Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-09-30
HIS FlRST.... 4
MATRIMONIAL CASE
forieinaL1

1t was the driver Of one horse We
hicle who spoke. He was driving a
young couple up long, winding road
to a summer hotel They had spent
three weeks on a wedding trip and
were on the morrow to be again at the
home they had so recently left, happy
bride and groom. When they reached
the hotel they alighted ia view of
| guests lounging on the piazza.
Brother and sister," remarked one.
mo. They're young, but they've
been long married" said another.
81 put them down as bride and groom
who are in the midst of their first quar-
REL" said an experienced matron.
Unfortunately there was an hour be-
fore dinner, and the couple must talk.
There was nothing else to do.
This ali comes said the man, "of
your not respecting condolences. Moth
ing would tempt ue to read any letter
| belonging to you. The note was not
addressed to you. but to Miss Torbert"
Herbert and Torbert look enough
| alike to be mistaken one for the other.
Besides care nothing how l came into
possession OF this information. 1t is
( what l have discovered. Three weeks
after marriage learn that my husband
| loves another woman and only married
me because he couldn't help himself"
Emily I'll admit 1t looks black but
| give me time. l may be able to clear
the thing away"
'Clear it away? Isn't 1t down in
black and white in your own hand
writingT
1T is all matter of faith. If | had
discovered such letter written by you
| and you told me there was an explana
ton would believe you"
Then why is the explanation not
| forthcoming?'
ut would be useless till have the
| wherewithal to prove it."
81 see; the story might not fit the
proof"
Emily, you are charging me with
| what is dishonorable."
Nothing said to a woman is consid-
cred dishonorable by some men"
This Is unbearable. / will go down
stairs till dinner. l will meet you on
| the piazza"
He was passing through the Office
when he was handed some letters
| One was from his bosom friend, his
| chum of years, his confidant. He had
no sooner read it than he started to
| go back TO his wife, but reconsidered
| the matter.
How / ever came" he muttered, Ito
leave that letter undestroyed is a mys-
| terry. l suppose my not doing SO came
about in the hurry of preparation"
When his wife came down he led her
to table set for two by window
overlooking lawn and garden, In the
center of which flashed a fountain
Sweetheart" he said while they
| spooned their soup. ''the proof of my
innocence has unexpectedly come TO
me-"
Sne looked up at MIN eagerly.
! But" he continued, 1.-THE case is a
complicated one, and it behooves me to
be very careful about bringing the evil
dence. OF course as a lawyer l know
| the dangers of calling witness with
out first establishing his character for
! truth and veraeity"
Don't keep me waiting"
First you must grant that, the letter
having been found by you only this
| morning, there would be no time for me
| to write home and have letter CON
| cocted to cover the case"
Certainly not Go on
Second, | must give you the name of
| my principal and only witness and ask
| you If you would believe him"
''Of course would. Who is hep
Lawrence Ward"
He'd do anything for YOU
"You are right. He'd lie for me If
necessary, but in this case there's been
| no time, as you have admitted, for col
| lusion''
"For heavens sake stop all this talk
and tell me what you're coming to-
! ''One moment. 1t is my custom when
| have oase am sure to win to have
bottle OF champagne on ice for cele-
bration. Waiter, bring me a wine
| card
| 1t was not till the young husband
| saw the wine deposited beside him that
he threw a letter across the table to
| his wife She seized 1t and devoured
it greedily, while the husband ordered
the wine to be opened. The letter read:
| In obedience to your letter stating that
| you had decided not to send the message
| you had written Marian J.. but wished
| me to tell her its contents. / wen. to her
| and had an hours conversation with her
| Women are much smarter than men about
| some things. and the lady saw through
| your device from the first. The hint 1
| threw out that you preferred her to the
| girl you were to marry she secuted, mas
| much as she was rich and your wife poor
| However, your fear of a woman scorn-
| ed is groundless, for you have been for