The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-05
CHAPTER XXXVII

NoAOOOO WILL lid OEOOOclNAOO OA4
the bridge of his nose.
'Mm-m," he said. "a most I'M
usual case. And the defendant, liv-
ing in New Haven, is ignorant of
the birth of a child? You have no
mutual friends-no acquaintance?
The situation is almost incompre-
hensible.
"You realize, of course, that it
will be necessary to apprise your
husband of the existence of a
child? You wish complete custody.
Separate support, perhaps?'
"No-no," Sybil interrupted eager
ly. II don't want any money at all.
Only Teddy. don't even care about
my freedom, except for Teddy's
sake. 1 only want the right to my
own name, and the right for my
child to be known as Edward
Thorne.
HE is called" she told the crusty
old lawyer simply, "for my father.
I should like to perpetuate his mem
DRY through my son. There are
Thorne traditions-Thorne pride. 1t
would be idiotic for my son to carry
on for the EustiseS. He means
nothing to them, nor they to him"
MIR. PETERSON smiled.
1F1 Jurisdiction" he informed
her, recognizes no sentimentality.
The child's father has legal right
tc dispute your fitness as guardian
of his minor son. He can, if re
chooses, bring various unpleasant
allegations. He can contest your
suit for divorce, and defend himself
publicly against your charges.
However, judging from the cir
cumstances of the-er-romance I
thing we need anticipate no trouble
from the young man. You are quite
sure, madam, that you have omitted
no important detail of your marital
life? You have not seen your hus-
band in the last twenty-one months.
Not since you left him in Havana? 2"
Sybil hesitated.
"Yes, have-Once. I didn't think
it necessary to tell you 1t was for
only a few minutes. II surprised
him. 1t was in a public place. III
New Haven-at a roadhouse. He was
with another woman"
''You talked with him?"
eyes"
"And what was the nature of that
conversation"
IL upbraided him. He was with
a girl I knew. They were planning
to elope"
How did you know they were
planning to elope?"
ooh, know they were"
"And you know the woman? We
might subpoena her. Had you wit
nesSeS to the affair? And what are
this woman's feelings toward you
at this time?"
Sybil threw out her hands.
ooh, Mr.. Peterson-you don't I'M
derstand. I couldn't possibly drag
any one into this-particularly this
this lady,"
who is she, madam? And what
have been her relations with your
husband? Has there been an open
naison?"
n 4
HIDEOUS questions! Horrible
IL man! Sybil shuddered.
Really, Mr.. Peterson, I must de-
cline to answer. 1t seems hardly
necessary
The old man smiled patiently.
"Ndy dear young woman, it is most
necessary" he explained indulgently.
"Surely you do not think am vul-
carly curious. I am man old
enough to be your father. You have
come to me, presumably, because
you trust me, and wish me to help
you. You must be absolutely frank
with me. If you wish to withhold
certain facts I must decline to &C
cept the case"
Mr.. Peterson peered through tor
toise-shell glasses at his finger nails,
and, for the space of sixty seconds,
while he appraised them thoroughly,
you could have heard a pin drop.
Then Sybil broke the throbbing sill
ence.
"I beg your pardon" she said
"Let me begin at the beginning, and
tell you everything. Then you will
understand how absolutely imposS.-
BILE it is to bring the charge you have
in mind"
Gravely he heard her out. And
when she had finished, she con-
cluded hopefully-"And now you
see why 1 want so fearfully to get
the divorce on some respectable
ground-incompatibility, or some
think like that"
Mr.. Peterson inclined his head.
"That would be NICE" he con-
ceded with grim humor, "only in
Massachusetts, we don't do things
that way. There are seven grounds
for divorce in this State. Most of
them ugly. Incompalibility is not
one of them. Non-support is what
you might call the most 'respecta-
BILE In your case we might fall
back on gross and confirmed habits
of intoxication,' or cruel and abus-
i've treatment
ION the other hand, your hus-
band might bring a counter cherge
alleging desertion. He might even
allege cruel and abusive treatment
You left him, you see, sick and
alone, in Havana"
But, Mr.. Peterson, he was
drunk"
HE might produce evidence tc
\ the contrary. Tropical malaria, he
might call it. AffidavitS from Gu