Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-02-03

Go o my mind" spoke the judge
soberly, 'incompatibiliy Is, in
itself, no grounds for divorce,
Notwithstanding the fact that the de-
sire Of both husband and wife Is to
sever the marriage bonds"
He was speaking to William sprigs-
bee, a tall, handsome man Of 85.
sprigsbee had attained fame and for
tune as an inventor.
The scene was the divorce court, and
there were but four other persons In
the room. One was a woman, plainly
though neatly dressed Her pale face
at times was lighted by a ray Of sweet
ness as she smiled upon the two little
boys who nestled closely to her as IL
in fear Of the strange solemnity of
their surroundings. Each Of Sthe tots
took turns putting chubby fist to his
mouth, yawning, and then looking up
at the woman with pretty smile. An
attorney-the woman's attorney
cupied a seat near her.
When the judge ceased speaking,
sprigsbee sank back into his seat with
Z Sigh Of disappointment. 1t was not
as he had expected. A silence follow
ed, broken only by the regular "tickl
tockv' Of the big clock over the stain
ed glass window.
The judge continued: 'In nature
there are a few things incompatible.
This so-called incompatlbility in the
domestic life Of man and woman is
more often the inconsistency or the
incongruity Of one OF 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
IS the divorce court itself, You come
here seeking a divorce what grounds
have / 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 say7 But
why that? Has not this woman, the
mother Of your children, been a good
and loving wife, fulfilling her duties
as wife and mother? No, on the
strength, or rather the weakness. of
your argument, sir, I could not grant
a divorcer' And Sprigsbee sank deep
er into his seat, his head bowed.
Again there was silence, and the at
torney arose. III your honor pleasel"
said he quietly, as If anything but
softly spoken words would again dis
turb the lion that slumbered In the old
judges breast, II wish to present
few words in behalf of my client. You
said a moment ago that this woman
had been loving wife and a devoted
mother; that Is true. But has the man
whom she promised to cherish and love
reciprocated with equal affectionP Has
he been loving husband and devot-
ed fatherI dare say, IL you question
ed him, he would tell you there have
been weeks and months that he has
not spoken a kind word to this patient,
fOrbearing woman
''When these two were married sew
on years ago they were neighbora, and
had grown up together, They attend
ed the same school, and studied from
the sama books. The first months, the
Grst years Of their married lie. were
one delightful harmony, for they were
yet, 90 they had been In childhood. ON
the same level; they understood each
other perfectly. Then change came.
Success and fortune smiled on the hus-
band. His name became household
word the nation over. The press were
loud In Their praises OF him; he was
lauded and adored, and everywhere
he went he was received with pomp
and ceremony. He was no longer the
loving husband he had been short
time before. The fine ladies', the tai |
ented ladies, the women who bestowed |
their praises upon him In the world OF.
cupide a 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
despise her. He could no longer caress
and love her as OF old. Her very pres
ence 10 now obnoxious to him, and the
woman, though ever patient, loving and
devoted, must live her life in misery.
You say, your honor, there is no in
compatibility in the domestic life?
Why, II you please, this Is the very
extreme OF incOmpatibiity. Not wo sub
stances. no two things IN the universe
could react with greater force, could
be more repellant more disagreeable
one to the othal than this one case OF
the world-renowned, ambitious, though
eonceited husband. and the plain, sim.
ple, loving and devoted wife and moth
y 10 keep them Joined a. man and