Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-06-22

notwithstanding the fact that the de-
sire OK both husband and wife Is to
sever the marriage bonds"
He was speaking to William Sprigs-
bee, n tall, handsome man OF 80.
Eprigsbee had attained fame and for
tune as nm inventor.
The scene was the divorce court, and
there were but four other persons In
tho room. One was woman, plainly
though neatly dressed. Her pale face
at times was lighted by ray Of sweet
ness as she smiled upon the two little
boys who nestled closely to her as If
IN fear OF the strange solemnity OF
their surroundings. Each Of the tots
took turns putting chubby fist to his
mouth, yawning, and then looking up
at tho woman with pretty smile. An
attcrnsy-the woman's attorney-oc-
cupied seat near her.
When the Judge ceased speaking,
Bprlgsbes sank back into his seat with
a Sigh Of disappointment. 1t was not
as he had expected. A silence follow
ed. broken only by the regular "tick!
tockP' OF the big clock over the stain
ed glass window.
The fudge continued: I'm nature
there ars few things incompatible.
This so-called incompatibility In the
domestic life Of man and woman is
more often the inconsistency or the
incongruiy Of one or the other, or
mayhap, both. 1t is easily remedied,
though not in the divorce court. In
truth, the thing, the very thing, that
makes man and woman Incompatible
A the divorce court itself. You come
here seeking divorce-what grounds
have I for granting such decree for
untying the sacred bonds and aiding
you in breaking the VOW you swore
before God to keep? None, absolutely
nonel Incompatibility, you say? But
why fhats Has not this woman, the
mother OF your children, been good
and loving wife, fulfilling her duties
al wife and mother? No, on the
strength, or rather the weakness, Of
your argument, sir, could not grant
a dlvprceg' And Sprigsbee sank deep
er into his seat, his head bowed.
Again there was silence, and the at
tOrnsy arose. IF your honor please"
said ne quietly, as If anything but
softly spoken words would again dis
furD the Hon that slumbered in the old
Judges breast, II wish to present a
few words in behalf Of my client. You
naid n moment ago that this woman
had been loving wife and devoted
mother; that is true. But has the man
whom she promised to cherish and love
reciprocated with equal affection? Has
he been loving husband and devot-
ed fafher7 ! dare say, If you question
ed him, he would tell you there have
been weeks and months that he has
not spoken kind word to this patient,
forDearing woman.
'fWhen these two were married sew
EN- years ago they were neighbors, and
had grown up together. They attend
I'd thu same school, and studied from
the same books. The first months, the
FIRST years Of their married lie, were
one delightful harmony, for they were
yet, as they had been in childhood, on
she same level; they understood each
other perfectly. Then a change came.
Success and fortune smiled on the hus-
band. His name became a household
.wor1 the nation over. The press were
aoud In Their praises of him; he was
handed and adored, and everywhere
he went he was received with pomp
and ceremony. He was no longer the
loving husband he had been a short
slime before. The fine ladies, the tai
enteA ladies, the women who bestowed
their praises upon him in the world 0c-
cupAdB higher social level than the
simple, plain little woman who had
walked with him to the marriage altar.
He grew TO loathe her, to avoid her, to
despSse her. Ho could no longer caress
and love her as of old. Her very pres
ence is now obnoxious to him, and the
woman. though ever patient, loving and
Ieyesel. must live her life in misery.
OO 0MyD yOuA AOAOly LhSuC 10 uO LIZ
compatibility in the domestic life?
Why. II you please, this is the very
extreme Of incOmpatibility. Notwo sub
stances. no two things in the universe
cOnla react with greater force, could
De more repellant, more disagreeable
one 10 The other than this one case Of
ahs wozlazenOwned, ambitious, though
eoncelfeil husband, and the plain, SIM
pie, sDving and devoted wife and moth
er. To keep them Joined as man and
wsge Is like condemning each to a life
OF forturing servitude. There Is but
one remedy; that is to grant decree
OF Divorce; and to this end my client
asks ab2f she be allowed the custody
ana care of the children. This agree
znenk ~ xsatual between the two"
The attorney went back to his seat
Yhe Aw0 little boys yawned in uni
son. Azsa each gazed apologetically into
xhe pale face Of the mother. This
time she did not smile at them. Her
zniaf3 wns busy with other things, and
she with difficulty suppressed sob.
mYsA& ilxlf3xa removed his glasses and