South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-08

Well" said the lawyer. balanc-
ing his eyeglasses upon his index
finger. as is a trick OF his. you
can't stand it any longer, them"
NO" said the man, Il can't
and what's more. l won't"
Neither will l. said the woman,
and the man and the woman glared
at each other across the lawyers
table.
Neither of them was young. Both
OF them were very happy. They
had known the lawyer for many
years. and now they had come TO
get him to arrange for legal separa-
ton
Tell me" said the lawyer. Mary.
when did Joe begin to be so I'M
reasOnable2"
When my young niece came TO
visit me and taught him to do the
one-step," said the middle-aged wo-
man, without an instant's hesita-
ton.
The man flushed and started TO
speak. but the lawyer stopped him.
Joe" said the lawyer when did
you begin to notice that Mary nag
ged your"
The man started to speak. stop
ped. started again, cleared his
throat.
Perhaps l can help you" said
the lawyer Il remember when lit
tie Joe was born. Where is he now?
At college. doing we'll? I'm glad
OF that Well. when he was born
he was a delicate little fellow
don't you remember. Joe?-and
you told me then what an angel
Mary was-how devoted, how tire
lessl You almost cried about it
don't you remember? How long af-
ter that was II that she began to
nag?"
The man couEhed.
Some simple Questions.
Just a minute" said the lawyer
Mary, Joe was all right lor a good
many years. I remember the time
YOU had your 10th anniversary
what a party IL was-and how
tickled Joe was with the present
YOU made him. You'd saved the
money out Of the house allowance.
hadn't you? l took a snapshot Of
you that day on the porch. II was
in June. and the roses were bloom
ing I was thinking over your case
last night. and I got out the snap
shOt--do YOU remember II. Mary?"
The lawyer held out a little too
black and too-white picture. Joe
took II in his hand and passed II 70
Mary.
Mary laughed a high. tremulous
little laugh.
How funny you look with that
mustache. joe" she said. 81 thought
YOU began TO shave your whole face
before then"
No said the man. It didn't
sacrifice my mustache till Belle
came home from boarding school
and made me do it,"
Where Is Belle now?" said the
lawyer Pretty thing she Is. Looks
exactly as you did at her age. Mary.
Who's she going to stay with when
YOU separator"
The woman looked at the man.
The man looked at the woman. The
little too-black and too-white por-
trait dropped from his hand.
Mary" he said. maybe I've been
cantankerous I guess l have; but
thought you.
Joe" said Mary
The lawyer went out Of the room
minute 20 speak % his clerk. and
hen he came back ne was smiling
Joe. YOU old rascal" he said. I"
You've cheated me out OF a per-
fectly good fee"
Like Other Days
And Joe and Mary went out 20
lunch together. just as they used
to when Joe and Mary were sweet
hearts and very young and very
poor and very much IN love And
what do you think? They went TO
the little, cheap restaurant they
used 10 know long and long ago.
and they had baked beans and
homemade apple pie. and a cup OF
good coffee. And they laughed and
talked OF old times. and Mary's eyes
were wet and Joe's eyes were shiny.
And the lawyer?
He went out 20 the golf links and
celebrated. and all the time he was
playing an old. old song rang