The Durham recorder. [volume], May 06, 1909, Image 6

About The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??

Image provided by: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC

                
SOME PRIVATE
INQUIRIES.
By MARIE DELOCOFF.
Copyriehiad. 1309. by Associated
Literary pres.
There were compliments, congratula
tions and showers of rice and slippers
when Livingston Terry and Marjory
Manners were wed. Some people ac
tually sit Id it was a love match and
that the honeymoon would last for
years. Ouly some people said that,
however. Others knew It to be simply
a fashionable weddL
Not that the turtledoves do not coo
when a fashionable wedding takes
place, but they must coo very gently
and cut it as short as possible. It is
Dot good form for Cupid to frolic in
high society.
In this case the skeptical ones soon
had reason to say. "I told you so!"
There were various little things that
brought It about, but the principal one
was that after three months of ex
tremely conventional politeness Mr.
and Mrs. Terry discovered that they
were not suited to each other.
Both were full of opinion, and both
were stubborn. Both were extrava
gant. Both felt the loss of personal
freedom. Feeling thus. It was easy to
find fault and fault finding soon led to
Bore serious things.
;. They declared an armed truce for
another three months, and then each
decided that separation was Inevitable.
8U1L husbands and wives cannot very
well separate without some reasonable
excuse to give to their friends.
Marjory rouldnt think of one, and
Livingston was In the same predica
ment Both bent their minds to the
problem, and. as they bad plenty of
time, tbey did It faithfully.
On the same day and almost at the
same bour a bright thought struck
this unhappy couple simultaneously.
It was to hire somebody to Investigate
and find the valid excuses that were
seeded.
They bad known each other for a
year and a half previous to marriage,
but after all. that was nothing. For
mality bad prevented each one from
even knowing what relatives the other
had. outside of Marjory's matchmak
ing mamma and Livingston's rather in
different father. Her band had been
kissed, a declaration of love made, the
engagement announced, and that was
the whole story of their lovemaklng.
There must have been something m
the life of each to give the other
the advantage sought for. The way
to discover it was through a private
inquiry agency "Inquiries made, the
past Investigated: secret, honorable,
experienced agents, terms reasonable."
"Why. of course." thought Marjory.
"Easiest thing In the world." thought
Livingston. It didn't so happen that
both husband and wife called for the
services of the same agency, but the
Investigators began to work at about
the same time. And while they were
Investigating there was a continuation
of the truce between husband and
wife.
It was the calm before the storm.
Tbey were so placid and pliable that
at times, many times during each day,
tbey seemed to have reached the point
where tbey appreciated each other.
Some of their dearest friends almost
feared that (be couple wouldn't sepa
rate after alt and thus another choice
subject for brilliant conversation
would be lost to society.
After about four weeks an official
looking letter was delivered to the bus
band at h! club He bad been wait
ing fur Juki such a letter, and be was
so anxious to see Its contents that he
glanced only carelessly at the super
scription. Ills first surprise came a moment
later, when be saw the words "Dear
Madam" swimming liefore bis eyes.
Now. be was not a "dear madam."
Tet be went right on and reud that
private Inquiry report to the end. lie
tztHn't help It, though be felt that be
was base.
"We find that your husband was
known to have a very bad temper as
far back as twenty yesrs ago." wrote
the Investigator. "People who know
bios best are a unit In agreeing that be
Is very selfish by nature and hopeless
ly tenacious of bis opinions.
Ilia everbearing disposition." con
tinned the report "has alienated many
frtenda and several relatives. la one
Instance, during bis bachelorhood
days, be nearly threw a dish at his
cook and would nave Inflicted serious
injury bad be made good bis threat as
there is every reason to believe be
(night have done.
"We have not been able to prove, but
still strongly suspect that yoa are not
the first nor even the second nor third
woman be baa loved or pretended to
love.
"We have It from bis ex-valet tbat
to arose several times at uldnlgbt to
wander around bis room or smoke
cigarettes, as if greatly worried. This
should be a strong point for a good
lawyer to work up."
Livingston Perry felt rather flat
when to tod read so far. It struck
aim that aa seen by others, be was
hardly what could be called as excit
ing character.
"Smokes fifteen cent cigars, drinks
the most expensive wines, pays bis
'dub duet, owes no cab hire and on
fortanattif toe not even a tailor bill
ever six months old. Still, this might
wt shown to prove extravsgaoce," was
tbe next thrilling remark. Tben be
whistled. He bad at last struck an
exciting paragraph. It was: "A few
weeks ago to was seen in his club
aotljyr earnestly over a wort on texl
eoloiry. We rrt sure W I" t"s
eovery wr tiaie furalshed yvg with i
terribly strong point Your lawyer
will know at once what to do with
this." ... ' t .
Livingston Terry did not know
