Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-08-02

worse. one morning alLer Tue uoclol
had been visiting Mr.. Trevor the med
ical man said to Helen:
''It Is a question between your IA
theirs mind being relieved Of the sub
iect that is worrying him or his sue
cumbing. He fears he will die. you
will never marry and the estate thac
he has been at so much pains to bulid
up will become dissipated. In my
opinion if you will decide upon mar
rying he will get we'll"
"Tll come to a decision at once"
was the reply.
AS soon as the doctor had departed
Helen hurried to her attorney. She
told him that she must decide be-
TWEEN her two suitors Immediately and
a decision would not avail without n
marriage. A vague hope was in her
that Thurston would take pity on her
and solve the problem by Offering to
marry her himself. But he did not.
He treated the affair professionally.
az have looked the matter up she
said with the gravity Of Judge OH
the supreme bench, land I would ad-
wise you to marry both your suitors."
"Bothp'
"Yes, both"
"But such a marriage would in law
be bigamy."
"Not at all. There is no law Of the
land against marrying two persons at
once. There Is q law against mar
ried person marrying again during the
| lifetime Of the first consort or without
divorce. but your first marriage may be
with as many husbands as you like"
Helen looked at him in astonish-
ment.
"I stake my professional reputation
on what l say being true" added '''e
lawyer. IF you can induce both t'','Ie
men to marry you at once you can an
nounce to your father that you have
| married either one Of them you ch "Se
to name to him. After his recovery
you will have no trouble in getting tie
courts to annul the double marriage
But suppose these men will not con-
sent to such marriage"
"Try them
Helen thought hard for awhile. her
tormentor regarding her curiously.
MY advice is" he added. "for you to
write each one of your suitors an
nouncing that you will marry him at
an appointed time and place"
"Will you be presentT
Certainly. AS your attorney | must
see that you fall into no legal error"
1t is singular how much byplay will
pass between man and woman be-
| fore unmasking their feelings, nor Is
| 1t certain at just what point they come
| to understand each other. At this
/ iuncture an idea shot through Helen'S
| brain. She told Mr. Thurston to be at
her house at o'clock the next after
noon. then took her leave.
At the appointed hour Helen, array
ed in becoming costume. awaited the
coming event. At any rate. She await
ed her attorney. who at the appointed
hour rang the doorbell. He found her
In the drawing room looking very pref
ty, but woebegone.
"They have failed me-"
"How so?'
"I sent for them and told them that
would marry both of them"
"What did they say?"
Nothing. They withdrew in high
dudgeon."
"How is your fatherT
I'm q critical condition"
"What do you propose to do?'
81 have no idea what to do. called
upon you for legal advice. You pro-
posed a plan to which l acceded. 1t
has failed and am at my wits end"
Ready to marry any one?"
ANY one." She was looking not at
him. but at the floor.
81 presume that. as your attorney,
am bound to help you out"
There was DC reply to this.
"If | had not been sensible Of my
unworthineSS to secure such prize
would have long ago offered to settle
this matter for you by offering myself
as q means of solving the problem.
The lady sitting mute. the gentle
man proceeded.
| "Since your fathers life depends
upon your marriage and there IS no
| more favored man than the two most
favored men
He paused. but she did not make any
remark and he proceeded
"You might honor me hy accepting
me as q dummy to serve for the pres
ent and to be cast Off when not need
ed"
She looked up at him. Il smile broke
over her sober, not to say troubled,
features, he went to her and. bending
down. kissed her.
An hour later word came from the
| sickroom that Mr.. Trevor was sinking.
and that he begged Of his daughter to
| give him the satisfaction of seeing her
married before he died. A clergyman
| was called. and us soon rs he arrived
| Thurston and Helen went upstairs to
the invalid and Helen. knceIng beside
her father. put her arms around him
| and announced that she had come to
a decision. She was to marry Mr..
| Thurston.
What. Why. Nell. | thought you
were heSitating between two OthersT'
$50 | was. father. but that was be-
| cause Mr.. Thurston didn't ask me-"
$50 she came to my Office and asked
| me-" said ThurSton.
| IL didn't"