The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-10-20
FOR $1,000 EACH.
BY G. B. LEWIS.


Young James Harper, farmer, and
Sarah Lee, daughter of another far
mer, married for love. They had
two or three lovers quarrels, as was
quite on the cards and very natural,
but for two years after marriage no
couple ever lived more happily.
This state of affairs might have con-
tinued at least two years longer but
for Abner Jones, Esq, country JUS
tice of the peace and agent for the
Farmers Fire Insurance Company,
and sewing machines of all makes,
bought and sold. He made his ap-
pearance at the farmhouse one day.
"Well, Jim" he said, what do you
and Sarah think? I've got the agen-
cy for a life insurance company and
am going to branch out little. I
want to insure both of you. I've
got Tom Smooper and his wife, Bill
Wheeler and his wife, Silas johnson
and his wife and several others, and
I'm here to get you. I want you TO
take s., 900 apiece. If you die, Sarah,
Jim has got S., 900 to buy you mon
ument, pay funeral expenses and go
away to Niagara Falls to get over
his grief. If you die, Jim, Sarah has
got money to bury you and carry on
the farm without having to rush off
and marry again.
The squire went into further ex-
plantations. He talked life insurance
and stayed to dinner. He talked life
insurance and stayed to supper. He
talked life insurance and stayed TN
til 9 O'Clock in the evening. Then
he drank two glasses of cider, ate
three fried cakes and mince pie and
went home to make out two policies
for S., 900 each.
Tim and Sarah had decided that
such insurance was good thing.
Neither wanted to die, but if death
must come they would not be selfish
about it. It would be bond to
draw them still closer together. In
the course of a couple of weeks the
policies were delivered, the premiums
paid, and Squire Jones stayed to din
ner again and said as he finished and
wanted to lick his plate, but remem-
bered his dignity in time:
"Now, then, young folks, this is
the best thing you have done so far
in your lives. Keep on loving,
keeping up your premiums as they
fall due, and don't worry about the
future. With So, 900 coming to the
survivor in case of death you needn't t
either of you begrudge the Astors or
Vanderbilts. Sarah, you can dress
in the most expensive mourning, and
Tim, you can wear patent leather
shoes and hear Niagara roar till you
get tired of it."
1t was Squire Jones who was re-
sponsible for the insurance, but it
was Aunt Deborah who was respon-
sible for what resulted. The policies
had been carefully laid away in the
bottom bureau drawer and the sub
iect talked out when Aunt Deborah
came visiting one afternoon. She
had not been invited, nor was she ex-
pected, but she proceeded to make
herself at home, and by and by an
nounced:
"Sarah, have heard that you and
James have had your lives insured for
each others benefit, but I told 'em
you were not the woman to go into
anything like that"
''But he have" replied Sarah.
1--WE were insured two weeks ago."
"Upon my soul No one could
have made me believe it"
"But why? What's the matter" !"
'Sarah Harper, do you know that
you have the same as doomed your
self to deathl" asked asked Aunt
Deborah, in hoarse whisper.
"What do you mean, Aunty?"
"I mean that there isn't a man on
the face of this earth who wouldn't
kill his wife for the sake of s., 900 in
cash. That insurance is tempta-
ton to murder. Hundreds of wives
have been killed off every year and
you will be one of them to go before
another year rolls over your head"
The young wife laughed merrily
at the idea, but Aunt Deborah grew
more solemn and serious, and said:
"Don't fool yourself, Sarah. Jim
is Just as good husband as any oi
'em but you have put temptation II
his way. He'll be thinking of them
So, 900 all the time, and the Longer
he thinks the easier it will come fol
him to murder you. Two thousand
dollars in cash and you out of the
way so that he can marry again /:
more'n he can stand up under.
shan't be bit surprised any day tt
hear that you have been found ruur
dered. Squire Jones ought to b.
prosecuted for coaxing you into suct
a thing, and I'll tell him so before
the week is out"
Sarah continued to laugh and make
fun at the idea, and it was finally
dropped to take up soft soap and car
net rags. When she set about get
ting supper Aunt Deborah made
sneak outdoors and caught the hus