Evening journal., 1908-12-18
a Married
Discrepancy.

zen 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 Merlvale, her husband.
l had supposed the Merivales were
getting on very well together but such
a supposition was dispelled by what
Mrs. Merlvale told me about their mar
ried life From her standpoint there
was nothing whatever of good in her
husband lie was niggardly with her
about everything. He never took her
10 amusements, never gave her pres
ents and beat her down 20 a ridicu-
lously small sum in the matter Of
dress He did whatever she disliked.
no matter II he were 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 a 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 l made list of, and when they
We're all in / confess the list was not
especially formidable and by no means
warranted the words with which ]
closed the plea, "And the said Thomas
y. Merivale has made her life bur
den and altogether miserable"
] InI
intimately as his wife. and regarded
him a very good fellow. I concluded
10 send for him and have a talk with
him. hoping that the matter might be
settled out Of court or possibly
might effect a 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. ] told him that
would take any course he might sug
gest with a 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 1 consented.
One morning ! took up a paper and
read an account of a terrible railroad
accident. I started at seeing among
the list Of killed the name Of Thomas
ID. Merivale. "That ends the matter"
said to myself. between Merivale
and his wife. This is a decree Of di.
vorce that no earthly court can gain
say"
A week later while I was at my Of
fice. Mrs. Merivale was announced
She was dressed I'm mourning and
seemed to be in deep grief. Her sor-
row appeared to be genuine.
81 presume" / said, that you have
come TO announce that since your hus-
bands death you win not need my
services"
Il have come TO say that will need
your services, but for n different pur-
pose from the one for which they
have been engaged. How far have you
proceeded with the divorceT
Il have not filed the papers"
Destroy them. / wish you TO make
others. / am advised TO sue the rail-
road company for damages"
1 repressed n smile. As for my
client. she did not see the ludicrous
feature Of the situation.
How much will you claim?"
"They say I should have 100000
Tom had large salary that dies with
him. The interest on 100000 at . per
cent would be 5000 Tom spent at
least that on me. and / suppose in law
am entitled to what | lose"
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 n liberal and de-
voted husband and that the bereave-
ment was a crushing sorrow.
The papers were signed. sealed and
sworn to when the door opened, and
who should appear but "the said''
Thomas ID. Merivale. Mrs. Merivalc,
Notwithstanding her eye to the main
chance. showed that her statement
concerning her bereavement was truth
ful by falling in a faint, from which
she soon revived.
After explanations as to the mistake
they had made I'm naming Merivale
among the dead he asked his wife
what she was doing in my office. She
prevaricated Merivale called upon me
70 produce any papers ] might have
drawn for his wife. At a 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 is slight discrepancy IN
these papers Which am l TO consider
a correct statement|
Mrs. Merivale was corEered.
HIN" said Merivale. looking from
one paper to the other and reading
"'And the said Thomas d. Merivale
has made her life n burden and ako
gether miserable" then "'That he
was in all respects a liberal and de
voted husband. and the bereavement is
n crushing corrow.'
Mrs. Mer!vale buried her face in hel
hands. ard her husband looked at m'
anC-winked.
Presently Mrs. Merlyale sprang M
threw her arms aslrt her husbands
neck and. choking with sobs. cried:
"Oh. Ton. forgive me-
80 h-' o''~r-v"'l that her griee a