Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-12
A Conundrum,.
l0riginal.l

IoI young iduJ, Inougn within few,
years of the time when in calling nron
one of them she would probably ash -
he was looking for her father or motr
er. In this case the two had hoou
friends for years. When the girl was
child and he in the twenties, she hod,
been accustomed to climb into his Ian
and hug him. She had got over that
They were sitting I'M the library Of tbo
girls residence, she on a divan, no IN
an easy chair, The windows and doors
were open, and breeze blowing ovor
the garden brought in delicious nor
fume of flowers. The man was sneak.
ing:
you don't remember your mother
do your
mo. You know she died when 7 was
fve But 1t seems to me l know her
from her letters, many Of which I have
found and have read over and over
again"
"Have you come among her papers
upon copy Of contract she made
with me some fifteen or sixteen years
agoT
ut was between your mother and
me and was to be kept secret"
"Oh," with slight toss of her head.
81 beg your pardon"
, ''Some day l may show it to you, but
that will depend upon circumstances"
"Indeedr'
A few weeks later the two were to-
gether in the garden.
You remember, suppose" said the
man, "the contract made years ago be-
tween me and your mother that told
you about"
And refused to say what 1t was"
There are conditions under which
may crafty your curiosity"
"Such as
well, II you marry, for instance"
I'm sure my mother could not have
entered upon any business agreement
with you whereby you were to infu-
ence me to- marry any particular per-
son."
Certainly not. I would not think Of
influencing you in such a matter
Then how can my marriage have
anything to do with itr'
Your marriage with any particular
person doesn't pertain. meant that
in case you were simply married
might show you the contract"
The girl pondered awhile, then said:
Els there any one might marry who
would have an interest in this agree
| mentr
II he could have looked into her eyes,
he would have seen cunning. Evident
| ly there was something about the sub
ject Of their conversation that pro-
foundry interested her. He glanced att
her inquiringly, but her head was bent
over a flower she was plucking
There is one" he said, "who If you
married him would have no interest in
the agreement"
"You speak in riddles"
! A smile lowered about her lips, but
she kept her back to him, picking a
handful Of flowers. When she turned
the smile was gone.
"There is my cousin WILL" she said.
IF married him, would he have any
interest in the agreement
"Not after the wedding"
"But before the wedding"
THAT would depend upon whether
he desired wedding with you"
Would it depend upon anything
felse?"
Yes; upon whether you desired a
wedding with him."
I'm other words, this contract would
interest him land mel only In case we
wished to marryY
you have drawn a conclusion not
based on proper foundations. In other
words, you have perpetrated a raj
lacy"
Suppose" she went on after fran
ing another question, II should marry
you. Would you be interested In the
contractr
He started and cast a quick glance
at her. Was she stating hypothet1cai
case for the purpose Of trapping himl
That I fear-I mean-yOu wouio
not be likely to marry me-
But If shouldT
The contract would be Of no mo-
ment to me-"
II like this conundrum." she SAID
|
cealed. Let me see-if l marry youn
tell me the answer. My marriage WIN
any particular person doesn't pertain.
There Is one could marry who wouiu
have no interest In the agreement =
l. married VIII. it would only interes.
him II he wished to marry me, anu
even then 1t would make no difference
II married you, you would have ~
interest In 1t. What Is there to base
guess on?'' :,
] Nevertheless wish you would
guess it,
He spoke ruefully. She cast glance
mp at him.
Suppose tryT
you can't guess It
81 can The contract Is that-nef'
is."
She pulled out a small paper va
haA kno- &,,.R~aa kva har halt and uA1o