Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-12-30

| | - e. ~ IL ~ III
Janets Husband Attacks Tom.
wife," sneered Lander, "in spite Of the
presence of those two brats. We dom
want you to interrupt our loving chat
So /"
Toms fist, driven with the force OF
a sudden anger gust, stopped the slur,
ring words by landing heavily against
the speakers mouth.
Lander, running in, grappled.
Up and down the veranda they
swayed and reeled in their primordial
battle.
Tom, wrenching free from his oppo-
nent's grip, drove his left first again In
to Lander's face and followed it with
his right.
Under the double impact Lander was
Knocked clear off his balance. His big
body flew backward. His feet sought
tardily for the veranda floor and
clawed in futile effort at the top step.
| Then he hurtled over the edge of the
veranda, down the entire flight of
wooden steps, and his head smote
sharply against an iron jardiniere on
the lawn below. The metal vessel was
| cracked by the force of the collision.
Lander lay mOtiOnleSS and unconscious
on the lawn.
Tom Mercer made as if to descend
the steps toward his fallen and sense
less foe. But, at the same instant, his
features became distorted with agony.
He clutched at his heart with both
hands, grOan of mortal pain bursting
from his white lips.
Janet cried aloud at sight of Toms
ashen face, and ran to catch him as he
staggered blindly backward.
She was in time to seize the sudden
ly helpless and inert body In her arms.
But all her love and all her prayers
could not stay for one brief minute the
flight of the soul from that body.
1t was on the day after the funeral
that Caius Lefferts, Tom MERGERS law
yer, called at the once bright Mercer
home to see Janet.
NAAS NoAac ihto Tue iDTdTy u receive
him. looking very beautiful, but pitt
fully tragic in her deep mourning.
"Well," she asked, in tense eager
ness as he rose to greet her. "Have
you looked up the law In the matter?
And-and 1t isn't true, is it?"
I'm afraid, Mrs. Mercer" he replied
sadly, shat I must answer Yes to
both those questions. / have consulted
every authority. Marc Lander was
correct. You were solemnly married |
to Thomas Mercer, in the sight Of God |
and Of the lawn Connecticut. But
in New York you were never Thomas
MERGERS wife. In fact" he hesitated,
then forced himself to 60 on. 'Tn fact,
I learn today that Lander is instituting
suit for divorce against you, naming
Mercer as correspondent"
Il must tell you everything" went
on the lawyer, although 1t is like tor
turing helpless child. Thomas Mer-
Ger left no will. 1t was doubtless his
intent that you should thus receive
one-third Of his property and each of
a.s children one-third. But-none of
you three, by New York law, has any
status as his wife or children. There
fore none OF you can inherit his es-
tate"
What? Surely his own children"
New York state" replied Lefferts,
does not recognize you as MERGERS
widow. You and your children have
no claim on his estate"
But"
"His sister" continued Lefferts,
called on me this morning. As Mer-
.er's next Of kin, as he left no will, she
s his sole heir. She came to notify
ne that she intends to evict you and
7our children from this house and that
The refuses to contribute one penny to-
ward the support of any of you. She"
He broke off. Janet had fallen back
n her chair in dead faint.
And only the principal actors In the
went are the ones to blame, but law
makers must share the odium and hear
heir part of the burden when the &C.
using finger is pointed at them and
hey are asked the question who's
iuilty?"
(END OF ELEVENTH STORY)