The herald., 1915-05-20
The Problem
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

lie pTODIell was lLiSs hpAAAy AtOSSI
wished to marry Sallie Humiston with
out her fathers consent, and the old
gentleman had instituted so many pre-
cautions that it was we'll nigh impossi
BILE to get through them. lie had not
locked up his daughter. for no girl
could be kept indefinitely under lock
and key by Il parent, Dut he mad hired
so many person. TO guard so man!
avenues by which the wedding might
be effected that the locking up did not
seem necessary.
In the first place, he bribed 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 To
Miss Sallie Humiston and William
Hoxey. There was more bribery In
small ways too numerous to mention.
AS Mr.. Humiston did not consider II
practicable to lock up his daughter. so
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
to get married.
They tried every clergyman In town
and failed with all. Mr.. Humiston
was well to do; he gave literally 70
churches: he informed every clergyman
that his daughter was not of age and
warned each and all that II any of
them married her he would do SO at
his peril. The dominies knew that MT
Humiston was u man not to be trifed
with, and should they offend him he
could never again be approached for a
subscription.
One day young man with a peachy
| complexion and full black beard. car
! rying a satchel. entered the main rail-
road station of the place and called
/ for ticket to Ridgewood. 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 He 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 be had peculiar gait The
young man picked up newspaper al
stand and. entering the train, took
a seat beside the yelled lady, then
opening his paper. began to read
Now. 1t happened that the conductor
of the train was one Of Mr.. Humiston's
paid spies When the train stopped al
station still within the city limitf
he sent a 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.. Humiston take an automo
bile and 60 to Ridgewood at once.
Mr.. Humiston telephoned to his hous'
to know II his daughter was there and
learning that she was not, jumped int
an auto and reached Ridgewood Jus
as the train bearing the young mai
with the black beard and the veile'
lady was pulling out of the station.
Mr.. Humiston noticed the yelled lady
but since she was a head taller thai
his daughter she did not interest him
! But when he saw her enter an aut
cab and a short gentleman with
black beard get In with her he won
dered If this couple could have any
thing to do with the warning he hat
received He concluded to SHADOW
them. Jumping into his auto. be KEEP
half a block behind them.
The auto ahead of him stopped at
church.
II have it" said the shadower. 1t
have been warned on account Of thi
couple. but they are not the one
against whom l have been warned
That woman is not my daughter. an
that little fellow is not Hoxey. Blu
I'll bet they are going to attend a wst
ding, and the conductor must hav
heard them say something to indicat
that the principals are Sallie an
Billy"
Mr.. Humiston waited till the coupl
had entered the church. then went
behind them and took seat In tn
n last pew from the altar. The tall WI
man and the short man were waitin
. near the chanceL Presently a sic
, door opened. and a clergyman in yes
q ments entered. took his position on II
% chancel. and the couple stood befol
- him.
Mr.. Humiston heaved a sigh Of r
lief. After all. this was the couple tn
was to be married. and they did n
10 answer to the description of Sallie ar
# Billy at all. He did not wait for Il
N conclusion of the ceremony. but sp'
m home In his car.
n. Sallie had not returned. While
le was asking questions about her q
doorbell rang, and he was handed