New Britain herald., 1929-07-10

ployer's face, that this was not a visit at all, but a professional con- sultation. And yet-there was nc case in Morgan's office at the time that seemed to call for Judge Jen- nifer's well-seasoned advice. Ir fact, the old man, grown weary of criminal law, had been devotine himself almost exclusively for sev- eral years to the less objectionab ble types of divorce suits.
 The conference-if such it was lasted until almost noon. Oddly enough. Morgan did not accom-, pany his old friend to the door, did not, in fact. emerge from his pri- vate office. Judge Jennifer came out alone and stopped before Mans desk.
 well, we'll, Nan, my child" he rumbled, with grandfatherly affec- ton John tells me you're going to be 8 lawysr. Been up to the capital to take your bar examina- tions. You're a smart girl Nan and we're proud of you, but" and he lowered the rumble to a gusty, strangely significant whisper take an old mans advice and leave these dirty criminal cases to the men. Marry a lawyer, raise up a boy to be a lawyer. if you've got to meddle with the law, but-leave the courtroom fights to the men, my dear"
 You find me nice young law yer for a husband, Judge Jennifer, and maybe I'll take your advice " Nan retorted flippantly, but she had an uneasy suspicion that Judge Jennifer knew exactly what her hot blush meant
 That's bargain-rememb |" the old lawyer chuckled from the doorway.
 For nearly an hour there was no sound from the private office of John Curtis Morgan. Nan forced herself to go on working at high pressure, but three times she made typographical errors in letters she was writing-an inefficiency record she had never sunk to before.
 Something was afoot. Judge Jennifer-divorce Light poured in. Iris, of course. She had written to Judge Jennifer, as her attorney, had asked him to ap- proach her husband on the sub ject of a divorce. Of course, Oh, poor man, Yesterday Curtis ac- cident, which might so easily have been fatal: today this new blow, killing the last stubborn hope the deserted husband had chung to. For six months she had fought to give him peace and to help him banish the devils of despair which had taken possession of him when Iris had left him. Now the battle would have to be fought all over again.
 The buzzer at last Nan caught up notebook and pencil and has tened into the private office, but needed after all.
 Have you lunched yet, Nan? Then l wonder if you'd go with me? I-want to talk with you, Morgan said. not looking up, as if he were unable to meet her eyes.
 The had never lunched together socially before. not even since Nan had worked herself into Ie curious post of long distance house. keeper of his home. and as she walked beside Morgan into the big, rather magnificent dining room of the Traylor Hotel. Nan felt ri- diculously self-conscious.
 Morgan tried, rather awkwardly. to make an occasion of their lunch in the matter of food, but Nan chose a single dish and firmly refused everything else.
 Nan knew that he expected his news 10 be upsetting. for he con- scientiously gave her plenty of time to eat before plungine into whatever it was that he had to tell her.
 When he did begin 1t was abruptly. even harshlY: I'm go- ing to apply for a divorce, Man.
 Nan felt for a moment as if she were on the deck of tossing ship. Her hand groped for her water glass, found it, brought it so jerk fly to her lips that a little of the water spilled on the cloth. Thoughts hurled and clashed through her mind. Not Iris who wanted a divorce. If was he, Why? What did it mean? :. She could not speak.
 Judge Jennifer assures me that it can be-done very quietly, very easily" Morgan went on in a strained, harsh monotone. "The letter. you know.' He still could not bring himself to utter Iris name. "And-desertion It has been six months-all that our di- Norce laws require under the cir cumstances. The letter makes it easy, I never thought" His voice broke, then he cleared his
 
 the petition can be heard in chambers'-no publicity at alI of course. My-she will be served by publication, since I don't know where she is. It should all be over in a month, Judge Jennifer says. over .' he repeated.
 
 At the pain in his voice Mans love for him rose to it's greatest height She would have been a fool not to have suspected why he was dlVorcing Iris, whom he still loved whom he probably would always love. But she loved him too much to realize the joy of the first hope she had ever had any real right to feel She leaned toward him, and her brown eyes were indescribably ten der
 MT Morgan, don't let anyone | talk you into this if yolJ do,1't