The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-03-26
The Problem
b. LOUISE q. CUMMINGS

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. 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, he bribed a do
nestle to watch Miss Sallie. He had
a guard at all the railroad stations.
Every livery stable in the place was
paid not to furnish a conveyance to
Miss Sallie Humiston and William
Hoxey. There vas more bribery in
small ways too numerous to mention.
As Mr.. Humiston did not consider it
practicable to lock up his daughter. 80
did he refrain from fo%rbidding 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
vas 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
Humiston was a man not to be trifled
with, and should they offend him he
could never again be approached for a
subscription.
One day a young man with a 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 een such a 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 a newspaper at
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 n Of Mr.. Humiston's
paid spies. When the train stopped at
q station still within the city limits
he sent a telephone message to Mr..
Humiston, whom he caught In his Of
fee, that there vas q strange looking
couple aboard the train and suggested.
that Mr.. Humiston take an automo-
bile and go to Ridgewood at once
Mr.. Humiston telephoned to his house
to know II his daughter was there and.
learning that she was not, jumped into
nm auto and reached R%idgew0od 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 Il short gentleman with a
black beard get III 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 a block behind them.
The auto ahead Of him stopped at a
church.
II 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 a we'd
ding, and the conductor must have
heard them say something to indicate
that the principals are Sallie and
Billy"
/. Mr.. Humist0n waited till the couple
had entered the church.. then went In
behind them and took u sent In the
last pew from the altar. The tall wo-
man and the short man were waiting
near the chancel. Presently a side
door opened. and a clergyman in vest
ments entered. took his position or the
chancel. and the couple stood before
him.
Mr.. HumistOn heaved u 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 TAI
Sallie had not returned. While he
was asking questions about her the
doorbell rang. and he was handed a
telegram. Openlng4:t. he read:
Ridgewood.
Married. Do forgive US. papa.
SALLIE.
Mr.. Humiston crushed the message.
in his hand and growled. But before
many minutes had elapsed anxiety got
the better Of him to know how the
couple had succeeded In fooling him.
He gave the telegraph messenger q
dispatch containing his forgiveness and