Bisbee daily review., 1903-04-30
AN UNATTENDED
 ....MAR RIAGE
tOriginal.1

tended turned out very well.
 Not intended? How could that have been?"
 There was a young fellow Che was just nineteen years old and I'll call him Bob who had made up his mind that his lot would be bachelorhood. You see, his father and mother had married young. his father had died young. and, the mother being only nineteen years older than Bob, they were more like brother and sister than mother and son. For this reason Bob secuted marriage-for him.
 Bob was reading law. One day be went to court, as was his custom, to familiarize himself with the methods of procedure. It was a court of chan cery. The case being tried before the judge was claim of a young girl to the estate of an uncle who had recently died. The girl was in court. and a prettier little piece of the Lords handi- work never was turned out. At least Bob thought so, and he couldn't keep his eyes off her. It wasn't long before the girl (we'lI call her Lucy) noticed that Bob was looking at her in a way that said as plainly as words, I ad- mire you profoundly She blushed a little. looked away, then glanced side wise at him again to see the same eX- pression of admiration. She blushed again. which indicated that she recipro- cated. At any rate Bob so interpreted it.
 "rhe maker of the will had left the bulk of his property to his only broth CTS son (we'lr call him John Doe) and small sum to Lucy. but as the broth CT had married beneath him the testa- tor provided for a possible passing Of all the property to the oldest son of his sisters child. Lucy. As it would be unsafe to leave the matter long open. Lucy not being married, the will provided that if Lucy were married when she came of age the estate was to be left in the hands of trustees for three years If within that limit she had q son. the estate was to go to that son.
 How old is the claimant?' asked the judge.
 "She will be eighteen replied her counsel despondently, at noon today
 "'Is she married?
 "'No. your honor
 "'Then.' said the judge deliberately, T see no reason why after the hour of noon I should not set aside her claim and give judgment for John Doe. In case there is no objection I will ad- journ the court till ? o'clock
 "To see fortune pass away from this lovely girl was too much for Bob. He was an iInpulsive fellow, prone to de eide and act quickly. With scarcely a moment for reflection he grasped wild ly for some method of delay. If the girl could appear 10 be married, she might at least effect q compromise by requiring Der opponents to prove that she was not married. It was half past 10 o'clock, and her counsel would have three and half hours to devise some plan. Bob as lawyer knew this. and. stakcd all on q single desperate move.
 Your honor he said, rising. the claimant is my wife
 Judge, attorney. spectators. turned to Bob in wonder
 Have you proofs of your marriage: 2 asked the judge.
 Not at hand
 '''Is that man your husband? asked the judge of Lucy.
 If ever there was irresistible appeal in a mans eyes, it was in Bob's when he turned them on Lucy. He could not say to her, This is merely to gain time,' so he gave her look which meant, I beg of you not to deny what have stated Lucy's eyes re- ing in her mind no one knew She had a decision to make, and all waited breathlessly to hear it.
 Yes she said.
 And you said the judge. turning to Bob-'do you acknowledge this wom- an to be your wifeY
 "I do'
 Then if you were not married be- fore you are married now. I give judg ment in favor of the claimant
 Then, and only then, Bob saw that his intent to stave off a decision had resulted in his marriage to a girl he had never seen before and had never spoken to.
 When the court was adjourned, the claimant, her mother and Bob went into a private room for consultation All looked at Bob for an explanation He made a confession of the whole matter. There was nothing to be done but accept the situation. Bob's creden- tials were presented and found to be excellent, and the marriage was con summated."
 And turned out happily?"
 'The couple have been and are de voted to each other
 But what right had the judge to marry themF
 "The secret of that is this: Bob was perfectly well known to him as a stu dent of law (for the judge was a pro lessor in the law school Bob attended, and had very good opinion of the young man. More than that, the judge saw that nice little girl was about to be deprived of a fortune for the want of husband. He knew I was lying