The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-02
The Problem
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

W
out her fathers consent, and the ola
gentleman had instituted 80 many pre-
cautions that it was well nigh impossi-
BILE to get through them. He had not
locked up his daughter, for no girl
could be kept indefinitely under lock
and key by 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 a do
nestle to watch Miss Sallie. He had
guard at all the railroad stations.
Every livery stable in the place was
paid not to furnish conveyance 10
Miss Sallie Humiston and William
Hoxey. There was more bribery In
small ways too numerous to mention.
AS Mr. Humiston did not consider 1t
practicable to lock up hts daughter, so
did he refrain from forbidding her to
meet Mr.. Hoxey. He 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
TO get married.
They tried every clergyman in town
and failed with all Mr. Humiston
was well to do; he gave literally to
churches; he informed every clergyman
TINT his daughter was not OF age ana
warned each and all that II any or
them married her he would do so at
his peril. The dominies knew that MT
Humiston was a man not to be trlned
with. and should they offend him he
could never again be approached for
subscription.
One day young man with peachy
COMPLEXION and a full black beard, car
rying a satchel, entered the main rail-
road station of the place and called
for a ticket TO Ridgewood, a station
without the town limits. Before the
train left a 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
he was. He knew every one in the
town and had never seen such a per-
son there before. As the man walked
away from the window the agent no
ticed that he had peculiar gait. The
young man picked up a newspaper az
a stand and entering the train, took
a seat beside the yelled lady then,
opening his paper. began to read.
Now, it happened that the conductor
of the train was one Of Mr.. Humistons
paid spies. When the train stopped at
a station still within the city limits
he sent telephone message TO Mr..
Humiston, whom he caught In his Of
fee, that there was a strange looking
couple aboard the train and suggested
that Mr.. Humlston take an automo-
bile and go TO Ridgewood at once.
Mr.. Humiston telephoned 10 his house
10 know If his daughter was there and,
learning that she was not, jumped into
an auto and reached Ridgewood just
ms the train bearing the young man
lady was pulling out of the station.
Mr. Humiston noticed the yelled lady,
but since she was head taller than
his daughter she did not interest him.
But when he saw her enter an auto
cab and a short gentleman with a
black beard get in with her he won
dered IL this couple could have any
thing 10 do with the warning he had
received. He concluded 10 shadow
them. Jumping into his auto, he kept
half block behind them.
The auto ahead OF him stopped at
church.
Il have H." said the shadower. Il
have been warned on account OF this
couple, but they are not the ones
against whom l have been warned.
That woman is not my daughter, and
that little fellow is not HoXey. But
III bet they are going to attend we'd
ding. and the conductor must have
heard them say something TO indicate
that the principals are sallie and
Billy"
Mr.. Humiston waited TIN the couple
had entered the church, then went In
behind them and took a seat in the
last pew from the altar. The tall wo-
mau and the short man were waiting
near the chancel Presently a side
door opened. and a clergyman in vest
ments entered. took his position on the
ehancei. and the couple stood before
him.
Mr.. Humiston heaved q sigh Of re
lief. After all. this was the couple TINT
was O. he married, aud they did not
answer 10 the description u Sallie and
Rnly al all He did not wait for the
conclusion % the ceremony, but sped
home IN bis car.
gallie had not returned while he
was asking questions about her the
doorbeIl rang. and he was handed a
telegram Opening H. be read.
Riaeevood-
Married 10 forFivs us papa
Nr. Humistan crushed the message
o. his hard and gruuled But before
many minufes had elspsed anxiety got
the better - Tim D. know bow the
couple had succeeded in fpollng him
lie gave the Telegraph messenger q
Esuatch ranfalninT De fgrrireness and
tod him e. ss1,d O. b. TIRE RidEewopd
Telegraph ofice 10 brought the newly
marriea eauris bone ln time f1r din