The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-13

ending In the same way.
Not on your hfer was the decided
response.
Neither of my two clients asked a
question as to the age or condition OF
| the other. Miss Starkweather careu
| nothing about it because marriage
with her opponent was to be mere
| legal function. Jim did not care be
cause, having once been Tilted. he
would not marry any woman. How
ever, besides my friendship for Jim
there was big fee for me-
Months passed. during which there
was no change in the situation excep'
that the property was going from bad
to worse. Miss Starkweather had
meanwhile transferred her affairs to
| an honest lawyer who gave her true
| view of the situation and refused to
keep up his income on an expectation
Of securing a slice Of the property for
himself. He also confirmed what
had said about a settlement by mar
riage though he pointed out grave con
sequences that might result from this
plan. Nevertheless he showed her how
It would render available funds for
| present use. and she determined t.
adopt it provided the party of the 9th
/ er part would consent. / preached the
plan to Jim, who was also cramped for
| funds, and assured him that. besides
releasing cert&A moneys, possibly ii
might end in settlement Of the suit
He took the matter under considera
ton and, when posted at his club for
dues and supplies that he could not
pay for. concluded TO adopt. the mar
rage plan. tried to interest him in
the lady by sounding her praises. but
he wouldn't listen to me- "She may be
Medusa for all care" he said
was obliged by the contracting par
ties to draw up paper stating the con.
ditions of the marriage. one of which
was that when it became of no use
financially to either party no opposi
ton would be raised to an annulment
or divorce. This was to be signed
just before the marriage ceremony.
The day before the wedding Miss
Starkweather's attorney came to my
office to protest against what he called
my method Of settling the suit. aver
ring that not only was it unprofessiona.
but he believed 1t would result in a
worse tangle than ever. denied that
1t was my plan. but had been suggested
to me by Miss Starkweather. had
partly assented to 1t at first. hoping to
make an amicable match, but since
this plan had failed I declined to ap-
prove the plan. Jernegan had assented
to It on account Of an immediate pres
sure for funds.
The lawyer begged me to go to his
client with him and dissuade him from
making marriage that was contracted
in enmity. consented to do so, and
when We met her I confirmed what he
said about the probable evil effects of
such a marriage.
II relieve you gentlemen" she said.
"of all responsibility in this affair, and
/ beg that you will give yourselves no
concern about 1t whatever My mind
is made up. Good morning."
That ended the matter so far as we
lawyers were concerned. But l took
! the precaution to tell Jim that the wo-
man had relieved me Of all RESPONSE
bility in the matter and asked him to
! do the same. He said that something
must be done to procure funds. for he
was on the border Of disgrace No
matter what resulted from the mar
riage he would not blame me.
The marriage-it could scarcely be
called wedding-was appointed for
II o'clock in the morning. went
with Jim to the house. He didn't
wear different clothes from his usual
daily apparel. On the way he seemed
rather melancholy. l fancied that he
was thinking of the girl who had Tilted
him. When we reached the house we
were shown into the drawing room. In
few minutes clergyman entered.
1t seemed more to me as If we were to
take part in funeral instead of a
wedding. We three sat without speak
ing till rear door was thrown open.
and the bride, in ordinary apparel, at
tended by an elderly lady. entered.
She was evidently much excited and
kept her eyes on the floor.
| The parson and l rose, but Jim sat
still. Turning to look at him, l saw on
his face an expression of establishment
and wonder mixed. He seemed glued
to his chair. Then. suddenly starting
up, he made several strides to the bride
and stopped before her. She raised her
eyes to his. but there was no surprise
] in them.
Mildred" he cried passionately.
what means this? Why did you
81 didn't"
Did you consent to this legal union
knowing me to be the groom?'
There was no reply to this. Again
she dropped her eyes to the floor. Jim
looked at her steadily for time with.
out speaking, then, turning to the
clergyman, motioned him to proceed
with the ceremony.
All these months had been WORKING
up the climax of romance without
knowing 1t. Had Jim permitted me
to tell him anything about his legal