The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-11-29
LEWIS VS.. LEWIS.
Opinion Of Judge and It's Consequences.
BY ARTHUR LUCAS.


BY ARTHUR LUCAS.
An elegantly dressed young woman 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
a 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 want of nothing that money
could provide.
Walter Losing was what is commonly called
in euphemistic newspaper phraseology, "a
rising young lawyer" In other words, he had
been recently admitted to practice, was aspoor
as the law a1lowed-and, as is well known, the
law is very liberal 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 on knotty point which had come up
in one of the few cases which he had succeed
ed in securing. Judge Sharpe had taken a
kindly interest in him, and had already given
him on several occasions In fact, it is highly
improbable that the knotty point thatwas puZ-
zling 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 together bundle
of legal papers and thrust them into pigeon
hole when the 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 a 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?" asked LOSING,
as he dropped into chair.
Lewis versus Lewis, action for limited di-
force on the ground of incompatibility, cruel
treatment and SO forth. You saw the young
woman who just went out?'
LOSING nodded.
Welleducated, refined. handsome, and all that,
but not the right sort Of a wife for the man
she married. You see she is the only daugh-
ter of wealthy people. who had naturally graf
ifed every whim that came into her head.
She fell in love with young man whose re-
"Well, wasn't that the principal thing to be
considered?" exclaimed LOSING.
"Other things being equal, yes; but in this
case it was only one of the principal considera-
tions, as you will see. The young man was
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of prospects, The girls parents objected at
first, but finally consented to the match. They
probably knew that she would have her way
in spite of all objections they might interpose.
You hear and read great deal about the tyran-
ny of parents who refuse to sanction 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 ard observation.
'Well, they were married and for short
time they were happy. Then the young wife
was discontented. She missed the luxuries she
had been accustomed to enjoy. The modest
home her husband could provide for her was
so different from the elegance with which she
had formerly been surrounded, she began to
fret. Her discomfort soon found expression
in what he considered her lack of devotion;
When she suggested that her parents would
lend financial aid he became indignant and
insisted that she should be content with her
lot until by his own efforts he could better
their condition. You can imagine that this
state of affairs soon led to something worse.
Quarrels became frequent; love was thing
of the past. No doubt thinking herself
her parents. Then application for separa-
ton was made. All efforts to effect recon-
ciliation were fruitless. Well, this is the end.
The law has sanctioned the separation that al
ready existed in fact; the young woman re.
mains with her parents. the young man will
probably go to the devil, for his unfortunate
marriage has taken all ambition out of him."
"And the lesson?' suggested LOSING
Don't marry woman who is beyond your
station. financially; don't take wife from a
mansion unless you have mansion in readl-
ness for her,"
result as this has done'
mo, probably not; there are exceptions to
every rule. l am speaking of the rule. You
will find as You grow older that 1t holds good
in nine cases out of ten. Marriage is too serl-
Gus matter to enter into it lightly, and hap
piness too valuable to stake it on a chance.
Heiresses are content with love in cottage
only in novels in real life you seldom find
love that is strong enough to conquer all the
weaknesses of human nature"
Having evidently reached the end of his i'm
promptu lecture the old lawyer leaned back
in his chair and waited for the other to state
the purpose of his errand.
LOSING sat in silence for minute or more
The old mans words seemed to have impressed
him deeply.
At length he asked the question he had
come to PROFOUND; received reply that made
the matter clear to him, thanked his adviser
and was about to leave when the judge remark
ed:
.By the way, my boy, if you want any
further points on that case, just come to my
house this evening and will show you what
authorities to consult" :.
He took the kind offer rather as a matter oil
course, for Judge Sharpe had long ago told
him to make use of his library whenever he
wished. and he had frequently availed him
self of the permission.
LOSING after leaving the judges office
part of the same building Instead of busyine
himself with the papers that lay strewn upon
his desk. he paced to and fro excitedly fol
several minutes. Then he sat down and fol
at least half an hour stared very hard at moth
ing, or perhaps at the wall. Could he nave
seen his own face Just then he would have been
surprised at the change that had come over it.
There was a hopeless, despairing expression
there, which would have seemed quite inexpll'
cable to any of those who knew him best.
There's no other way; I'll have to do it, y
he suddenly exclaimed, at the same time risiue
abruptly. Then he put on his hat and coat,
went out and walked rapidly away.
The evening of that day found him at the
house of Judge Sharpe, sitting in the library
apparently engrossed in legal volume. But
as he had been staring at the same page fol
the past ten minutes, and that page happened tC
contain merely portion of the index, it is
doubtful that he was as deeply engrossed as ht
A light step fell upon the carpeted floor be
hind him. A young girl had entered
the room. A very pretty young girl sh'
was and the glad smile that lighted up he
all the prettier. Walter Loosing had evident
ly not confined himselfto Judge Sharpe's libra
ry on his previous visits. If he had thejudgei
daughter would not have been so pleased t.
see him. -
"Poring over dry legal volumes, as usual,
see; what perplexlng case reSts heaVly VI VI
your mind now, Walter? Why, what all
You? You look as glum as if you had lost you
| last friend"
Losing had turned and risen as the youni
| girl spoke and the light streaming upon his
| face, showed it to be indeed mirror OF every
| thing gloomy and disheartening.
"It isn't law case that is troubling me
would it were only that" he replied, with
| groan.
s'What is it, then Has any misfortun
befallen your"
'Yes, a misfortune indeed; or at least