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Beecher at one time had a great desire to stand square before the world. Major Pond, on Beecher’s request, went to Mrs. Beecher and begged her to sue for a divorce. At the same time Tilton was asked to secure a divorce from his wife. When all parties were free, Beecher would marry Mrs. Tilton and face the world an honest man–nothing to hide–right out under the clear, blue sky, blown upon by the free winds of heaven!

This was his heart’s desire.

But all negotiations failed. Mrs. Beecher would not give up her husband, and Tilton was too intent on revenge–and cash–to even consider the matter. Then came the crash.

* * * * *

Tilton sued Beecher for one hundred thousand dollars’ damages for alienating his wife’s affection. It took five months to try the case. The best legal talent in the land was engaged. The jury disagreed and the case was not tried again.

Had Mrs. Beecher applied for a divorce on statutory grounds, no court would have denied her prayer. In actions for divorce, guilt does not have to be proved–it is assumed. But when one man sues another for money damages, the rulings are drawn finer and matters must be proved. That is where Tilton failed in his lawsuit.

At the trial, Beecher perjured himself like a gentleman to protect Mrs. Tilton; Mrs. Tilton waived the truth for Beecher’s benefit; and Mrs. Beecher swore black was white, because she did not want to lose her husband. Such a precious trinity of prevaricators is very seldom seen in a courtroom, a place where liars much do congregate. Judge and jury knew they lied and respected them the more, for down in the hearts of all men is a feeling that the love-affairs of a man and a woman are sacred themes, and a bulwark of lies to protect the holy of holies is ever justifiable.

Tilton was the one person who told the truth, and he was universally execrated for it. Love does not leave a person without reason. And there is something in the thought of money as payment to a man for a woman’s love that is against nature.

Tilton lost the woman’s love, and he would balm his lacerated heart with lucre! Money? God help us–a man should earn money. We sometimes hear of men who subsist on women’s shame; but what shall we say of a man who would turn parasite and live in luxury on a woman’s love–and this woman by him now spurned and scorned! The faults and frailties of men and women caught in the swirl of circumstances are not without excuse, but the cold plottings to punish them and the desire to thrive by their faults are hideous.

The worst about a double life is not its immorality–it is that the relationship makes a man a liar. The universe is not planned for duplicity–all the energy we have is needed in our business, and he who starts out on the pathway of untruth finds himself treading upon brambles and nettles which close behind him and make return impossible. The further he goes the worse the jungle of poison-oak and ivy, which at last circles him round in strangling embrace. He who escapes the clutch of a life of falsehood is as one in a million. Victor Hugo has pictured the situation when he tells of the man whose feet are caught in the bed of bird-lime. He attempts to jump out, but only sinks deeper–he flounders, calls for help, and puts forth all his strength. He is up to his knees–to his hips–his waist–his neck, and at last only hands are seen reaching up in mute appeal to heaven. But the heavens are as brass, and soon where there was once a man is only the dumb indifference of Nature.