Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-01-04
POtash,P Perl1llutter
and Others.
By MONTAGUE CLASS
X.-MRS. BILLING.
TOMS FIRST CASE

A.-lMko. OlLLlNU'
TOMS FIRST CASE
Copyright. TA Frank A Munsey Col
TN justice to Robert Ellington, II
must be said that In the begin
ming he did his best to discourage
Mrs. Ellington.
"One lawyer In the family" he said,
rs enough. And, besides, get all the
law l need downtown. Be 1t your
duty to shed sweetness and light over
our happy homer
"But" Mrs. Ellington argued, II
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. II an
academic education doesn't help you
about the house, why study law on top
ofit?"
Mrs. Ellington tossed her head.
"You know as well as I do what I
mean," she insisted. I'm the first
place, want to be able to talk intelli-
gently with you about your business
matters. You won't interest yourself
In my music, 30 I suppose I must In.
terest myself In your lawT
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.
Hngton 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 80 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 converse
uon." Bob still talked the usual do
mestic commonplaces; but, while In the
past Mrs. Ellington merely echoed her
husbands opinions, she now managed
to twist Bobs every sentence into q
m0oted question of law. For instance,
II he said that the Porteouses had q
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. New.
ertheless at least four nights 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.
"Now, this" she said at last, ''is just
what I've been wanting to do for you.
I feel that I'm actually sharing the re-
sponsibility of your work, SO that the
burden Of 1t won't rest 80 heavily on
YOU"
won't 1t, though~ Bob rejoined.
1T means that do days work twice
over-once in the actual performance
of 1t and then again worrying 1t over
with you in the evening. A sort Of
legal cud chewing, l 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 I be forever con.
| demnedr'
The CLEAN died out of Mrs. Billing
| tons eye. but you may be sure that the
ambition which kindled 1t remained
| Ever since she had mastered-or
| thought she had mastered-the law Of
evidence she had been secretly anxious
to try case, and the opportunity was
not long in coming.
"Just glance over this complaint, will
you" she asked one morning at break
fast. passing over the table formid-
able looking legal document.
"That whatr said Bob.
Complaint" Mrs. Ellington went
on steadily. II presume you know that
complaint is the name Of the first writ
ten and verified pleading In an action
at law. Well, this document Is the
complaint In the case of Konvalinka
against Schultz-action for wages as q
female servant"
"In the municipal court Of the city
Of New York, borough Of Manhattan,
Eighteenth district" 1t was headed.
"Susan Konvalinka, plaintiff. against
Mary Schultz, defendant. The plaintif,
complaining of the defendant by Mar
ion Ellington. her attorney, respect
fully alleges and shows
But Bob read no farther and handed
back the paper without q word.
"Wellw said Marion. "What do you
think Of itT
"Think of itT said Bob. "Why, I
think this. I've been married to Mar
lon Ellington for ten years and I never
knew her to do an unwomanly thing
up to now"
he underscored the last three words
as plainly as sudden vocal crescendo
permits.
'UnwomanlyT Marion cried indig-
nantly.
/ "Thats what said" Bob declared.
when you spent your afternoons for
three years In law school stood It
even admired the way you stuck to
It. When you were finally admitted to
the bar took the lronical congratula'
lions of the neighborhood In good part
felt rather proud Of 1t, If anything
but never thought you'd 60 so Tar az
to want to try case in filthy district
courti''
"And pray what Is there unwomanly