LEWIS V. LEWIS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 48, 29 November 1890, Page 6

LEWIS V. LEWIS.

__ X elegantly dressed young woman left r A /zi/ the law office of Judge Sharpe just as R Walter Lossing was about to enter it. tffpKTy J As s * ie BWe P t by him the young man I caught a momentary glimpse of her 1 face, which told him as plainly as words could have done that she was unhappy. He wondered what trouble could have come to one who was so evidently in 7/ ‘afe want of nothing that money could provide. Walter Lossing was what is commonly called in euphemistic newspaper phraseology ‘ a rising young lawyer.’ In other words, he had been recently admitted to practice, was as poor as the law allowed—and, as is well known, the law is very liberal in this res|>eet —and had hard work to ‘ rise ’ high enough to keep his head above water. This, too, in spite of the fact that his ability was above the average. Just now he had come to get the old Judge’s opinion on a knotty point that had come up in one of the few cases which he had succeeded in securing. Judge Sharpe had taken a kindly interest in him, and had already given him valuable advice ami otherwise befriended him on several occasions. In fact, it is highly improbable that the knotty point that was puzzling him would have troubled him at ali, if it hadn’t been for the judge, who had thrown the case in which it occurred in his way. Judge Sharpe had just tied together a bundle of legal papers and thrust them into a pigeon-hole when the young man came in. ‘ How are you, my boy ? Sit down. What can I do for you to day? I've just got to the end of a case that ought to be a lesson to all you young fellows,’ said the Judge, all in one breath, as was his manner. ‘What case was that, Judge?' asked Lossing, as he dropped into a chair. ‘ Lewis v. Lewis, action for a limited divorce on the ground of incompatibility, cruel treatment ami so forth. You saw the young woman who just went out ?’ Lossing nodded. ‘ That was the plaintiff'. Nice sort of a girl, well educated, refined, handsome and all that ; but not the right sort of a wife for the man she married. You see she is the only daughter of wealthy people who had naturally gratified every whim that came into her head. She fell in love with a man whose respectability was his chief recommendation.’ ‘ Well, wasn't that the principal thing to be considered ?’ exclaimed Lossing. ‘ Other things being equal, yes ; but in this case it was only one of the principal considerations, as you will see. The young man was as poor as could be; he had only a modest salary to depend on, and nothing in the way of prospects. The girl’s parents objected at first, but finally consented to the match. They probably knew that she would have her way in spite of all objections they might interpose. You hear and read a great deal about the tyranny of parents who refuse to sanction marriages which they believe will end in 'Unhappiness, but I tell you, my boy, that what is called tyranny is in many cases hard, honest common sense and good judgment based on exjierience and observation.

‘ Well, they were married, and for a short time they were happy. Then the young wife began to be discontented. She missed the luxuries she had been accustomed to enjoy. The modest home her husband could provide for her was so different from the elegance with which she had been formerly surrounded, she began to fret. Her discontent soon found expression in words. Naturally her husband became angered at what he considered lack of devotion. When she suggested that her parents would lend financial aid he became indignant and insisted that she should be content with her lot until by his own efforts he could better their condition. You can imagine that this state of affairs soon led to something worse. Quarrels became frequent ; love was a thing of tne past. No doubt thinking heiself much abused she left him and returned to her parents. Then application for a separation was made. All efforts to effect a reconciliation were fruitless. Well, this is the end. The law has sanctioned the separation that already existed in fact. The young woman remains with her parents ; the young man will probably go to the devil, for his unfortunate marriage has taken all ambition out of him.’

‘ And the lesson ?’ suggested Lossing. ‘ Don’t marry a woman who is beyond your station financially ; don’t take a wife from a mansion unless you have a mansion in readiness for her.’

‘ But surely, all marriages of this kind don't result as this one has done.’

