New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-03
THE HICKS-BROWN DIVORCE.
AN IDYL OF SOUTH DAOKTA.

There is always a beginning to an end What
il was in the case of Mr.. and Mrs. Hicks-Brown,
do not pretend TO know. What | know most
about is the end and the appendix OF course
all the differences leading up to the last act were
thoroughly aired in court and in the newspapers,
but it was the final act of brutality Mr. Hicks
Browns part that especially dilatcd upon and
for weeks this Gend in human form" was exc
Grated by danes and damscls all over this broad
land and Mrs HiclSs-Br0wn was an object of heart
felt commiseration on all sides.
am inclined to think that if Mr. Hicks Brown
had been more like the men who are held up
model husbands by the knowing members Of GER
tain ladies' societies he and Mrs Hicks Brown-she
whom only TWO short years since he had promised
TO love and cherish-would be living In peace and
amity, to say nothing Of conjuga happiness, even
unto this day: and if Mrs. Hicks Brown had been
anything but tie only child of very rich and
foolishly indulqent papa, things might have been
different. But Mr.. Hcks-Brown was just as much
used 10 having his own way his pretty
spouse and the natural result was family rows,
more or less insignificant in character. At first
Mr. Hcks-Brown was inclined 10 give in. just
as all dutful bubbles are but he saw the shoals
Of trouble on to which this course causing
him TO drift, and concluded, after mature CON
sideration that il was his will that shou3a domi-
his plan of procedure and governed his actions
accordingly. Mrs. Hicks Brown, with feminine
insight, perceived, at carly stage Of the game,
what her lords intentions were and, rs she had
always been accustomed TO have her way, she
decided that ii was too late 10 begin knocking
der-and there you have what presumably
the beginning of the end.
II was dog-not only dog, hut young-lady
dog--not only female canine, but what Mr.. Hicks
Brown termed "mcasy dodgasted pug" that
caused the climax. II there was any creature
earth that Mr.. IlcksBrown loathed and despsed
it was q pug, and especially one of the genter
and his better half aware of this antpathy, had.
with characteristic feminine perversity, availed
herself Of the first opportunity to possess herself
of one of those interesting animals, which speedily
won il seemed, first place in her affections. and
made Mr.. Hicks Browns life miserable .
lie stood ii, however, as long as he couid, but
the end had 10 come.
Mr. Hicks Brown was an architect, and II came
TO pass that he had on one occasion been invited
10 prepare the plans for pubilc building me
plans were drawn and accepted by the committee.
which, however returned them 10 hin for certain
important alterations: and they were lald on the
table in his den, TO be attended TO when ne ad re-
Now il so happened that Vic, the pug aforenef-
toned, was OF an nqulflng turn OF nina, ana shc
chose this very afternoon Tor an exploring TOUR
When Mr. llicks-Brown entered his den about
9 o'clock. he saw at once that portions CT his
plans were missing, and, surprising that his wire
had taken them to show some visitor, ne hurried
down stairs.
Where are those plans ?' he asked
What plans dear - softly inquired Mrs. Hicks,
Brown, sliding her caramel into one check and stu
keeping one eye on particularly thrilling page OF
the yellow-back novel in her lap.
"What-what plans. Do you mean TO say Won
didn't take those Calumet Building plans from my
table? asked Mr.. Hicks Brown, in some aslta-
"Oh-h!- said his spouse, mildly surprised
"Why il must have been those that VIC had.
"That-Vic-had" hOwed Mr.. Hcks-l}rown.
sand pray, where they now?"
Don't get excited, dear Were trey anythihg
in particular? Vic had some old. soilcd pieces Of
cloth playing with them awhile ago; but | sup
posed they were some you had thrown into the
waste-basket so | burned-iIenry. What are you
going 10 dO?'
Bnt Henry did not answer He strobe over to
the cushion wherein the offending Vic was taking
her afternoon sicsta, gripped her firmly By the
nape Of the neck and despite his wifes hysterical
protests, opened the door and kicked the bowling
animal into the street, and not satisfied with this.
when Mrs. Hicks Brown wonld have rushed to
rescue her pet, he took her by the shoulders and
forced her into a chair, noting with grim satisfac-
ton he did so that couple Of street-arabs were
making off with Vic.
That day Mrs Hcks-Brown went home to her
mother, and two weeks later she was a member of
the divorce colony in Western city, seeking
freedom from matrimonial bonds on the ground
Of cruel and inhuman treatment which she ex
pected the court, when her case was presented,
to understand as having been applied 10 her. in
stead Of 10 Vic
In the State where Mrs. Hcks-Brown sought
her divorce 1t takes only three months TO establish
very little time: but strange 70 say, Mrs. Hicks
Brown did not find it easy to pass the time. The
frst three four weeks. in her Hurried state Of