Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1916-07-06
A Way Around
An Obstruction
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

A young man called at the Office of
Jenkins & jenkins, attorneys. and was
shown into the private room of the
senior partner
"Ah, Mr.. Quimby," said the lawyer,
laying aside some papers ON his desk
and turning his revolving shair side
ways, ''please be seated"
The young man took a chair beside
the desk. The lawyer continued:
81 have sent for you, Mr. Quimby, to
ask your assistance i'll very impor-
tant matter which concerns clients of
mine A gentleman is very i'll and de-
sires to see his daughter married, be-
lieving he will not recover The young
ladys heart is set on a certain man
Maidenly modesty prevents her pro
posing to the young man, and he has
not proposed to her. Meanwhile her
father is urging her to marry before he
dies. The young lady has appealed to
me to find some way out of her diff
Guilty. have suggested that she marry
some one who it is to be understood
will part from her Immediately after
the ceremony and who viii agree to |,
divorce so soon as her father dies The
family is wealthy and will pay iber
ally for the loan of husband. Would
you consider an offer?'
The young man thought before max
ing reply, but finally said:
II myself have set my heart on
certain girl She is or will be wealthy,
and, strange to say, her father is very
Ill, the same as in the case you men
ton. Unfortunately / have nothing
except a small salary. If could get a
thousand or two in this way ! would
be emboldened to propose to the girl
love, but l don't know whether she
would have me. However, l would not
be any worse off than am now if she
refused me-
"YQu would be $4,000 better off,
said Mr.. Jenkins.
"Ten thousand!"
II am authorized to offer you that
l sum-"
4 Mr.. Quimby debated with himself
whether or not TO accept the offer.
What deferred him was that he feared
the girl he wanted would not marry q
/ divorced man. Mr.. Jenkins said that
of course that was matter in which
( he had no concern and MI. Quimby
must decide it for himself. Mr.. Quinn
by said that he would take the matter
into consideration, but the lawyer OBJ.
4 jected, saying that, owing TO the fact
that the father of his client was very
A low and possibly his life might be
saved by the settlement of the matter
troubling him, an early answer was
desired. He offered $4,000 if Mr..
Quimby would give an immediate con
sent. This settled the matter, and the
lawyer handed the young man con
tract to read.
This is not signed by the lady" said
Mr. Quimby after having perused the
document
4 II will bring her here, and she viii!
sign 1t in your and my presence"
every WELL" replied Quimby, ''but
there is one thing l should like to have
put In the contract-that no one EXCEPT
the bride, her father and her attorney
shall know of this marriage. | prefer
to make 1t known to the lady wish
4 eventually to marry at such time as l
may select"
Certainly" replied Mr. Jenkins, and
he added the clause to Mr.. Quimby's
satisfaction.
The lady was phoned for, and while
she was on her way the groom to be
asked the lawyer when the wedding
would take place. Mr.. jenkins gave
him to understand that he could talk
that matter over with the young lady
when she arrived. Mr.. Quimby was
evidently much wrought upon by the
plunge he was about to make and
walked the floor nervously. Presently
the door was thrown open and an office
boy ANNOUNCED a lady. He was di
rected to show her in. A few minutes
A elapsed, during which Mr. Quimby kept
his eyes fixed on the door anxiously.
Then a young girl entered, blushing
and smiling.
A Agnes" cried the young man in
establishment
Les, 1oIu-ASneS.
"oh, Agnes, was intending to- do
this to make raise to offer myself to
4 you not temporarily, but for good!"
why did you intend to take all this
trouble! If you wanted me, why didn't
you tell me SOP
But it seems that you want another
fellow"
oil
4 Agnes was smiling, and grin over
spread the face of the attorney. Tom
Quimby began to understand.
Wei, then, Agnes" he said, Selling
the contract and tearing it into bits,
I'm yours If you want me-"
How about the girl you were to
marry after the divorce?" she asked