Putnam patriot., 1910-06-03

loved and whom she could hot eunl- vince that she loved was maddening. She execrated the law that had forced her into such a position. After wildly debating what she should do next she sent Mir. Whitmarsh the following mes- sage: Have you not heard that there are times when a woman says No meaning 'Yesr"
 The reply that came back to this was. Does & woman who says Yes mean 'Nor"
 Miss Dumbleton stamped her foot: she moaned; she did everything except tear her hair. That she would have done had it not been her crowning beauty. Then when she had recovered a bit of calmness she determined to make one more appeal She wrote:
 ..The law compels me to accept by tomorrow one of number of offers have received"
 To this the reply came: You fill me with grief. How happy would be to save yoa if only you loved me. But marriage of convenience-impossi To marry one desotediy love merely to convey upon her favor would pro fane my most sacred feelings,
 When Miss Dumbleton received this message a suspicion came to her that Mir. Whitmarsh WAS net such fool after all. Indeed. 1t occurred to her that he was playing with her. Was 1t in revenge for the treatment he had a he propose To punish her for what she had inflicted ou bis sex? At any rate. she could 20 no further she eonsid. cred the plan of inviting him to come to see her with view to determiu. ing by observation what was his real she had already Gcaaeaned herself to the utmost. and she could not bring herself te dc so any further.
 On tue morning she must accept one of her suitors or violate the law basket Of beautiful cut flowers came to her with Mir Whitmarsh's name at. tached For few moments she was overjoyed Could it be possible that he would relent? She waited awhile. but received no further word from him and abandoned herself to despair.
 .The state against Dumbletonf' called the clerk of the court.
 Miss Dumbleton stepped to the front
 .'Irene Dumbleton." said the judge you are charged by the matrimonial tIa riage laws in that you have refused to marry Alfred Trimmingham. first of ffty-four proposers. and you made no claim that he is of bad character or that he cannot support you Do you plead guilty or not guilty:'
 Guilty. your honor"
 "How comes it." rejoined the judge. that with so many suitors to choose from you cannot find one to please you?"
 The lady stood silently looking at the floor.
 "This. your honor," said the prose cutting attorney of the matrimonial bu- reau. .is the most fragrant case we have had. This woman ever since she came of a matrimonial age has drawn suitors to her. keeping them from pro posing to other women and refusing to marry any one of them herself. And now we have all these bachelors who claim that they have complied with the law in proposing to her to encum- Der the calendar with their cases trust that your honor will infiict upon her the heaviest penalty the law aI lows"
 "Once more. Irene Dumbleton, said the judge. "I ask you to choose one from among the ffty-four men who are willing to marry you. l would re mind you that the law does not permit A woman to change her mind and be released from the penalty after sen' tence has been imposed. though she may do so before she has received her sentence The extreme penalty that I can impose upon a woman refusing to marry is ten years' Imprisonment. with the addition of one year for every man who has made her proposition. It will therefore be my duty to send you to prison for sixty-four years. and when you are again free to marry. you being eighty-six"-
 "Eighty-fou your honor"
 -"you will not find a matrimonial market equal to that of today. VIII you choose?
 The woman remained silent.
 "Then, Irene Dumbleton, 1 sen tenee"-
 Hold, your honor" cried a voice. Egbert whitmarsh advanced T pro pose for the hand of this woman Irene, will you marry meY'
 ..No."
 "In the feminine vocabulary. your honor. I am told No means Yes. said Whitmarsh. and. taking Miss Dumbleton's hand. he drew 1t undes his arm and led her out of court
 EXPLODING A THEORY. n. oeaexiesi Mathod Adoptod by c