Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-03-22
CHAPTER Iy.-Cos71s17rn

Copyright 1898. by J. P. Hppincott Col
CHAPTER IV.-CoS71NUED.
"Isn'tit becaus-- goa don't really want
wife at all, yourself real wife 2" she
asked.
practically, perhaps"
Sand yet you must marry?"
"Before midnight, tonight"
"You are a lawyer?'
81 ann
"You look like an honest man."
Il try to be, so far as it is compatible
with my profession"
"You surely wouldn't Intentionally
wrong wonlan?"
"No, madam"
''You are in some legal tangle that
can be settled only by your having a
wife at once?''
precisely"
''You want her for specific purpose,
and then you have no further use for
her?'
eyes,"
''What do you propose to do with her
then?'
IT supposed that such an advertise
ment would call out individuals to
whom a large sum of money would be
ample compensation for the services re-
quired."
''You propose to pay her to act as
your legal wife, to meet some law, and
then to sink into oblivion?"
II imagine that such an arrange
ment would be pleasanter than the
possession of husband without
money, to some women"
''Pleasanter than the possession of
some husbands and their weight in
diamonds to any woman"
Ethan myself, for example. Yes,
madam
"But it's not high grade of court
ship, is it?"
mo, madam"
sand you don't expect to secure
woman worthy to be wife,"
"No, madam"
"You know that you are casting
pearls before swine, yet you seem to
ignore the possibility that they will
trample them under their feet and turn
again and rend YOU
POSSIBLY I had not thought far
enough into the future.''
'Surely you'd not respect the wom-
an who sold her life to the bondage of
a wife without husband, in exchange
for your gold?"
II should hardly need to respect her"
"Would you respect yourself, moving
about as man in the world, with
woman of whom you were ashamed liv-
ing somewhere as your legal wife,"
Stanton had reached a point of des-
peration. He rose from his chair as he
replied:
madam, your line of argument is
correct. Appreciate it and agree with
it; but don't carry it on any further for
a moment, or you will shake me from
my position, when, perhaps, had bet
ter not be shaken. Allow me briefly to
lay before you the incidents and argu-
ments which brought Inc to act as l did.
Possibly you may agree with me. At
least I am convinced that I shall value
your opinion
The story was told, and came to an
end with a sigh and the remark:
II vowed last night that, if I could
prevent it, Richard Raymond should
rot have the property. The possibility
of reaching some one through such an
advertisement presented itself. SIM
ply realized that, with no desire to
marry, T was sacrificing nothing, and
hoped to find a woman similarly stu
ated, to whom an abundance of money
would be a blessing sufficiently appre-
ciated."
The lady's eyes had losttheir sparkle,
but not their fire. Her lips had lost
their color and their smile and curves
of scorn. They were firmly pressed to-
cether, and there were strength and
character in them.
'Sir,'' she said, hardly above whis-
per, "you really have no right to place
such a condition before woman and
ask her Judgment. BY nature she is
turned too easily to sympathy or pre!n-
dice to be held responsible for her opln-
ion in such a case.'
cat least you mean that you appre-
clate my position?'
eyes"
"And you desire to accomplish the
end in view?"
eyes,
"Surely you would not advise the risk
Of lifelong. misery to the woman, re-
gardless of myself, in an attempt to Sc
cure what you call real wife on such
short notice?''
':No.'
every we'll. That is where I stood,
with the only means to accomplishing
the end the condition that be married
before midnight
"Then, sir She hesitated. Her
ewes were fastened on spot in the
rug. He waited, feeling his heart beat
ing, and wondering why. A moment,
and she added: ut shall be DONE"
'sMadam-"
'sDon't speak to me, please she said,
Hitting her hand without raising her
eyes. 81 an only woman, and there
are reasons why this touches me deep
er than wish. know of one who will
serve your purpose perfectly. You can
trust her. She will neither fail nor de-
ceive you; but know that there is
condition she will require. Give me
your promise that you will accept 1t,
and I will send her to you
"What is it?'' Stanton asked.
81 cannot rightly put it for her. She
will have to tell you for herself after
-, hoe bar mart ~