whether to laugh or swear when he
remembered that he bad tried to read
tbe tnxik to oblige the author, his col
lege frleud Dr. Jrevson.
s,"We have, dear madam." ended the
report "made our Investigation In the
most thorough manner and have not a
doubt that a court can be found that
will give you a divorce ou the grounds
we have furnished if they are proper
ly elaborated. Your check for $300
will greatly oblige."
- Livingston Terry thrust the precious
document into bis pocket and decided
that lie was indignant and Justly In
censed. But as he walked slowly
homeward be felt an emotion that curi
ously enough, was much more sorrow
than anger sorrow that Marjory should
wish to get rid of him. He quite for
got for the moment that be wished to
get rid of her.
The official envelope that was left at
the house the very same day was
plainly driected to Mr. Livingston Per
ry. Now, Marjory Perry had no ex
cuse whatever to open it for she saw
plainly bow It was addressed. But
she opened It nevertheless, and to her
surprise she felt a Jealous pang.
She hesitated over It for balf an
hour, but finally decided to Inspect the
contents. It began "Dear Sir." She
caught her breath as she read on:
"We have made a faithful Investiga
tion of your wife's career for the last
ten years and have got one of the
finest cases we ever worked up. Noth
ing whatever Is lacking to make tt
complete. We can furnish you with
proofs of her flirtation at tbe age of
fifteen, with a schoolfellow.
"At sixteen she is said to have been
Infatuated with ber musk teacher. At
seventeen she announced that she
would marry a foreign title or never
web, as we can prove by witnesses.
"From her eighteenth year," contin
ued the report, "she has been noted
for extravagances. Some of ber bate
cost $100, and she bought one last
week that cost $75.
"As early as ber sixth year ber terri
ble temper appeared. At that age she
is known to bare threatened to set fire
to the house. It can be shown by
three different servants tbat she once
tried to send tbe butler to buy a gun,
although the waa barely seven then."
The investigator then leaped tightly
from ber childhood to ber girlhood
again and wrote: "She baa repeatedly
been beard to say that no husband
could rule ber and that abe would nave
her way about things or make things
red hot for a mile square. She baa also
been beard to say that all bullying hus
bands should be drowned.
"When you first came on tbe scene
and began paying your addresses to
ber she pronounced you a ninny. Tbe
butler will make affidavit to this. It
was ber mother tbat brought about the
match. She told the daughter that she
could run away afterward If she didn't
like your antics. Her maid will make
two or more affidavits to this.
"We have also learned the Important
fact tbat she looked a long while Into
a gunsmith's window only a month
ago. and there was a dangerous gleam
In ber eyes as she turned awsy. This
point has a value that my keen law
yer will see at once. Any Judge will
charge the Jury that this Is a highly
significant circumstance."
When Mrs. Perry bad reached the
end of this report she spresd It out
on the table without trying to conceal
it though It was not bers and bad
been feloniously opened by ber. To ber
surprise and Indignation one, two,
three tears rolled down on ber pretty
little nose.
"Marjory, whst does this mean?" de
manded Livingston as be entered the
room and placed tbe letter In ber
bands.
"And. Livingston, wbst does this
mean?" she demanded as she pointed
to the sheets on the table.
Five minutes were spent In exchang
ing and reeling reports.
Then Livingston Perry ssld: "Mar
Jory. I'm going out to horsewhip tbe
scoundrel who slandered you this wsy!
I owe It to myself as your husband!"
"I wish I were a man as big and
strong as you." responded Msrjory.
"Whyr demanded Mr. Perry, taken
aback.
"Because because." said she, "I'd
like to do tbe same thing to tbe man
who made tto report about yoa."
And people are still commenting oa
bow long tbjt honeymoon has lasted
and saying that neither could have
don better by looking tbe whole world
over.
Webster's Prssenee ef Mind,
Once when Daniel Wbster was ad
dressing a political meiung la raneuU
ball the standing multitude within the
ball, pressed by those who were en
deavoring to enter from without be
gs a to sway to and fro, a solid mass
of human bodies, as helpless to coun
teract the movement as If Fa oeull
ball were being rocked by aa earth
quake. Tbe orator was la the midst
of a stirring appeal, urging the neces
sity f Individual cxertloa and un
flinching patriotism to avert the dsn
gers tbst threatened the political
party whose principles be espoused,
when be perceived tbe terrible swaying
of tbe packed assembly and tbe Im
minent danger that might ensue.
Webster stopped short la the middle
of a sentence, advanced to the edge
of the platform, extended bis arm la
a authoritative attitude and. In a
stentorian voice of command, cried
out "Let each man stand firm!" The
effect was Instantaneous. Each man
rood firm, tbe great beating mass of
humanity regained Its equilibrium,
and, ssve tbe tong4reeth ef relief that
Med te. sf. perfect etlt'neM ernrd
TtiV exc.a!n? 'be great nratvr, 1a
Ut (4-1 government!"
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The reason tishv it rnri-e tr anA mimr ntli !. l-..i.. .1 t t
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