Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-03-17
The Problem
b. LOUISE 3. CUMMINGS

gentleman had instituted SO many pre-
cautions that 1t was well nigh impossi-
Bile to get through them be had not
locked up bis daughter. for no girl
could be kept indefinitely under lock
and key by a parent. but be 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
1 a guard at all the railroad stations.
Every livery stable in the place was
paid not to furnish conveyance to
Hoxey. There was more bribery In
small ways too numerous to mention
As Mr.. Humiston did not consider 1t
practicable to lock up his daughter. 50
did he refrain from forbidding her to
meet Mr.. Hoxey. He was aware that
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 50 nj
his peril. The dominies knew that MIR.
with. and should they offend him he
could never again be approached for a
subscription.
One day young man with peachy
complexion and full black beard. car
rying 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 q
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. BE 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
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 at
station still within the city limits
he sent telephone message to Mr..
Humiston. whom be caught In his Of.
Zee. 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 teiephoned to his house
to know II his daughter was there and.
learning thatShe was not. jumped into
an auto and reached Ridge wood 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 bead taller than
bis daughter she did not interest him
But when be saw Der enter an auto
cab and short gentleman with
black beard get In with her be won
dered II this couple could have any,
thing to do with the warning be had
received he concluded to shadow
them. Jumping into his auto. be kept
half a block behind them.
The auto ahead Of him stopped at a
| church
Il have it" said the shadower. 81
have been warned ON account OF this
couple. but they are not the ones
| against whom | have been warned
That woman Is not my daughter, and
that little fellow Is not Hoxey. But
III bet they are going to attend a wed
ding. and the conductor must have
heard them say something to indicate
that the principals are Sallie and
Billy"
Mr.. Humiston waited till the couple
had entered the church. then went In
behind them and took 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 a clergyman in vest
ments entered. took his position on the
chancel. and the couple stood before
him.
/ Mr.. Humiston heaved sigh or 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 be
1 was asking questions about her the
doorbell rang. and he was handed q
telegram. Opening 1t. he read:
Ridgewood.
Married, Do forgive US. papa
SALLIE
Mr.. Humiston crushed the message
in his hand and growled. But before