Year: 1860

he would never do this of himself; som,


one else must have led him off into it.


After a time l succeeded in collectins


all the facts from her that were nee


essary to the business, and pushed back


from the table. She once more inquired


of me:


~ cannot prevent his taking all, ex


cept by bringing this petition for di


vorce?"


~ see no other escape" I told her.


''Then," said she, with heavy coun.


tenance indeed, sthe matter is settled
forever. am to be without the hus-


band of my youth! I am to live and die
alone! Good day, sir. 1 loued Henry
before he took to these courses. All,
sir, love him nowl Iwould make any
sacrifice, if | could thus avert this dread
full step"


And she took her leave sadly of me,
as if she were passing out into the dark
shadow of cloud.


l sat undisturbed in my Office for seve-
raj hours, ruminating on the hard case
that. had just been presented. Thought
with myself it was fearful matter thus
to divorce husband and wife forever,
when perhaps happy circumstances
might yet intervene to reconcile their
differences; and 1 felt it worse than all
that law should be allowed to stand on
the pages of the statute book, which
drove an unprotected woman to petition
for divorce in order to save her little
property.


The more I thought about it. the har-
der it seemed to me to be- Yet [ knew
we'll enough there was no present remedy
for case like this, but this single one
she had felt forced to choose. Her hus-
band had been away from her-had
voluntarily deserted her for number
of years-long enough to warrant the
granting of her petition, under the pro-
visions of the law. He deserved to be
cut off from true and loving woman
whom he had so basely betrayed, and I
hoped to be an instrument in bringing
about such result.


Even while [ sat there thus occupied
the door opened, and there walked in
man of perhaps thirty five summers, who
removed his hat at once and sat down in
the chair which my unhappy client had
vacated.


He stated that he was person long
absent from the city, and therefore he
wanted legal advice. l expressed my
self ready to deal it out to him, of course.


II expect my wife is somewhere in
the city, said he, 'and am anxious to
find her. Can you help me? And after
that want more he'll p.''


ssWhat is your name?' was my first
question. ....


Henry Mallows," said he.


Twas thunderstruck. Taking another
careful look at him, [ discovered that
his face and dress evinced every mark |
of dissipation. 1 could see plainly
enough that he had just returned from
long absence of that character, having
abandoned his course only till he could
in some way recruit his pockets, and
come back determined to strip his poor
wife of all she had. To see the man of
whom [ had keen thinking, so soon
the very cause of the trouble over which
my unhappy client grieved-rather
startled me, albeit [ am somewhat ac-
customed to surprises of this character
[ watched and studied him closely. l
could not for moment keep my eyes off
of him.


From his own telling, [ became con-
vinced that he was determined to find
his wife again, simply to live off of her
or to appropriate her savings if she had
any. [ at one time even suggested that
as he had been absent SO long, according
to his own confession, she might per-
haps have obtained legal separation,


He was struck with surprise at the
possibility of such thing; then declared
it could not be possible, for he knew
Mary would never do such thing; and
finally sprang to his feet with excite
ment, and said he must find her at oace.
[ saw his urgency and took advantage
of it.


II can help you," said I.


"Can you?'' he asked, his face lighting
quickly.


''Come here tomorrow afternoon at
half-pas three o'clock, will you? Not
a moment before, however. Be pune
tual at that hour, and you shall find your
interests all answered, y


He promised me with much eagerness,
and took his leave.


"Meantime,' said I, as he was shut
ting the door; ''keep perfectly quiet; do
not make single inquiry of any one
I can help you if any body can"


He bowed his thanksa and was gone
A few minutes afterwards [ left my Of
flee in search Of the residence Of the wife
She had given me her street and number,
and 1 had no difficulty in finding her.


II want you to be at my office to-
afternoon, at four clock, said
I, mot five minutes sooner, however"


eyes, sir" she answered, satisfied that
I was looking closely after her interests.


I passed the night more awake than
asleep, thinking how l could best secure
the object l had in view; how that obi
Gus and inhuman law could be evaded,
that otherwise was certain to make
wreck of this unhappy woman's house
hold. The forenoon slipped away as it
always did. After dinner [ sat and
waited for half past three o'clock to come.
I was apprised of the fact. of its arrival
by the opening of the door, and the en-
trance of my man again.


i'Punctual!'' said he. .....-


He looked much better than on the
previous day, though I could see he had
still been feeding the fires of dissipation
over night. I led him into back room,
leaving the door ajar, and sat down and
began conversation with him. 1 saw
more plainly than before that he was de-
termined to get all that his wife had,
whatever it might be. And still, from
various questions put to him to divert
his thoughts to other subjects, I saw as
plainly that at heart he loved his wife,
nd ,n;nht ,oraihlu not hncnma n darn