, 1891-03-05
STORY OF AN EBONY cAsKET.
It contaiu- a Document That Means .
Good Deal 70 One Married Couple.

IL Contains n Document That Means .
Good Deal TO One Married Couple.
In the dressing room Of a happy married
woman who lives in a Madison avenue
mansion there stands in a conspicuous
corner a small ebony casket with silver
trimmings. 1t is locked and has not been
opened for ten years. Few know its his
tory, which is one full Of romance and also
OF food for reflection for those on whom the
marriage yoke bears heavily.
A little over ten years ago the occupants
OF this home were married. The wife had
been brought up in a luxurious home and
was a member Of gay social circles. The
husband was equally rich in worldly pos
sessions, but with no liking for the round
of society's pleasures. His young bachelor
hood had been passed in independent club
life and the sober enjoyment OF his books
and pictures, for which he had a strong
taste. The honeymoon was barely over
before a speck Of discomfort appeared on
the horizon Of their lives. It grew rapidly
and soon Obscured the sun OF their welded
happiness. They mutually fretted under
the strain Of the marriage bonds. He dis
liked to be dragged to receptions and balls,
and abe chafed over his library inclina-
tions and wanted to keep the house gay with
guests and incessant going and coming.
At last the explosion came, and after a
full and free discussion It was mutually
agreed tina they should separate. A.
there were no legal grounds OF divorce in
this state they iourneyed together beyond
the Ohio and consulted counsel. The avs
OF the west would give what each wanted
"A decree. They remained away long
enough to acquire statutory residence, and
on a certain day a decree was duly granted
sevcring the marital chains. The lawyers
Ia handing each a copy Of the decree eX.
planned TO them that, although granted by
the court, II would not take effect and
was so much waste paper until entered
and filed In the clerks office Of the county
where the court was held.
The lawyers fees were paid and each
took the parchment. Both felt free and
independent, but each hesitated to put the
final seal TO the transaction. BY a com-
mon decision arrived at separately it was
settled 70 return to New York, whence the
DEGREES could be mailed for proper hling.
The return trip was on the same train.
a conversation arose on the subject OF
their changed relations. Their newly nc
quired freedom put a different phase on
the discussion Explanations and express
sions OF opinion were more tolerant in the
face OF restraint removed. Concessions,
which a false dignity prevented hitherto,
were now bronched as possible had they re
manned man and wife. In the end it was
discovered that 1t was not the tie itself
which was CALLING and ~unbearable, but the
fact that II was a tie, binding fast and per
manently.
The separation never took place. The
DEGREES were locked in the casket, TO which
each carried a key. At first the casket
stood in the husbands library, but as years
went on occasional questions about II be
came irksome. IL was sent up stairs to the
wife's room, who in her urn tired Of il,
and IL was tucked in a corner Of the dress
ing room. But 1t still exists, and there are
those who will say that 1t holds In its pos
sibilities Of freedom the unalloyed happi-
ness Of that home.-Her Point of View In
New York Times.