The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-07
CHAPTER xxxIV.
Tho Complete Dlvorcar

The Complete DIvorcer.
The other passengers were growing
nervous with their own troubles. The
next stop was Reno. and In spite of
all the wit that is heaped upon the
town. 1t Is a solemn place to those
who must 60 there in purgatorial pen
ance for matrimonial error.
Some honest souls regard such di.
vorce-emporiums as dens OF evil.
where the wicked make a mockery OF
the sacrament and assail the founda-
tions Of society, by undermining the
home. Other equally honest souls,
believing that marriage is a human
institution whose mishaps and mis-
takes should be rectified as far as
possible, regard the divorce courts as
cities OF refuge for ill.treated or ILL.,
mated women and men whose lives
may be saved from utter ruination by
the intervention OF high-minded
judges.
But, whichever view is right, the
ordeal by divorce is terrifying enough
to the poor sinners or martyrs who
must undergo 1t.
Little Jimmie Wellington turned
pale, and stammered, as he tried to
ask the conductor casually:
What kind OF a place is that
Reno?"
The conductor, somewhat cynical
from close association with the di.
yorce-mill and it's grist, grinned:
That depends on what you're leav.
ing behind. Most folks seem to get
enough OF it in about six months"
Then he went his way, leaving Well
ington red. agape and perplexed. The
trouble with Wellington was that he
had brought along what he was leav-
ing behind. Or. as Ashton impudently
observed: You ought to enjoy your
residence there, Wellington, with your
wife on hand"
The only repaItee that WELLINGTON
could think Of was rather urlu-
spired. You so tc -"
80 long as it isn't Reno" Ashton
laughed, and walked away.
WcdgcwOol laid sympathetic hand
on Little Jramies shoulder. and
THAT Ashton is no end of bound.
er vhat:"
Wellington wrote his eIitorr i
these words:
Wen, the worst / can say cl t0
is, he's the Kind or man that do..i
lift the plug ont when he's throcl.
with The baeil'
lie nkCd this so we'll that ne w4sAet
he had thought OF it in time TO CRACK,
1t over fsntons head. lie decide.
10 hand 1t 10 AIm ANYWAY. He forgot
that The cardinal rule for repartee is
Better never than late.'
as he swung out OF the mems room
ho was buttonholcd by an Individual
new TO the little TransAmerican col
ony. One of the campfollowers and
suffers who prosper round the edges
OF all great enterprises had waylaid
him on The way to the battle-ground
OF marital freedom
The stranger had got on at an
earlier stop and worked his way
through the train TO the car named
"Snowdrop." Wellington was his first
victim here. His pushing manner,
the almost vu!turc-like rapacity OF his
cleaning eyes. and the very vul-
turine contour OF his profile, his palmy
gestures. his thick lisp. and every
Thing about him gave Wellington his
immediate pedigree.
1t Ill behoOves ChristendOm to need
reminding that the Jewish race has
adorned and still adorns humanity
with some OF its noblest specimens;
but this interloper was of the type
that must have irritated Voltaire into
answering the platitude that the Jews
are Gods chosen people with that
other platitude. Tastes differ"
Little Jimmie Wellington. hot In
pursuit OF Ashton, found himself
checked I'm spite OF himself: I'm spite
OF himself deposited somehow into n
seat and In spite OF himself confront
cd with curvillnear person, who
said:
Excoose. pleass' but are you get
tink Oft at R-rreno?"
Il am" Wellington answered, curt
ly. essaying to rise. only to be dcli-
cately restored to his place with n
gesture and a phrase:
Then you meet me"
"Oh. 7 need you do /? And who
are your
WHO aint |? I am Baumann and
Blumen. Our cart. pleass"
Wellington found pasteboard in
his hand and read the legend: