Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-12-13
LEWIS vs.. LEWIS.
OPINION OF A JUDGE AND IT'S coNsE-
QUENCEs.
BY ARTHUR LUCAS.

BY AhHIUh LUCAcs
An elegantly dressed young wo
an left the law office of Judge Sharpe
just as Walter Losing was about to
enter it.
As she swept by him the young man
caught momentary glimpse of her
face which told him as plainly as
words could have done that she was
unhappy. He wondered what trouble
could have come to one who was SO
evidently in waut of nothing that
money could provide.
Walter Losing was what is COM
monty called in euphemistic news
paper phraseolog, "a rising young
lawyer" In other words he had
recently been admitted to practice,
was as poor as the law allowed-and
as is we'll known, the law is very lib
eral in this respect-and had hard
work to "rise" high enough to keep
his head above water. This, too, in
spite of the fact that his ability was
above the average.
just now he had come to get the
old judges opinion OF knotty point
which had come up in one of the few
cases which he had succeeded in Sc
curing. Judge Sharpe had taken a
kindly interest in him, and had al
ready given him valuable advice On
several occasions. In fact, it is high
ly improbable that the knotty point
that was puzzling him would have
troubled him at all if it hadn't been
for the judge, who had thrown the
case in which it occurred in his way.
Judge Sharpe had just tied togeth-
err a bundle oflegal papers and thrust
them into pigeon hole when tie
young man came in.
"How are you, my boy? Sit
down. What can / do for you to-
day? I've just got to the end of q
case that ought to be lesson to all
of you young fellows" said the
Judge, all in one breath, as was his
manner.
"What case was that, judge ?" ask
ed Losing, as he dropped into a
chair.
"Lewis versus Lewis, action for
limited divorce on the grounds of
incompatibility, cruel treatment and
SO forth. You saw the young wo-
man who just went out?"
Losing nodded.
"That was the plaintiff. Nice sort
of girl Well.educated, refined hand
some, and all that, but not the right
sort of wife for the man she mar
ried. You see she is the only daugh.
ter of wealthy people, who had nat
urally gratified every whim that
came into her head. She fell in love
with young man whose respecta
bility was his chief recommendation.
"Well, wasn't that the principal
thing to be considered 2" exclaimed
Tossing.
''Other things being equal, yes |;
but in this case it was only one of
the principle considerations, as you
viii see. The young man was as
poor as could be; he had only mod
est salary to depend on and nothing
in the way of prospects. The girls
parents objected at first, but finally
consented to the match. They prob
ably knew that she would have her
way in spite of all objections they
might interpose. You hear and read
a great deal about the tyranny of
parents who refuse to sanction the
marriages which they believe will
end in unhappiness, but l tell you,
my boy, that what is called tyranny
is in many cases hard, honest COM
mon sense and observation.
"Well they were married, and for
short time they were happy. Then
the wife was disconnected. She
missed the luxuriesshe was accustom-
ed to enjoy. The modest home her
husband could provide for her was
SO different from the elegance with
which she had formerly been sur
rounded. she began to fret. Her dis
content soon found expression in
what he considered lack of devotion.
When she suggested that her parents
would lend financial aid he became
indignant and insisted that she
should be contentlwith her lot until
by his own efforts he could better
their condition. You can imagine
that this state of affairs soon lead to
something worse. Quarrels became
frequent +; love was thing of the
past. No doubt thinking herself
much abused sheleft him and return.
ed to her parents. Then application