The Washington times., 1922-09-17
WIFE HANGS UP
WEDDING RING
. ASD|vORCE FEE
Complications Follow When
Husband Comes Back
y Home Repentant.
LAWYER HOLDS TO EMBLEM
Reconciliation Awaits Legal
Proceedings to Recover
s Marital Bond.

YOUR WeQQ1nR Tlnk poS e,S
of YOUR divorce suit-or at least
part of it-would seem but fitting
poetic justice. NJ,
But because she thought so, MRS.
June Hand, of Chicago, now flnds
herself in a. most distressing
predicament.
She doesn't want a divorce any
more. For she and her huspanu
have. settled their differences TO
each others Satisfaction.
BUT =,
Unless she sees her suit for d.
yorce through to a successlui con
ciusion she will be unable 10 meet
the one condition on which Mr.
Hand insists before he Will agree
to reconciliation.
And IL she does secure a decree
she will have no husband, and
there will be no RECOMMENDATION a'
oil! .,
Behind this puzzling situation
are a superstitious spouse. an op-
t,,rate. LAWYER and-Mrs. HANDS
costly diamond studded. platinum
wedding ring. .,.-.
r. = How Ht Started. =
II ali started with a fish story
which Mr.. Hand told Mrs. Hand
after an unexplained absence from
home. No, ne insisted, 1t wasn't
n business" trip this time. He
had merely been salmon-fishing In
the Columbia river.
1t was an old story and Mrs.
Hand first took it to heart as an
insidious reflection on her inteili'
Rence. Then she, took 1t to, Ben
jamin Ehrlich, an attorney.
: And there the trouble began!
Mrs Hand, engrossed In her
marital trials had forgotten, IN
her hurry to leave her husbands 8
bed and board, to take any money
with her. This fact she sheepishiy
admitted when the question 'of a
retaining fee arose during the
initial consultation.
But let her not be alarmed. was
the comforting assurance. Any ar
ticle of value among her personal ef'
fects might temporarily serve the
purpose quite as we'll as coin Of the
realm. And then, after the divorce
had been obtained and the alimony
began to accumulate, II might be re-
deemed without inconvenience.
What Use Was It Now!
Mrs. Hands mind effected an In
sstantaneous inventory ef her treas
ures. In each instance her feminine
soul rebelled.
Then her eyes travelled down to
her. hands-to the third finger Of the
left hand. ...L
Her wedding ring! The very thing!
Could there be anything more use
less now? And, too, 1t was only
reminder Of a part Of her life she
had put definitely behind her for
ever.
"I won't need this any more" she
said, and removing the ring, passed
II over.
Then the tale became knotty.
Mr.. Hand, back in the lonely
apartment, decided that he had been
wrong in attempting to explain the
fatal fishing trip. There was one
course left-he would throw him.
self at the aggrieved wife's feet and
beg forgiveness, although his trip
had been innocent enough.
He sought out and found her at a
hotel. There were whisperings on a
romantic terrace. The old, forgot
their courtship days returned under
the spell of the moonlight that melt.
ede into liquid amethyst, and
Hand clasped hand!
The old vows were exchanged
Sweet nothing swere murmured.
Everything, in fact, pointed to q
hearty reconciliation. Then
where's the ring?"
There was an aggrieved look in
Mr.. Hands eyes as they looked up
from the bare third finger left.
AT least" he said, just a little
caustically, you might have wait.
ed until -"
Then she explained.
But, Of course" she added, now
that there isn't to be any divorce,
he'll give 1t back"
Attorney Balks.
But Attorney Ehrlich. 1t was soon
discovered, did not agree with this
line Of reasoning.
He had spent valuable days and
long nights sitting her story Of do
mestic woes and building up what he
termed an iron-bound, sure.fire case
for the complainant.
And he would have to be reim-
bursed. For a mere $500, therefore,
the ring would be swiftly forthcom.
ing and the account closed.
But Mrs. Hand did not have that
amount. She left the attorneys Of
flee dejectedly.
: Appeal to Mr.. Hand brought the
statement that under no condition
would he pay to get back the ring.
Superstition was nothing to be
lightly scoffed at. II he redeemed
the ring from its symbolically com.
promising resting place in the divorce
attorneys safe 1t would be an III.
, omen for the future happiness of
their reconciled household.
And as for buying a new ring =!
Again superstition decreed 1t impos.
sibie!
No. he decided. she must get back
8 the symbol of her wifely constancy
before they could talk OF reconcilia.
ton. No use courting bad luck all
over again.
= Wife Files Suit.
Now Mrs. Hand, as a final desper.
ate effort, has filed suit TO repleyin
the wedding ring from her obdurate
attorney.
, The latter says the ring belongs
10 him and that Mrs. Hand must paw
him, even though she went behind
=. his back" to make up with her hus.
band.
: But. he says, II Mrs. Hand loses