University of Nebraska College of Law - Yearbook (Lincoln, NE)

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I-IIS FIRST CASE '17 RE you a lawyer I was tilted back in my chair before the window, my feet propped against the sill, and a law book in hand which I was pretending to read, while in reality I was gazing dismally across the street at the little unpainted wood buildings on the opposite side. The above question fell like an exploded bomb on my ears. I dropped my feet from the window-sill and turned hastily around. She was standing in the doorway, the prettiest. -ll, sweetest. saddest, and most entrancing sight that cubbyhole of mine, which I designated by the name of office, had ever had the honor of welcoming inside its doors: or its owner. either, for that matter. I say welcoming and should write it in capitals, for to a graduate of a law school, who had established himself in a one-thousand-inhabitant western town, with plenty of prospects but no clients, such a visitor was truly a God-send and worth a royal reception. At first, I blinked. I forgot to get up, but just sat there and blinked. Then, I believe I did rise, after I had fully convinced my- self that it was no dream, and that she really was there, and that at last I had a client. A lawyer? Yes, madam, I-I am a lawyer. Come in. IVhat can I do for you ?', I believe my strange actions must have frightened her at first, for she looked ready to run, but at my words, she slowly entered the room and took the other chair I drew up for her. I mentally made a calculation as to how much a thorough cleaning and a new rug might improve my dingy cubbyhole and decided that no ex- pense should be spared to put it into decent shape. I-I was looking for a lawyer because-because I am in great trouble. I saw your sign and thought I would come to you. I bowed. That she seemed to be in trouble, I could see by the sad eyes, the trembling of the delicate chin, and the little air of weariness, as though she had suffered and the suffering had taken her strength with it. I again sympathetically asked what I could do for her. 109

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I hardly know how to tell youg it 's so terrible I can scarcely bear to think of it, myselfg but-I want to see about getting a divorce. I-X divorce! The word struck me like a blow, and for a moment I stared. Then, I quickly recovered myself. Of course! I might have known from her appearance that was her trouble. Poor young creature, some brute of a man who could not understand and ap- preciate her delicate nature had probably mistreated her. I waxed warm. I assure you, madam, that I shall be very glad, indeed, to help you. I make a specialty of such cases -I excused this on the ground that I specialized in domestic relations while study- ing law at college- and believe me, if you will state the circum- stances, you may assure yourself of my assistance. She told me her story then. She had been married six months ago, and had come out to this little western town with her husband, who traveled in the west for some wholesale house, making X- his headquarters, for the present time. During these six months their life had been very happy and things had run smoothly until two weeks before, when a misunderstanding occurred, followed by a violent quarrel. The following day, her husband had left on his usual trip but without bidding her good-bye, or saying even so much as a word to her before leaving. During the two weeks which passed she had received no word from him and at last she was forced to believe that he would not come back-that he had deserted her. , Poor young girl, what more could she do, tied to a villain like that, who had evidently taken advantage of a trusting heart, only to throw it carelessly aside, than to undo the wrong to herself by seeking her freedom once more? A deep sympathy for her rushed over me, and at the end of our interview, I warmly, nay eagerly, assured her that I would take up her case and push it through to the finish. ' My first client and my first case! I think I was the happiest man in X- that night as I sat up far into the morning and pored over dusty law books and dug out all the authorities I could on wife desertion, and refreshed my memory on the divorce laws. I was resolved to win, in fact, I assured myself I could not fail. Fail, and with those sad eyes before me, and the knowledge that a beauti- ful woman had been wronged? The idea was preposterous, and with renewed vigor I shoved my hands into my hair, and my face 111 ,