New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-02-10
The Problem !:

By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS
The problem was this: Billy Hoxey

L
wished to marry Sallie Humiston with
out her fathers, consent, and the, old
gentleman had instituted SO 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 a 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, be bribed do
nestle to watch Miss Sallie. He had
a guard at all the railroad stations.
Every livery stable in the place was
Miss Sallie Humiston and William
HoXey. There was more bribery in
| small ways too numerous to mention.
AS Mr.. Humiston did not consider it
practicable to lock up his 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
that his daughter was not Of age and
warned each and all that if any of
them married her he would do so at
his peril. The dominies knew that Mr..
HumistOn was a man not to be trif1ed
with, and should they offend him he
could never again be approached for a
subscription.
One day young man with a peachy
complexion and a full black beard, car
rying 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
he 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 he had peculiar gait. The
young man picked up newspaper at
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.. Humiston' s
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
! flee, that there was 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 house
! to know if his daughter was there and.
learning that she was not, jumped into
an auto and reached Ridgewood just
as the train bearing the young man
with the black beard and the yelled
! lady was pulling out of the station.
Mr.. HumiStOn noticed the yelled lady,
but since she was a 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 If this couple could have any
thing to do with the warning he had
received. He concluded to shadow
them. Jumping into his auto. he kept
half block behind them.
The auto ahead of him stopped at a
church.
81 have it, said the shadower II
! 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
I'll 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
MI. duu1SLOu "N1Ieu iii Iuc COuDl0
had entered the church, then went in
behind them and took a seat in the
last pew from the altar. The tall wo.
man and the short man were waiting
near the chancel. Presently side
door opened. and clergyman in vest
! ments entered, took his position on the
chancel. and the couple stood before
him.
Mr.. Humiston heaved sigh of re.
lief. After ALL this was the couple that
was to be married, and they did not
answer to the description Of Sallie and
Billy at all. He did not wait for the
conclusion Of the, ceremony. but sped
! home in his car.
Sallie had not returned. While he
was asking questions about her tie
doorbell rang, and he was handed q
telegram. Opening it. he read:
Ridgewood.
Married. Do forgive u.s. papa.
!. SALLIE
%h1