The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-03-25
The Problem
By LOUISE D CUMMINGS

The problem was this: BILLY lIOxey
wished to marry Sallie llumistou with.
/ out her fathers consent. aud the old
gentleman had instituted 50 many pre-
cautions that II WIS well uigh impOssi
BILE 10 get through them. lie had not
locked up his daughter. for no girl
could be kept indefinitely under lock
and key by u parent. but he had hired
so many persons to guard so many
avenues by which the wedding might
be effected that the locking up did not
seem necessary
In the FIRST place he bribed do
nestle 10 watch Miss Sallie. lie had
a guard at,all the railroad stations.
Every livery stable IN the place was
paid not TO furnish Conveyance to
Miss Sallie llumlstOn and william
IIoxey. There was more bribery In
small ways too numerous TO mention.
AS MIR. Iumiston did not consider II
practicable to lock up his daughter. NO
did he refrain from forbidding her to
meet Mr.. Hoxey. lie was aware that
love laughs at locksmiths." and for.
bidding Sallie TO meet any particular
person would be Ineffective. The prob
lem, therefore. that faced the lovers
was not how TO get together. but how
20 get married.
They tried every clergyman In town
and failed with all. Mr.. Humiston
was well TO DO: he gave literally 20
churches; he informed every clergyman
that his daughter was not OF age aud
warned each aud all that II any OF
them married her he would do so at
his peril The dominies knew that Mr..
HumistOn was man not TO be trified
with, and should they offend him he
could never again be approached for a
subscription
One day young man with n peacby
complexion aud full black beard. car.
rying a satrbel. entered the main rail.
road station Of the place and called
for a ticket 10 Rldgewood. a station
without the town limits. Before the
train left tall lady. yelled. entered
the same station and also bought a
ticket for RIdgewood. The ticket agent
noticed that there was something about
the young mans appearance that
caused him TO wonder who and what
be was. lie knew every one In the
town and had never seen such per.
son there before. As the man walked
away from the window the agent no
ticed that he had a peculiar gait. The
Young man picked up newspaper AZ
! stand and. entering the train. took
! seat beside the yelled lady. then.
opening bis paper. began TO read
Now. u happened that the conductor
" the train was one Of Mr.. HumiSton's
1aid spies When the train stopped NJ I
! station still within the city limits !
he sent Telephone message 10 Mr.. |
Humiston. whom he caught In his 81. /
Ice. that there was q strange looking |
'ouple aboard the train and suggested !
hat Mr.. Humiston take an antomo-
Tile and 60 10 Ridgewood NJ once.
Mr.. Humiston telephoned 10 his house
o know N his daughter was there and.
that she was not. Jumped into
N auto and reached Ridgewood Just
IS the train bearing the Young man
vim the black beard and the yelled
ldy was pulling our OF the Station.
Mfr. uumiston noticed the veileei lady,
nj since she was head taller than
Is daughter she did not interest him
Tut when be saw her enter an auto
alb aud n short gentleman with o
lack beard get la with her he won-
cred II this couple could have any.
hing 10 do with the warning he had
eceived He concluded 20 shadow
hem. Jumping into his auto. he kept
alf block behind tb.m.
The auto ahead of MIN stopped at n
hurchl
II have IT. said the shadower. ~
ave been warned on account OF this
)uple, but they are not tue ones
gainst whom have been warned
hat woman Is not my daughter aud
lat little fellow Is not IlDXey. But
II bet they are going to attend we'd
Ing. and the conductor must have
card them say something TO indicate
nat the principals are Sallle and
llly."
Mr.. HumistOn waited till the couple
nd entered the church. then went In
ehind them and took seat In the
st pew from the altar The tail wO'
AN and the short man were waiting
ear the chaDceI Presently side
Dor opened. and clergyman In vess
Ients entered. took his position on the
iancel. and the couple stood before
i'm.
Mr.. HumistOn heaved sigh 0s re-
r. After all this wits The couple that
as 10 be married. nnd they did not
nswer TO the description OF saline and
lily at all de did not waIt tor the
OF the ceremony. hat sped
Dme In his our.
Sallie had not returned. While he
as asking questions ab0st her the
Dorbsll rang. ana he WAS handed n
'legram. Opening Il. no read;
Ridgswood.
Do forgive uR papa.