Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1907-06-20
A Conundrum.
tOriginal.1

and tbreescOre years and ten sat Wild
girl of eighteen. He was still young
enough to be considered a companion
for young lady, though withia few
wears of the time when in calling upon
one Of them she would probably ask II
he was looking for her father or moth
or. In this case the two had been
friends for years. When the girl was
child and he In the twenties, she had
been accustomed TO climb into his lap
and hug him. She had got over that.
They were sitting in the library Of the
girls residence, she on a divan, he ia
an easy chair The windows and doors
were open, and breeze blowing over
the garden brought in delicious per-
fume of flowers. The man was speak
Ing:
You don't remember your mother,
do you?"
NO You know she died when | was
FIVE But ii seems to me | know her
from her letters, many of which | have
found and have read over and over
again"
Have you come among her papers
upon copy of a contract she made
with me some fifteen or sixteen years
ngo"
NO What contraot?'
ut was between your mother and
me and was to be kept secret"
"Oh," with a slight toss of her head.
II beg your pardon"
"Some day I may show 1t to you. but
that will depend upon circumstances"
"Indeed,"
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, If you marry, for instance"
I'm sure my mother could not have
entered upon any business agreement
with YOU whereby you We're to inhu-
ence me to marry any particular per
SON"
Certainly not. would not think of
influencing you In such a matter"
"Th"n how can my marriage have
anything to do with III"
"Your marriage with any particular
person doesn't pertain. | meant that
in ease 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
ment?"
If he could have looked into her eyes.
he would have seen cunning. Evident
ly there was something about the sub
jet of their conversation that pro-
foundly interested her. He glanced at
her inqulringly, 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 .hovered about her lips, but
she kept her back to him, picking
handful Of flowers. When she turned
the smile was gore.
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 weddingT
THAT would depend upon whether
he desired wedding with You"
Would II depend upon anything
elseI'
Yes. upon whether you desired n
wedding with him"
In other words, this contract would
interest him land mel only in case we
wished to marry
You have drawn conclusion not
based on proper foundations. In other
words, you have perpetrated fal
lacy"
suppose" she went on after fran.
Ing another question. II should marry
you, Would you be interested in the
contract?'
He started and east quick glance
at her Was she stating hypothetical
case for the purpose of trapping himT'
That, | fear-l mean-you would
not be likely to marry me-"
But II shouldr'
THE contract would be OF no mo
ment to me-"
Il like this conundrum," she said
presently. The solution is well con
CeaieG. Let me See-if | marry you'u
tell me the an 'wer, My marriage with
any particular person doesn't pertain.
There is one | could marry who would
have no interest in the agreement. If
| married VIII. 1t would only interest
him II he wished 10 marry me, and
even then It would make no difference
II ! married you. YOU would have no
Interest in It. What Is there 10 base
guess ous'
Nevertheless | wish you would
guess it,"
lie spoke rueruly. She cast a glance
upa hiu,
suppose tryg'
YOU can't guess a."
II can The contract Is that-here II
u.s."
she pulled out small paper that
had been tucked in her helt and hand
ed 10 10 him. Il was hctrothal be
tween her and nor communion mazda