The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1908-06-04
"A Married
Discrepancy.
tOriginal.l

ten years when she surprised me by
calling at my Office to see me on pro-
fessional business. She surprised me
more by announcing that she wished
my services in getting divorce from
Tom Merivale, her husband.
had supposed the Merivales We're
getting on very we'll together, but such
a supposition was dispelled by what
Mrs. Merivale told me about their mar
ried life. From her standpoint there
was nothing whatever Of good in her
husband. He was niggardly with her
about everything. He never took her
to amusements. never gave her pres
ents and beat her down to Il ridicu-
lousy small sum in the matter of
dress He did whatever she disliked,
no matter if he We're. cognizant of that
dislike He would read his newspaper
at the breakfast table, though she had
frequently told him that such conduct
was abhorrent to her. Though every
matchbox in the house was provided
with receptacle for burnt matches,
he would throw them anywhere and
everywhere. His cigar ashes he threw
on the floor. These and many other
shortcomings pertaining to the hus-
band I made list of, and when they
were all in l confess the list was not
especially formidable and by no means
warranted the words with which I
closed the plea, and the said Thomas
no h,,u
den and altogether miserable"
l had known Meriva]e, though not SO
Intimately as his wife, and regarded
him very good fellow. 1 concluded
to send for him and have a talk with
him, hoping that the matter might be
settled out Of court, or possibly l
might effect reconciliation. He was
surprised that his wife had gone so
far as to seek a divorce Indeed, he
was not aware that she felt herself
especially aggrieved. I told him that
I would take any course he might sug-
gest with view to satisfying his wife,
and he asked me to delay filing the
papers as long as possible. On his
promise not to take any legal action
himself consented.
One morning l took up a paper and
read an account of a terrible railroad
the list of killed the name of Thomas
D. Merivale THAT ends the matter"
l said to myself. between Merivale
and his wife This is a decree of di-
vorce that no earthly court can gain
say"
ice, Mrs. Merivale was announced.
She was dressed in mourning and
seemed to be in deep grief. Her sor-
row appeared to bt. genuine.
II presume" / said. that you have
come to announce that since your hus-
bands death you will not need my
services"
II have come to say that l will need
your services. but for different pur-
pose from the one for which they
have been engaged How far have you
proceeded with the divorce?'
II have not filed the papers"
Destroy them. l wish you to make
others. l am advised to sue the rail
road company for damages"
I repressed smile. AS for my
client, she did not see the ludicrous
feature Of the situation
How much will you claim?''
'"They say l should have 100000.
Tom had a large salary that dies with
him. The interest on 100000 at per
cent would be $1,000. Tom spent at
least that on me, and / suppose in law
am entitled to what lose"
l made new set Of papers which
recited the great benefits the life of
Thomas D. Merivale conferred on his
loving wife. Anita Merivale; that he
was in all respects a liberal and de-
voted husband and that the bereave-
ment was Il crushing sorrow
The papers were signed. sealed and
sworn to when the door opened, and
who should appear but "the said"
Thomas D. Merivale. Mrs Merivale,
Notwithstanding her eye to the main
chance, showed that her statement
concerning her bereavement was truth
full by falling in faint, from which
she soon revived.
After explanations as to the mistake
they had made In naming Merivale
among the dead he asked his wife
what she was doing in my Office. She
prevarfcated. Merivale called upon me
to produce any papers I might have
drawn for his wife. At knowing look
from him complied. He read first the
divorce papers. then the application
for damages. Then. looking up at his
wife, he said:
There IL a slight discrepancy in
these papers. Which am I to consider
4 correct statement?'
Mrs. Merivale was cornered.
Him. said Merfvale, looking from
one paper to the other and reading,
"tAnd the said Thomas D. Merivale
has made her life burden and alto
gether miserable" then, That he
was In all respects a liberal and de-