Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-07
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE COURTS INDIGESTION.

| tfce. Mr.. Merriman had made a propo-
xition for her hand. intimating that a
wife with IL husband able to support
her would not he justified in entering
upon any occupation except that of
| taking care of home. This PROPOSE
ton Miss Lee had declined. One morn
ing as she was getting ready TO go out
| Mr. Merriman called and sent up his
| and gloves on.
Il have come" he said. Ito speak
about the matter OF which
Il believe that matter was settled"
she replied. by my handing down an
| adverse decision"
From which l propose TO appeal"
81 assure you. so far as this case Ii
concerned. l am the court of last re-
| sort There can be no appeal from my
decision
in that case l beg leave to file Pc
tition for a rehearing.'
such petitions are a mere formality
and usually denied
But / am sure the court in this case
! will grant the petition
lon the contrary. the court denies 1t
without argument"
But You have not yet heard the
grounds on which l make it,
What are they"
MY proposal was made in writing.
and 1 contend that a case Of this sort
cannot he properly presented by briefs.
but needs oral arguments. The omis-
sion of these arguments should be held
TO be an error.
Miss Lee scratched her temple with
her gloved finger. She had spent much
thought upon her decision and conSid-
cred her finding To- be strictly in ac-
cordance with the law. But here was
"a new view of the case.
Il will take the case under advise
ment." she said. land hand down my
answer tomorrow evening.
The next evening Mr.. Merriman
called and got his answer.
Your petition for rehearing,' she
said. Il am loath TO grant. having be-
fore handing down my decision con-
sidered the case in all its bearings and
having spent hours of indecision which
do not wish to endure again. But l
am convinced that good practice would
entitle you 10 Il rehearing. ! therefore
am compelled TO reopen the case and
listen TO your oral arguments. But
l make n counter appeal to you as
man not to subject me TO the pain of
again deciding adversely"
You admit then
'Your expectation is that l shall
foregO the pleasure of n strenuous life
at the bar TO embrace one for which i
have no taste. in the nursery
81 object
ION what grounds
1.-THE case being reopened, it is 1 who
am To he heard, not the court"
Proceed
Marriage is made up of three parts
husband, wife and Children
I'm reverse ORDER
1.-The point is not essential to this
case The husbands duties are to
provide. No man does his part in the
aforesaid matrimonial copartnership
(see Contracts. volume =. page 4I5) I'M
less he is good provider. No woman
does her part unless she takes care of
the home and attends 10 the education
of the children. Said children have no
responsibilities I'm the copartnership, said
responsibilities in their case coming
when they are old enough to marry and
III
the case of Lee versus Johnston
Il care nothing about that case. My
brother WAS very unreasonable, and
Bessie Johnston was little more than
a wax doll
Nevertheless the court held in that
case that 50 long as the party Of the
second part proposed TO delay marriage
for three years in order to circumnavi-
gate the globe the party OF the first
part ,her favOrite brother) was very
badly treated"
ANY evidence on that point would
be ruled out as not pertinent in this
case. Therefore there is no necessity
for denial or affirmation
TO sum up. the plaintiff in this
case makes fair proposition TO the
defendant In which he pledges himself
10 love. honor and cherish in good for
tune and adversely. to be at once friend
and lover. All he asks of the defend
ant il that she will not deprive her
family of her care by entering a pro-
fession for which l admit she is far
better adapted than the plaintfff both
by the yigor of her brain and the bril-
liancy of her talents
the petals from chrysanthemum she
wore at her girdle. 1t was evident she
had been much impressed with his ar
guments. hut he felt that an immediate
verbal decision would be more likely to
he in his favor than a written one de-
livered after consideration Hesat down
beside her and laid his hand on hers.
Far be IL from me-" he said. Ito at
tempt TO influence the court 10 my side
by any undetermined means"
In this case the means are over
handed
II swear
I'm modern practice witnesses do not !
kiss the book" |
That il you grant my suit will
IF you propose TO take the court into
custody 1t Is not necessary TO put your |