The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-11-12
ACOMPROMlSE

Alfred Hubbard had not inquired into
the financial standing of his purchase
with the caution that he would have
observed had he been embarking in an
enterprise in which his business inter-
ests were not so completely overshad-
owed by his enthusiasm for the ideal
side of the venture.
When the knowledge Of the imminent
overthrow of his pet scheme gradually
forced itself upon him, it did not IN
nerve him. He was prolific in well de-
fined ideas concerning the management
of a newspaper, and he set about to put
them into practice with a zest that
augured either to kill or cure the popu-
larity Of his journal.
From an eight page weekly, Issued
every Thursday morning, The Register
blossomed out into four page trl-
weekly, with an occasional illustrated
supplement, and the dry as dust col
umns, which for many years had form
ed the mental bone and sinew Of Al
toona's population, were transformed
into a sensationalist's paradise OF cleo
trifying headlines and startling para
graphs.
He wrote to numerous prospective
correspondents in sister towns, request
ing them to make their communica-
lions as racy and interesting as the cir
cumstances would permit, and the
amateur pencil showers took advantage
of the license allowed them and went
In full tilt.
For three months The Register ran
along in the broad way of evildoing,
and for three months it's circulation in
creased from day to day as it had
never done before and its fame spread
throughout that part of the state. At
the end Of that time one of the many
threatened lawsuits was brought to q
head.
"Lavina Ogden versus Alfred Hib-
bard, SANDER" was the third case set
for hearing before the Altoona coun-
ty circuit court when that body was
convened in May.
The grounds on which the plaintiff
brought suit was an item which ap-
peared in The Register in April to the
effect that Miss Lavina, then of IN
certain age, was about to institute legal
proceedings against gentleman Of I'M
certain age, name unknown, for the
| pu1loining of her affections, which in
the course of time had been ruthlessly
thrown aside to make way for another
set of affections.
Miss Lavina stoutly affirmed that her
affections were intact and in her keep
ing, and always had been, and she
estimated the value Of a statement to
the contrary at $4,000.
The trial lasted more than a week,
and its progress was watched with I'M
bounded interest by the community at
large, which hardly knew whether to
be pleased or disappointed when the
Jury returned a verdict requiring Hib-
bard to pay, to the last penny, the
amount considered an equivalent for a
maligned reputation.
A month passed after the reading of
the decision, and Hubbard had made no
move toward a settlement. Through
her lawyers Miss Lavina demanded an
explanation. Hubbard that evening
called on Miss Lavina to conduct the
remainder of the disagreeable suit
| from q personal standpoint.
''Miss Ogden" he said bluntly at the
beginning of the interview, II am sorry
that anything should have been printed
in my paper derogatory to your char
acter. The item which has proved to
be such bone of contention was given
to me by correspondent as a piece OF
I news and / used it. assure you that
In the publication Of that paragraph l
was actuated by no personal motive
for until the beginning Of this trouble
you were total stranger to me.
"You claim that your pride and good
name have been injured to the extent
of $4,000. Miss Ogden, have been
studying you closely during the last six
weeks and am convinced that if there
is any woman deserving of that
amount it is yourself.
'The only property l have In the
world is the Wayback Register. The
whole plant wouldn't figure up to halt
that amount. 1 have but one sugges-
ton to make-I will give you half in
terest in The Register. Is that salts
factoryT
Miss Lavina took ten days to con-
slider the matter. Her answer made
Hubbard quail. She wanted $4,000 OF
it's equivalent within another ten days
When his second respite drew to an
end, he called on his antagonist again.
Il couldn't get the money, Miss Og'
den," he said In great contrition. 81 am
sorry for your sake and my own; more
so on your account than mine. have
come today to offer another CON-
promise. I freely give you the Way,
back Register complete. l have but
one other thing to throw in to make UP
the balance. That is myself. Do you
think that 1, individually, am worth
the five thousand and some odd dol.
lars? If so, can cancel my indebted
ness at once"
1t was unique proposal, and the law
Of the eternal fitness of things required
that it should meet with unique re-
ception.
'aThis is not sudden" she said calm
~. 81 foresaw from the beginning that
you would do this very thing. You are
now looking at this step as marriage
of convenience, but you will learn to
like me in time. There are some traits
In your character that l admire and
others that l should like to develop.
On the whole, 1 think you are worth
five thousand dollars, and think will
take you"
And that was the way Alfred Hib-
bard effected a compromise.
sr-,oA IL. uord Xvorda