The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-10-05


should like to know what was the use
of my college training if not to-
Exactly" Bob broke in. That's
what I'd like to know too. If an
ACADEMIC education doesn't help you
about the house. why study law on top
of it?"
Mrs Ellington tossed her head.
You know as well as l do what |
mean," she insisted ''In the first
place, l want to be able to talk inteIli-
gently with you about your business
matters. You won't interest yourself
in my music, SO suppose I must in
terest myself in your laww
Thus Mrs. Ellington, as usual, had
her way. In three years time, against
the repeated protests Of her husband,
she added an LII. B. to her arts degree
and successfully passed the bar exam
nation.
1t was in the tenth year Of their mar
ried life that this event took place, and
Bob was forced to admit that Mrs. Bill
lington failed not at all in the per-
formance of her household duties. Nor
did she lose any Of her femininity, and
she continued to demand and receive
all the little attentions that her hus-
band had so unfailingly accorded her
ever since their marriage.
Only in one respect was the even
tenor Of their married life disturbed
namely and to wit, as the lawyers say,
in the matter of intelligent conversa-
ton Bob still talked the usual do
nestle commonplace; but, while in the
past Mrs. Ellington merely echoed her
husbands opinions, she now managed
to twist Bob's every sentence into
if he said that the Porteouses had a
new coachman she prOfeSsed to recog-
nize in this an allusion to the law of
master and servant. and she fastened
to introduce the doctrine Of respond
ent superior"
She pursued these tactics until Bob
grew weary, and if he found the con-
versation tending toward legal dis
cussion he buried himself in the even
ing paper or pleaded headache and
retired to a pipe in the library. Nev-
ertheless at least four nights a week he
found himself unwillingly going over
his entire days work in the courts or
at the Office. while Mrs. Ellington lis
tened with parted lips. fairly drinking
in the legal phraseology.
Nov, this she said at last lis Just
what I've been wanting to do for you.
l feel that I'm actually sharing the re-
sponsibility of your work, so that the
burden of it won't rest so heavily on
you"
won't it. thought" Bob rejoined.
at means that do a days work twice
over-once in the actual performance
Of it and then again worrying it over
with you in the evening A sort Of
legal cud chewing, | call it. And
Bowles, our managing clerk, is sick.
and I've got to hustle down to dis
trict court tomorrow and try miser-
able little case myself
Mrs. Billington's eye cleaned
why don't you let me try it for
YOUR she suggested.
You try it, Bob shouted. why, |
By the sacred mackerel. if ever let |
you put foot in one of those dirty little |
east side courts may | be forever con-
1emnedr'
The CLEAN died out Of Mrs. Billing |
.on's eye. but you may be sure that the
which kindled it remained.
Ever since she had mastered-or
bought she had mastered-the law Of
she had been secretly anxious |
o try a case. and the opportunity was
lot long in coming.
"Just glance over this complaint. will |
7ou?' she asked one morning at break
asst. passing over the table a formid-
lble looking legal document.
THAT what?' said Bob.
Complaint" Mrs. Ellington went
N steadily 81 presume you know that
is the name of the first writ
en- and verified pleading in an action
It law Well, this document is the
omplaint in the case Of Konvalinka
gainst Schultzlaction for wages as a
emale servant"
"In the municipal court of the city
f New York, borough Of Manhattan
Eighteenth district it was headed
Susan Konvalinka. plaintiff. against
Iary Schultz defendant. The plaintiff,
Of the defendant, by Mar
IN Ellington, her attorney. respect
ully alleges and shows ~,
But Bob read no farther and handed
ack the paper without word.
"Wellv' said Marion. "What do you
hink of it?"
'oThink Of it, said Bob. why,
hink this. I've been married to Mar
IN Ellington for ten years and l never
new her to do an unwomanly thing
. to now"
He UNDERSIGNED the last three words
s plainly as sudden vocal crescendo
ermits.
''Unwomanly?'' Marion cried indig
antly.
'Thats what l said," Bob declared
When you spent your afternoons for