Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-07-14
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An UNATTENDED MARRIAG[
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81 o you think, father, that hasty
JO marriages always turn out
badlyT"
well. no, not always. I know a
case where a marriage that was not
intended turned out very We'll"
Not intended? How could that have
been?"
There was a young fellow Che was
just 10 years old, and I'll call him
Bob made up his mind that his lot
would be bachelorhood. You see, his
father and mot}eer had married young.
his father had died young, and, the
mother being only nineteen years older
than Bob, they were more like broth
er and sister than mother and son.
For this reason Bob secuted marriage
for him.
Bob was reading law One day he
went to court, as was his custom. to
famil.arize himself with the methods
of procedure. 1T was a court of chan
Gerry. The case being tried before the
judge was a claim of a young girl
to the estate of an uncle who had re-
Gently died. The girl was in court,
and a prettier little piece of the Lords
handiwOrk never was turned out. At
least Bob thought so, and he couldn't
keep his eyes off her.. 1t wasn't long
before the girl (we'll call her Lucy no
ticed that Bob was looking at her in
a way that said plainly as words, L ad-
mire you profoundly She blushed
little. looked away, then glanced side
wise at him again to see the same ex-
preston of admiration. She blushed
again. which indicated that she re-
ciprocated. At any rate Bob so in
terpreted it.
THE maker of the will had left the
bulk of his property to his only broth
er's son (we'll call him John Doe) and
a small sum to Lucy, but as the broth
er had married beneath him the tes-
tator had provided for a 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 pro-
vided 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
a son. the estate was to go to that
son.
"'How old is the claimant? asked
the Judge
"'She will be 49, replied her coun-
sci, despondently, at noon to-day
"Is she married?
"'No, your honr.'
"'Then,' said the judge. deliberately,
4 see no reason why, after the hour
of noon, l should not set aside her
claim and give judgment to John Doe.
In case there is no objection, 1 will
adjourn the court till o'clock
ITO see a fortune pass away from
this lovely girl was too much for Bob.
He was an impulsive fellow, prone to
decide and act quickly. With scarcely
a moment for reflection, he grasped
wildly for some method of delay. If
the girl could appear to be married,
she might at least effect a compromise
by requiring her opponents to prove
that she was not married. 1t was half
past 10 O'Clock. and her counsel would
have three and a half hours to devise
some plan. Bob, as n lawyer. knew
this, and though the chance was slen-
der, he staked all on a desperate move
Your honor he said. rising, the
claimant is my wife
Judge. attorney, spectators. turned
to Bob ia wonder.
Have you proofs of your mar
riageT asked the judge.
Not at hand
els that man your husbandT asked
the judge of Lucy.
III ever there was irresistible appeal
In 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 a look which
meant, L beg of you not to deny what
L have stated Lucy's eyes remained
riveted TO his. What was passing in
her mind no one knew. She had a de-
cision TO make. and all waited breath
lessly TO hear it.
Yes she said.
And YOU said the Judge turning
10 Bob-'do you acknowledge this wou-
an TO be your wife?
Then IL you were not married be-
fore, you are married now. l give
Judgment in favor of the claimant
"Then. and then only. 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 in
80 a private room for consultation. All
looked to Bob for an explanation. He
made a confession OF the whole mat
ter. There was nothing 10 be done but
accept the situation. Bob's credentials
were presented and found 10 be excel
lent. and the marriage was consum-
mated"
and turned out happily?'
"The couple have been and are de-
voted to each other"
But what right had the judge to
marry them?"
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-
fessor in the law school Bob attend
ed 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 fortune for the want
OF a husband. lie knew l was ly-
ing"
''You. father. You don't mean"
That l am Bob2 Yes. l am. You
should forgive your father for the lie.
my boy. because you are Lucy's old
est son. and by it 1 not only provided
for your being. but gained you a for
tune al the same time"
Father. l forgive you. There are
times when 4 lie is invaluable. In
siapaDOiiS SIM