go into fashionable
society. The wife receives great deal
of attention from men the husband does
not like. The husband objects in vain
and then begins to drown his objections
in alcohol. He drifts into a rapid set.
and he and his wife drift apart. Each is
proud, and each maintains stand. The
gulf widens; the husbands dissipation
increases He finally gets drunk, gets
into fight, gets arrested and disgraces
and his family, but fortunately |
escapes newspaper notoriety os.tIss $
name isn't recognized in the police court"
well, that's pretty bad. Now, Mar |
garei, what have YOU TO sayP'
Now it was Margaret's time to arise.
She went to the windox and Looked at I
through the lace curtain. When /
she answered she was calmer than her
husband had been.
Il have little to add to what you have
heard. We have been drifting apart
Until separation will be the best for both.
am tired of insane jealousy, tired of
being accused Of things of which was
lever guilty. have stood the nightly
iesertion as heroically as could, but
when there comes the disgrace of street
light in the company Of notoriou. men.
md With the night spent in jail, | most
object"
WaIston sighed. The clock on the
mantle .icked industriously; otherwise
he room was depressingly quiet.
"Ofcourse your old love for each other
; dead p was the next question.
1t came suddenly. Neither was pre-
'ared for IT, Henry flushed with anger.
dargaret grew whittier and more nervous.
hey now wished be was buried in that
western grave with his newspaper.
Il beg your pardon for asking such
uestion- Each Of you is too polite to
nsweri it. Well, I'll answer it for you.
If course it is dead buried deep in that
ulf which now separates YOU
Doncaster arose. He looked at Edward
Gith no disguised wrath and spoke with
sarcasm. IF your cross-ex-
mination is over" he said. s'you will
lease excuse me until the trial is regu-
.rly called
Certainly not replied Walston. @why
reat Jupiter, man, we haven't begun ,
ct ! You haven't given me any facts at
H. Your general ststements-both Of |
hem-are not worth the breath that it
,ok to say them must have instances,
ates, and all other details. Who are
be correspondence