Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-04-03
CHAPTER xxx.

En- AAAs
Mrs. Linley's application for a divorce was
',card in the first division of the Court of Ses-
lol at f. linburgh, the lord president being
HE iud q.
To the disappointment of the large audi
plce assembled, no defense was attempted
On the part of the h~usband-a wise decision,
seeing that the evidence of the wife and her
witnesses was beyond dispute. But one *
citing incident occurred toward the close OF
the proceedings. Sudden illness made Mrs.
Linley's remova necessary, at the moment
o. all others most interesting TO herself-the
moment before the judges decision was an.
nuuncel.
But. AS the event proved. the poor lady's
withdrawal was the most fortunate ciTcum.
stance that could have occurred, in her own
interests. After c%ondemning the husbands
conduct with unsparing severity the lord
president surprised most of the persons pres
ent by speaking OF the wife in these terms:
'Grlevcusly as Mrs. Linley has been In
Jured, the evidence shows that she was her
self by no means free from blame. She has
been guilty, TO say the least of ii, of acts OF
indiScretion. When the criminal attachment
which had grown up between Mr.. Herbert
Linley and Miss Westertield had been con-
80 w iN'ls VIC uIlCulS w navy iibNb W.
reasonably oyerrated whatever merit there
might have been in their resistance to the
final temptation. She was indeed SO impul-
siveIy ready to forgive without waiting 10
see If the event justified the exercise OF
mercy that she owns TO having given her
hand TO Miss Westertield at parting, not half
an hour after that young persons shameless
torgetfulness OF the claims of modesty, duty,
and gratitude had been first communicated
To her. 70 say that this was the act of an
inconsiderate woman, culpably indiScr"et,
and, | had almost added, culpably in .
cate, is Only to say what she has deserved.
On the next occasion to which ] feel bound
~ advert her conduct was even more deserv-
ing of ceRSuTe. She herself appears to have
placed the temptation under which he fell IN
her husbands way, and so On some degree
AT least To have provoked the catastrophe
which has brought her before this court. l
alllde, IL Is needless To say, to her having In
Nited the governess-then out Of harms way
then employed elsewhere-to return TO her
house, and To risk (what actually occurred)
a meeting with Mr.. Herbert Iinley when no
third person happened to be present. | know
that the maternal motive which animated
Mrs. Linley is considered, by many persons,
TO excuse and even TO justify that most re-
grettable act; and | have myself allowed q
fear weakly allowed more than due weight
10 this consideration in ~pronouncing for the
divorce. Let me express the earnest hope
that Mrs. Linley will take warning by what
has happened: and, if she finds herself here.
after placed in other circumstances of diff
Guilty, let me advise her 10 exercise more con-
troll over impulses which one might expect
perhaps 10 find in a young girl, but which
are neither natural nor eNCnSable in 4 woman
OF her age"
His lOrdship then dccrccd the divorce in the
customary form, giving the custody Of the
child Ia the mother.
As fast rs a hired carriage could take him
Mr.. Sarrazin drove from the court 10 Mrs.
Linlcy'S lodgings 10 tell her that the one
great object of securing her right to herchild
had been achieved.
Al the door he was mel by Mrs. Presty.
She was accompanied by a stranger, whose
medical services had been required. Inter
csted professionally in hearing the result Of
the trial this gentleman volunteered To com.
municate the good news TO his patient, lie
had been waiting to administer a composing
drauglt until the suspense from which Mrs.
Linlcy was suffering might be relieved and
II ltttNDlldult nOlt w tllNl ldllltu Nlldl lllt
medicine would produce the right effect.
With that explanation he left the room.
While the doctor was speaking Mrs. PreSty
was drawing her own conclusions from a
close scrutiny OF Mr.. SarlaZin'S face.
II am going 70 make Il disagreeable re.
mark she announced. You look ten years
older, sir, than you did when you left us this
morning To 20 TO the court. DO me a favor
come to the sideboard." The lawyer having
obeycd, she poured out a glass of wine.
''rhcrc is the remedy she resumed, "when
something has happened to worry you"
Worry isn't the right word" Mr.. Sar.
rain declared. Pm furious! It's a most
improper thing for Il person in my position
to say of a person in the lord presidents po-
sition; bat | do say 1.-THE ought 10 be
ashamed af himself
"Aiter giving MS our diyOrce!' Mrs. PreSty
exclaimed. What has he doneg'
Mr.. Sarrazin repeated what the Judge had
said Of Mrs. Linley. "ln my opinion" he
added, ''such language as that Is an insult to
your daughter"
"And yet" Mrs. presty repeated, 'ho has
given us our divorce" She returned to the
sideboard, poured out a second dose of the
remedy agains: worry, and took it herself.
What sort of character does the lord presl.
dent bear?.' she asked, when she had emptied
her glass.
This seemed to be an extraordinary queS.
ton 10 put under the circumstances. Mr..
SarraZin answered II, however, to the best of
his ability. IAN excellent character" he
said; that's the unaccountable part Of II.
hear that he is one of the most careful and
considerate men who ever sat on the bench.
Excuse me, Mrs. Presty, | didn't intend &c
produce that impression on YOU"
what impression, Mr.. Sarrazin?"
You look as if you thought there was
some excuse for the Judge
That's exactly what ! do think"
you find an excuse for himy"
Il do"
What is it, ma'am?'
Constitutional intimity, SIR
MAY | ask or what nature?'
You may. Gout."
Mr.. Sarrazin thought he understood her at
last. You know the lord president he
said.
Mrs. PTesty denied it positively. mo. Mr..
Sarrazin, | don't get at it in that way. j
merely consult my experience of another
official person Of high rank, and apply it to
the lord president. You know that my first
husband was Il cabinet minister?'
Il have heard YOU say so, Mrs. Presty, on
more than one OCCASION
Very well. You may also havo heard
that the late Mr.. OrmOnd was a remarkably
well-bred man. In and out of the house of
commons, courteous almost to q fault. One
day happened TO interrupt him when he
was absorbed over an act of parliament. Be.
fore l could apologize tell you this in the
strictest conference.-the threw the act OF par.
Lament at my head. Ninety-nine women
ont % hundred would have thrown il bach
again. Knowing his constitution, | decided
on waiting a day or two. On the second day
my antlcipatlons were realized. Mr.. Or.
mond's great toe was as big as my fiat, and
as red as a lobster; he apolOgized for the act
OF parliament with tears in his eyes. Sup.
pressed govt in Mr.. Ormond's temper. Sup
pressed govt in the lord presidents temper.
Tic will have a toe; and, i7fcan prevail up
ON nv daughter tn call non him have moi