Smyrna times., 1894-06-20
A LEGAL FICTION.

A LEGAL FICTION.
Mr.. Garraway stood up as young
Mrs. Bradshaw rose from her seat at
the dinner-toble. 1t had been rather
quiet dinner, and he had had to do
all the talking. Badshaw opened the
door. and Mr.. Garraway(of Gray's-inn-
place. noticed that each avoided look
ing at the other. Earnest Bradshaw
closed the door and came back to the
table. He cracked a walnut, and open
ing it threw it into the fire.
"Bad?" asked Mr.. Garraway. He
was starting a cigar and he had refilled
his glass. He was perfectly at home
with the Bradshaws.
YES" said young Mr.. Bradshaw
violently. "Of course, it, bad Worst
of it is that you never know until you
try
"But all the nuts are not bad, Brad
shaw? ?" Bradshaw grunted "Any-
thing wrong at Whitehall p
"No. Whitehall's all right"
Mr. Garraway owed his success as a
solicitor mainly to knowing exactly
when not to do the wrong thing. Young
Bradshaw lighted cigar, and, after a
few puGs, let it 80 out. Then he stood
up with his back to the Gre-it was his
fire-and looked at Garraway.
81 want to ask you something, Caro-
way. Do you ever have people com
ing to you to draw up deeds Of sepa-
ration ?"
"Oh, yes; pretty often"
"Well, would you mind being some
use to me-and to Ellen ?"
"Why, certainly, I've known you
both Mrs. Bradshaw especially-fOr a
long time. But you don't want to be
separated. Why, man alive, you
haven't been married a year !"
"Garroway, look here. We have had
a row-a dispute, or whatever you like
to call it,"
"What l should call it," said Cara
way, rising and speaking with some
ascerblty, would be little disagree e.
ment between two excellent young
people who ought to know better"
Nevertheless, my dear Garraway,"
1.-THE young husbands lips quivered) i
nevertheless, we have agreed to part.
On the piano in the drawing-roOm
upstairs a chord or two were struck
and the clear voice of Mrs. Garraway
rang out. Garraway, getting on in the
thirties, and sober man of law, found
the hand that held his cigar shaking
for a moment.
"You see," said Bradshaw, "she il
perfectly jolly over it.
There was a sudden stop and a crasf
on the piano, as though the player
could keep it up no longer.
Look here, Bradshaw"-Mr. Cara
way passed his hand carefully over his
smooth spare bair-''look here. Cal
at my place at eleven tomorrow, anC
I'll do what is wanted"
"Thank you, Garraway."
"Shall we 60 up stairs? ! must ar
range with her."
The demure, precise little clock oil
the mantlepiece in Mr.. Garraway'
chambers struck eleven. A small boy
entered with a card.
'Thank you, Judd Show the lad!
in, Mr.. Gibson.
Mr.. Gibson withdrew with his work
to the outer office, stepping aside at tn
door to permit slim girlish figure t,
enter.
"How do you do, Mr.. Garraway
| I'm not late, am /? l did not know
the place, and I had little difficulty
1--WE often have little difficulties il
the law, Mrs. Bradshaw, Ifeverythinl
worked smoothly, we should starve.
81 had no chance of speaking to yol
last night" said Mr.. Garraway," ex
cepting to ask you to call. But 1 ha,
brief conversation with Bradshaw
and he assured me that you had quit
made up your mind about the matter
HE is, in this particular Instance
quite right" She put her lips togethe
and looked as determined as she could
And so l am to draw up the deed {
separation ?"
''If you please"
"It's rather rough on me-" went o
Mr.. Garraway, with an effort at humoI
"Why, seems only yesterday that wa
his best man, and you and he wer
away to Neuchatel, and we cheere
you as you left Victoria Station. D
you remember ?"
"Would you mind telling me, pleas
when the documents can be drawn ?
And do you remember your frs
dinner after your return, and how joll
we all were? Why, you were as con
Portable as anything, until a week or s
agO-weren't you?"
"What l propose to do" said th
stern young lady, with Just the su
piclon of a catch in her voice, ''is to g
abroad with my aunt for a year or tw'
and leave the honse as it stands, fC
keeper, you see, and"-
"By Jove ~ cried Garraway; that
not a bad idea"
"You think-you think 1t will wor
all right, Mr.. Garraway ?"
"Oh, think so; I'll tell you VIII,
OF course, you want Earnest to be con
Portable, don't you ?"
There was softening of her eyes.
"Oh, yes. 1t is only our one gre
quarrel of last week that is parting u
and"-
"I know, 1 know. Now, look her
Mrs. Bradshaw. wouldn't take
much trouble if | were only your Law
yer; but I'm you friend as we'll, am
not ?"
"Dear Mr.. Garraway, we two ha'
: always been good friends"
"Well, will you allow me, then, as q
old friend, to give you little advice
81 should advise you to make up th
difference of opinion with Earnest.
am told-of course, I'm only bachel
but I'm told that all young coupl
have their quarrels to begin with, al
they do say-here again 1 speak,
course, as a mere bachelor-that Il
making up is always the most deligh
full part of it,"
"Mr. Garraway,I thought you wou
argue in this way, and it is very got
, of you. But my mind was made
before 1 came here, and nothing tn
you can say will alter it. A womi
may Judge for herselfin these matters
= "Quite so. l think that TO certa
extent your are right. And if it is us
" less to say anything TO alter your pre-
ent resolution Why--n
"You may be sure of that" SO
young Mrs. Bradshaw confident