The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-07-23
SOME PRIVATE
INQUIRIES.
BY MARIE DELOCOFF.
Copyrighted, 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.

There were compliments, congratula-
tions and showers of rice and slippers
when Livingston Perry and Marjory
Manners were wed. Some people ac-
tually said it was love match and
that the honeymoon would last for
years. Only some people said that,
however. Others knew it to be simply
fashionable wedding.
Not that the turtledoves do not coo
when q fashionable wedding takes
place, but they must coo very gently
and cut 1t as short as possible. 1t is
not good form for Cupid to frolic In
high society.
In this case the skeptical ones soon
had reason to say, ~ told you SOP
There were various little things that
brought 1t about, but the principal one
was that after three months Of ex-
tremely conventional politeness Mr..
and Mrs. Perry discovered that they
were not suited to each other.
Both were full of opinion, and both
were stubborn. Both were extrava-
CANT. Both felt the loss Of personal
freedom. Feeling thus, it was easy to
find fault, and fault finding soon led to
more serious things.
They declared an armed truce for
another three months, and then each
decided that separation was inevitable.
Still, husbands and wives cannot very
well separate without some reasonable
excuse to give to their friends
Marjory couldn't think Of one, and
Livingston was in the same predica-
ment. Both bent their minds to the
problem, and, as they had plenty OF
time, they did it faithfully.
On the same day and almost at the
same hour a bright thought struck
this unhappy couple simultaneously.
1t was to hire somebody to Investigate
and find the valid excuses that were
needed.
They had known each other for a
year and a half previous to marriage,
but, after ALL that was nothing. For
mality had prevented each one from
even knowing what relatives the other
had, outside Of Marjory's matchmak-
ing mamma and Livingstons rather In
different father. Her hand had been
kissed, declaration of love made, the
engagement announced, and that was
the whole story of their lovemaking.
There must have been something In
the life of each to give the other
the advantage sought for. The way
to discover 1t was through a private
inquiry agency-"Inquiries made, the
past investigated; secret, honorable,
experienced agents, terms reasonable" ;"
"Why, Of course" thought Marjory
Easiest thing in the world" thought
Livingston. It didn't so happen that
both husband and wife called for the
services Of the same agency, but the
Investigators began to work ut about
the same time And while they were
investigating there was continuation
of the truce between husband and
wife.
It was the calm before the storm.
They were so placid and pliable that
at times, many times during each day,
they seemed to have reached the point
where they appreciated each other.
Some Of their dearest friends almost
feared that the couple wouldn't sepa-
rate after all, and thus another choice
subject for brilliant conversation
would be lost to society.
After about four weeks an official
looking letter was delivered to the hus-
band at his club. He had been wait
ing for just such a letter, and he was
SO anxious to see its contents that he
glanced only carelessly at the super
scription.
His first surprise came a moment
later, when he saw the words "Dear
Madam" swimming before his eyes.
Now, he was not dear madam"
Yet he went right on and read that
private inquiry report to the end. He
couldn't help 1t, though he felt that he
was base.
"We find that your husband was
known to have very bad temper as
far back as twenty years ago." wrote
the investigator. "People who know
him best are unit In agreeing that he
is very selfish by nature and hopeless
ly tenacious Of his opinions.
"His overbearing disposition" con.
tinued the report, 'has alienated many
friends and several relatives. In one
instance, during his bachelorhood
days, he nearly threw a dish at his
cook and would have inflicted serious
injury had he made good his threat, as
there is every reason to believe he
might have done,
'We have not been able to prove, but
still strongly suspect, that you are not
the first nor even the second nor third
woman he has loved or pretended to
love.
1--WE have 1t from his ex-valet that
he arose several times at midnight to
wander around his room or smoke
cigarettes, as If greatly worried. This
should be strong point for good
lawyer to work up"
Livingston Perry felt rather fiat
when he had read so far, 1t struck
him that, as seen by others, he was
hardly what could be called an excit'
ing character.