The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-08-06
An Odd Breach Of
Promise Case
By EUNlcE BLAKE


one attempted to injure him be would
not put up an open fight He would
. think out a plan to circumvent his op-
ponent or undermine him-in other
words, put him into position to hang
himself by his own acts. Ii he de-
sired to confer a favor on any one be
would go about II In a way at first to
cause the person he favored to think
that he was about to do him an injury.
No one could tell from what he said
what be meant He was continually
confessing to faults that he did not
possess. IF you only knew me- he
would say, you would 6nd me very
mean man."
When Ii was announced that George
Trover was engaged to Estelle Garrett
her most intimate friend said he had
won her by telling her that there was
something on his conscience for which
he was repentant and which was an
unbearable burden to him. In this
way he won her sympathy Then he
confessed that his crime was in loving
her instead of one ne was In duty
bound to love The. result was be-
trothal
Not long after the engagement Es-
telle met George on the street walk
ing with young woman plainly but
neatly dressed The girl was talking
with great earnestness and looking up
into Georges face In a way Estelle did
not like. When George caught the eye
Of his 6ancee looking at him intently
and severely he started Then he forced
a smile. bowed and passed on Estelle
went home and wrote him note
breaking their engagement This was
not the proper thing for her to do
She should have first called for an ex-
planation. She waited several days for
a reply to her note communicating her
decision. but heard not a word
By this time she had come to under.
stand that her lover was a bit peculiar
and wondered what he was going to
do. Surely he would not fail to take
some notice of the breaking of the en-
gagement. And yet. considering that
start he gave when he had met her,
indicating guilt might he not be so
ashamed as to let the matter go by de-
fault? Another consideration came
into her head-that, having found a
new love. he might desire to be of
with the old one. But in this case
would he not be likely to notify her
that he accepted his dismissal?
Finally Georges reply came And
what was it2 note from an attorney
announcing that on behalf of George @.
Tr0ver, Esq, he had begun proceedings
against her for breach of promise.
Estelle read the note with amaze
ment. Her first thought was that on
no account could there ever again be
between them any such thing as love
and that she would never again notice
a man who had treated her in so ex-
traordinary fashion. 1t took some
time for her to see her true position.
She had accepted George, his presents.
much of his time. and to please her he
had changed his occupation. She had
broken the engagement on seeing her
fiance walking on the street with an
other girl. She had no evidence that
this girl had supplanted her 1t began
to appear to her that she had acted
hastily. An uncle Of hers was an at
torney and she went Immediately to
his Office There she told him the story
and asked his advice.
you are placing me In an unpleas-
ant position" he said. struggling his
shoulders. George came to me and
asked me to bring this suit. declined
to have anything to do with it, and be
put bis case in other hands. l don't
see now how | can take yours"
"But you can advise me. uncle. can't
your
Certainly"
"Well. what do you think of a man
who will bring suit Of breach of
promise against woman
"Men and women both come under
the law"
"Can he force me to marry himT
! "NO. He Is not trying to do that
He is merely claiming payment for a
broken heart"
! Broken heart! | don't believe he
has heart. Can he get damagesT
/ THAT depends upon the jury. | fan
cy from what you have told me he can
prove his case. The judge will prob
ably instruct the jury to find for the
plaintiff. and they will award dam
age of cent"
what. Insult me by considering
my love worth no more than thatr'
mo. 1t would mean that George Is
in the right. you. OF course. being In
the wrong But they wouldn't like to
punish a woman for sending a man
away even II there we're no legal rea-
son for her action. They might give
him damages for his presents to you"
He can have them all back. What
shall l doy'
Let me telephone George to come
here and settle the matter out OF
court
She assented to this. and George ap-
peared
| "GeOrpe" said the uncle ..Who was