The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-11-24

But" Mrs. Ellington argued, 81
should like to know what was the use
of my college training if o to-
EXACTLY" Bob broke in. That's
what Id 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 intelli
gently with you about your business
matters. You won't interest yourself
in my music, so suppose l must in
terest myself in your lawr'
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
Torrance of her household duties. MOI
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 II respect was the ever
tenor of their married life disturbed
namely and to wit, a. the lawyers say,
In the matter of Intelligent converse.
tion." Bob still talked the usual do
nestle commonplace; but, while in the
past Mrs. Ellington merely echoed bel
husbands opinions, she now managed
to twist Bob's every sentence into Il
mOoted question of law. For instance.
il he said that the Porteouses had ii
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 a legal dis
cussion he buried himself in the even
ing paper or pleaded a headache and
retired to a pipe in the library. New.
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.
"Now, 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 1t won't rest so heavily on
you"
won't it. thought" Bob rejoined.
ut means that | do a days work twice
over-once in the actual performance
OF ii and then again worrying it oyer
with you in the evening. A sort of
legal cud chewing, | call it. And
Bowles. our managing clerk. is sick.
n w got to hustle down to a dis
trict court tomorrow and try a miser
able little case myself"
Mrs. ~Billin2ton's eye cleaned.
"Why don't you let me try it 70,
you?" 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
demned!"
The CLEAN died out of Mrs. Billing
tons eye, but you may be sure that the
ambition which kindled it remained.
Ever since she had mastered-or
thought she had mas red-the law of
evidence she had been secretly anxious
to try a 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 a formid
able looking legal document.
THAT what?" said Bob.
Complaint Mrs. Ellington went
ON steadily. Il presume you know that
complaint is the name of the first writ.
ten and verified pleading in an action
at law. We'll. this document is the
complaint in the case of Konvalinku
against Schultz-action for wages AS Il
female servant"
"In the municipal court of the city
of New York. borough of Manhattan,
Eighteenth district" it was headed.
Susan Konvalinka. plaintiff. against
Mary Schultz. defendant. The plaintiff.
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 a word.
"Well.' said Marion, "What 10 yo,
think of it?'
Think of iti' said Bob. why. |
think this. I've been married to Mar
ion Ellington for ten years and Devri
knew her to do an ~unwomanly thira
up to now"
He UNDERSIGNED the last three words
as plainly as a sudden vocal crescenlc
permits.
"UnwomanlyT" Marion cried indig
hantly.
That's what | said" Bob declared
when you spent your afternoons for