‘ No, probably not ; there are exceptions to every rule. I am speaking of the rule. You will find as you grow older that it holds good in nine eases out of ten. Marriage is too serious a matter to enter into it lightly and happiness too valuable to stake it on a chance. Heiresses are content with love in a cottage only in novels ; in real life you seldom find love that is strong enough to conquer all the weaknesses of human nature —especially of female human nature.’ Having evidently reached the end of his impromptu lecture the old lawyer leaned back in his chair and waited for the other to state the purpose of his errand. Lossing sat in silence for a minute or more. The old man's words seemed to have impressed him deeply. At length he asked the question he had come to piopound, received a reply that made the matter clear to him, thanked his adviser, and was about to leave when the Judge remarked :—

‘ By the way, my boy, if you want any further points on that case come to my house this evening and I will show you what authorities to consult.’ ‘ Thank you, I shall do so,' replied Lossing. He took the kind offer rather as a matter of course, for Judge Sharpe had long ago told him to make use of his library whenever he wished, and he had frequently availed himself of the permission.

Lossing, after leaving the Judge's office, went directly to his own, which was in another part of the same building. Instead of busying himself with the papers that lay strewn about upon his desk he paced to and fro excitedly for several minutes. Then he sat down and for at least half an hour stared very hard at nothing, or perhaps at the wall. Could he have seen his own face just then he would have been surprised at the change that had come over it. There was

a hopeless, despairing expression there which would have seemed quite inexplicable to any of those who knew him best. ‘ There’s nd other way ; I’ll have to do it,’ he suddenly exclaimed, at the same time rising abruptly. Then he put on his hat and coat, went out and walked rapidly away. The evening of that day found him at tne house of Judge Sharpe, sitting in the library, apparently engrossed in a legal volume. But as he had been staring at the same page for the past ten minutes, and that page happened to contain merely a portion of the index, it is doubtful that he was as deeply engrossed as he seemed to be. A light step fell upon the rmrpeted floor behind him. A young girl had entered the room. A very pretty young girl she was, and the glad smile that lighted up her face when she saw the young man made her all the prettier. Walter Lossing had evidently not confined his attention to Judge Sharpe's library on his previous visits. If he had the judge’s daughter would not have been so pleased to see him. ‘ Poring over dry legal volumes as usual, I see ; what perplexing case rests heavily on your mind now, Walter ? M hy, what ails you? You look as glum as if you had lost every friend in the world.’ Lossing had turned and risen as the young girl spoke, and the light streaming upon his face, showed it to be indeed a mirror of everything gloomy and disheartening. ‘lt isn’t a case of law that is troubling me ; I would it were only that,’he replied with a sigh that was almost a groan. ‘ What is it, then ? Has any misfortune befallen you ? • Yes, a misfortune, indeed, or at least it seems to be now. Doubtless it is all for the best.’ ‘ What are you talking about ? Why don’t you tell me what is troubling you ?’ ‘ I came for that purpose ; that I might tell you. After this evening we must not meet again. ’ ‘Not—meet—again?’ Nellie Sharpe repeated the words slowly, as if she could not grasp the meaning. The colour surged to her cheeks and then receded, leaving her very pale. ‘ What do you mean, Walter ? What has happened ? \ou cannot be in earnest.’ ‘ But I am in earnest ; I have brought myself to this after the hardest mental struggle man could possibly undergo. I must be in earnest about this ; it is my duty ; I would be dishonourable if I did otherwise. But lam talking wildly, at random ; I hardly know what I am saying or what to say or how to say it. I heard some advice to-day ; it came from your father ; I am on honour bound to follow it. This is what he told me.’ Walter rather incoherently recounted what Judge Sharpe had told him of the case of Lewis v. Lewis, and the comments he had made on that case. ‘ And is that all ?’ asked Nellie when he had finished. She smiled a little as she asked the question, and a close observer would have noticed that a sigh of relief passed her lips. ‘ All ? Is it not too much ? Knowing that your father holds this view, can I do otherwise than give you up?’ ‘ I thought you had more pluck,’ said the young girl, with just a suggestion of scorn in her voice. ‘ It is not a matter of courage, but of conscience, of honour. Can I go to the man who gives me such advice as I have received, who tells me never to marry a woman who is beyond my station financially, and ask him to give to me his daughter, who is dearer to him than all else ? lam poor. I have none but the most problematical prospects, while you—well, I need not say more ; you can readily see my position. ’ ‘ But I can’t see it in the light in which you place it. I thought you had sufficient faith in me not to believe that I would do as that dreadful woman did of whom my father told you. Your prospects are certainly better than you represent them. Furthermore, my father would yield to my wishes.’ ‘I do not lack faith in you ; Heaven knows how strong that faith is ; it is because I would feel that I had acted treacherously toward one who has been my best friend if I held you to your—your promise, that I had decided to do that which will take all happiness out of my life.’ ‘ Probably it never occurred to you that the happiness of any one else might suffer ; it seems that I am not considered at all.’ • You will soon forget; you will be happier than I could ever make you.’ ‘ Oh, certainly, we women forget so easily. It is only the men that remember—only the hearts of men that are broken. However, since you wish it so it is not foi me to object.’ ‘ It is not what I wish ; it is what I must do.’ ‘ But suppose I should refuse to accept yoilr decision ; suppose I should assert my rights. Suppose I should insist at least on your trying for a term of years to bring your financial condition up to what you consider the proper * standard. ’ ‘ It would be wrong to keep you bound by a promise to one who would have to struggle perhaps for years and might fail at last.’ ‘ I see it is vain to reason with one who is unreasonable ; it shall be as you wish.’ Just then Judge Sharpe entered the room and the painful meeting was abruptly ended. A few months later Judge Sharpe’s clerk came into Walter Lossing’s office one day and told him that the Judge wanted to see him. It seemed to Walter that the judge looked unusually stern when he responded to the latter’s summons a few minutes later. * Come in here, I want to talk to you,’ said the Judge, as he motioned to Walter to follow him into his private office. ‘ Sit down. I will come to the point at once. lam instructed by a client of mine to bring suit against you. We have the clearest kind of a case ami should certainly win in the courts, but we desire to give you an opportunity to compromise the matter. You may wish to esca]>e the notoriety. ’ ‘ A suit ? Why, who could want to sue me ? I owe nothing ; there is no cause, no ground—you must be joking.’ ‘ Never was more serious. There is a cause, and a good one, as you will learn presently. My client’s case is Hawless ; she ’ • She I Ah ! I see, some blackmailing scheme ; some advent ’ ‘ There, there, don’t get excited ; it is nothing of the kind. The plaintiff in this case is eminently respectable, as you ourself will admit.’

* Who is she ? What is the cause of action ? Why don’t you tell me at once instead of beating about the bush ?’ * The cause of action is breach of promise,’ said the old judge impressively. ‘ Breach of promise ! Why, I never-*— ’ Perhaps Walter suddenly remembered something; perhaps he detected a peculiar expression about the old gentleman’s eyes ; perhaps a sort of revelation came to him ; at any rate he checked himself very suddenly and looked remarkably sheepish. * Perhaps you can guess the plaintitl's name,' suggested the Judge. ‘ You see,’ continued he, as Walter still sat like one stricken dumb, ‘the young lady thinks that you have l>een influenced by something that was said to you in a general way by one who intended to make no specific application of his remarks, and she believes that if the matter is presented to you in the proper light no extreme measures will be necessary to make you see that you were altogether wrong in arriving at a certain decision based on the case of Lewis v. Lewis.’

Walter grasped the Judge’s hand, he said nothing, he couldn’t have said anything just then, for there was a great, big lump in his throat. ‘ I need a partner,’ resumed the Judge ; * I have more work than I can manage alone ; 1 think you are just the kind of man I want, add then, you know, being partner, we could easily compromise this matter which I have mentioned. You would have no objection to such an arrangement, I suppose ?’