The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-25

A year ago last March Mrs. Arabella I
Pratt, % Hay Press avenue, sued her
husband for separate support in the
circuit court at the county seat, Kan
kakee. In addition to failure to sup
port, cruelty and neglect were alleged.
The court allowed her $500 alimony in
bulk and a weekly allowance of s6.
Plans Spending Money.
What disposition to make of the $500
puzzled Mrs. Pratt. Her inclination
was to spend it for dresses, personal
fnery and household stuff, which is
the natural thing for women to do, es-
pecially when they get money in a
lump. Sc had longed for tailor made
suit to put on airs over her neighbor
Mrs. Johnson. who affected the lead
ership in local fashion affairs because
she got her clothes through a mail
order house. Sometimes the clothes
didn't fit at the first trying on, but
Mrs Johnson made them fit. She is
skilled remodeler, having taken a
course in millinery from correspond
ence school.
Acts on Injunction Advice.
But instead of spending the alimony
as she had figured Mrs. Pratt unwisely
took the advice of a friend and in
vested it in a western mining propo
sition, the prospectus of which prom
ised fabulous returns. She lost her
Investment, although it took her and
other local investors four months to
realize it.
Refuses Husband n Divorce.
Naturally Mrs. Pratt was grouchy
and resentful She half hated man
kind and womankind, too, for that mat
ter. So, when her husband proposed
that she give him an absolute divorce
she turned him down hard. Mrs. Pratt
had heard and seen things. She was
aware Of her husbands infatuation for
another woman, who was younger and
more dashing than herself. Even if
she had not seen some things with her
own eyes, her neighbors would have
informed her of the affair.
At the interview Mr.. Pratt, after
delicately inquiring about his wife's
health and other preliminaries of nc
Importance, asked her how much she
would take for a settlement in full
intimating that he was prepared to pay
a reasonable amount for an absolute
separation. Mrs. Pratt answered with
out hesitation that $500 would be the
least she would take. Her beloved
husband promptly told her to go tC
thunder; that the most he was willing
to let loose of was 5000.
Husband Renews Negotiations.
A month elapsed. Mr.. Pratt, afte1
numerous confabs with his intended
bride, concluded to give Mrs. Pratt thu
amount she asked-s50O.
At the second interview Mr.. Prat
informed Mrs. Pratt that he had givel
the matter serious consideration ans
while the amount was burdensome We
he had concluded to part with $500
Mrs. Pratt. after an aggravating pause
replied that she had also given tn
matter serious consideration and ha
raised her bid to $500.
Mr.. Pratt scoffed at this proposition
He again told his wife to go to thun
der and left.
Raises Her Bid Again.
Six weeks elapsed. Mr.. Pratt an
his intended bride had again given tn
divorce matter thoughtful considera
ton. In fact, it was their principe
theme of conversation. While $500 wa
a heap of money. yet 1t was the on
thing that kept the couple apart. tina
is unwedded. The sacrifice shoul
therefore be made.
So, Mr.. Pratt called for the thir
time on his legal, but stiff-necked wifi
This trip, to his dismay, Mrs. Prat
told her husband that she wouldn
take $500. She had given the matte
further and more serious consideration
and the least she would accept woul
= be $1,000
. Mr.. Pratt scoffed again and told h
!. xuifa RI on 11l,1roh RI thunder
e Complications Set In.
?. So, matters rested until recent
. Meantime DR.. Bill Blowkey lost h
d. wife. She died. Soon after the fl
neral DR.. Blowkey went to the hon
: of Mrs. Pratt to board and lodge. I
b took a fancy to Mrs. Pratt, so mu,
4, so that neighbors remarked about
D. DR. Blowkey took Mrs. Pratt to shoy
d where formerly he went alone. T
.. attended church sociables in Nj
Pratt's company, which he rarely
with his deceased wife. He never w
~ seen at church with his deceased Wi
i claiming that sermons made nj
- sleepy or that the doctrines preach
t. by modern ministers weren't strol
D. strong enough.
"a DR.. Blowkey even took Mrs. Pra
~ TO Indianapolis on the one and on
:, third holiday rate. The farthest
had ever taken his deceased wife W
% to the county fair at Kankakee, a
81 then they drove overland.
n Husband Holds Upper Hand.
B. 1t didn't take Mr.. Pratt long to he
IA all this gossip, so quickly does su
news travel in small towns. So,
>. was fully prepared for Mrs. Pratt VIII
:, she sent him word that she would {
81 cept his last offer. $500, for a divor
e, he to pay the court costs.
d. Mr.. Pratt now had the upper ha
g and gleefully replied that he would
he give her a dollar. Disappointed
10