Ellsworth American., 1911-02-22
Planning For
a Divorce
Many Methods Were Suggested.
but None Found Satisfactory.
BY WILLARD STCUTENBERC
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

Z
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was young law student twenty
three years old. studying in the office
of Marbury & Slade. Mr.. Marbury
was an old friend of my fathers. and
l think he was quite fond Of me. One
day he sent for me to come into his
private office, and found him alone
there.
Frank" he said, Il can give you
chance to make $500"
Now. was scraping along finan-
cially. trying to make ends meet till
could get my profession. and $500
would be great lift for me.
How" asked eagerly.
by taking wife,"
My delight vanished as quickly az
1t had come
There will be nothing to prevent
your getting divorce in time" he
added, noticing my discontinue.
Il don't think l would like to be
tied up in such a matter at all. What
does 1t meanT'
1T means that client of ours,
6tA Vi tWSlNy -ouS, uub luucIitcu Il 1OE-
tune conditional upon her being mar
ried. OF course there is time limit
and that time expires tomorrow at IL
O'Clock noon. The young lady, Miss
Irene Townsend, needs man to mar
ry her and, In consideration Of an
amount paid him, to- leave her alone
forever afterward. 1t wouldn't do to
agree upon divorce, because in that
case doubt if the marriage would be
legal but after the property is turned
over to the heir / see no reason why
one should not be obtained"
/ thought awhile. There was
spice of romance in the matter that
appealed to my youthful imagination.
what kind Of looking thing is
she?" l asked
ION that score. my boy. you needn't
trouble yourself. She. is a very pretty
woman and. moreover, Of excellent
birth and breeding. Of which she is
proud. She is the ward Of an uncle
who. think. intends that she shall
eventually marry some great catch,
perhaps a British lord. All that's
wanted Of the first husband is that he
may be relied upon after the mar
riage to keep out Of the way and con-
sent to- divorce when the time
comes"
How long have 4 to consider the
matter?"
you'll have to decide pretty soon.
Niss Townsend must be married by
tomorrow noon or lose fortune. II
you don't want the job some one else
must be found to accept It, Think it
over and let me know before leave
the office for the day"
1 thought l would ask to see the
girl l was to marry: but, considering
that l was to be simply husband to-
obviate legal technicality, what need
was there for me to see her?- If she
were attractive perhaps the-less saw
of her the better. waited till Mi.
Marbury's hour for going home, and
when he sent for me. before answer
ing the summons, Tipped coin to-
decide for me- Heads l marry, tails
l don't" Heads won.
announced my decision to Mr.. Mar
bury, and he told me the marriage
would take placeeat the Office the next
day about 10 O'Clock. Before going to
my wedding put on frock coat and
stuck flower in my buttonhole; but,
thinking this would appear as though
/ considered the, affair a real wedding.
changed to my business suit and
threw away the flower.
At 10 o'clock sharp received a'sum-
mons to go to. Mr. Marbury's office. l
found there besides Mr.. Marbury a
man in clerical dress, an aristocratic
looking gentleman, very stiR and re-
served. who didn't deign to took at
me- and my bride. 1t was all right
for the Others to treat the matter as
a mere legal form; but the bride ana
bridegroom gave each other quick
look. l defy any man upon' entering
into such an arrangement to avoid be-
ginning at once 70 play a game OF
hearts. At any rate, I did! and, al
wavs having found Indifference to be
the most powerful force to move wo-
man. | refrained from looking at Miss
Townsend after the first glance. l
cast my eve perfunctorily over the pa
pc.s was required to sign and. draw
ing my pen through the words live
! hundred dollars" wrote one
what do you mean by that, sirT'
snaried the elderly gentleman.
! II have decided. somewhat late per-
I haps, that to accept money for such
/ service would demean me. snail De
( happy to serve the young lady, put
not for pay"
was obliged to stand a good zeal
of abuse from the elderly gentleman,
in which his ward took no part. But
I remained firm. told them that there
was still nearly two hours remaining
In which to find substitute. and
since the person was to be simply q
dummy II didn't matter who he was
provided he was not already married
/ also said that the one dollar paid m'
r,odo tho ma rrio gQ matter OF bar