Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-02-27

fortune I'M cotsSn;; = ad recently died.
! leaving the estate IN trust to his broth
'ers widow. Ellen Howe, for James
Howe's only child, Agnes Howe.
/ I had struck a bonanza. and struck
It all at once. refrained. however.
from displaying the interest felt 10
the matter, asking how could collect
claim against Agnes Howe I was
told to Ale 1t at the ONCE where then
was. Further information was given
me that Agnes Howe was in poor
health. She was living with her aunt,
who was her guardian. S. .altys y
The next question for me to solve
was what poor health In this case
meant. Judging from the call for help.
she was either a mental invalid or was
being confined as such for some espe-
cial purpose. I had heard Of cases
where heiresses had been confined as
lunatics or persons Of feeble mind that
some one else might keep control OF
their property, and It occurred to me
that this might be one Of these cases
concluded to act on this theory.
and, assuming to be Agnes Howe's at
torney, l drew up papers that would
require her guardian to bring her into
court. This led to an item in news
paper stating that Miss Howe, heiress
to the estate Of her late father, James
Howe, the multimillionaire, would be
brought to court on certain day by
her aunt and guardian, whose the
legal documents had twas keeping
her in duress. for what purpose 1t was
not known.
was In for it and must see the
matter through. In case my theory
was wrong would make myself
laughingstock. Nevertheless the ap.
peal for help. the fact that the pris'
oner was an heiress. that she was
supposed to be In bad health, all con,
spired to convince me that ! was on
the right track. Nevertheless l trem.
bled, working on theory as I was, and
with no actual proof Of the correctness
of my theory. Moreover, was claim.
ing to be Agnes Howe's counsel, while
I had no other commission from her
than a momentary sight Of a card on
which was written the word Help"
When the day came round for the
production of the body Of Agnes Howe
in court I found it necessary to sum
mon all the assistance there was IN
me. was in the courtroom when my
assumed client entered In company
with her aunt and guardian, an elderly
lady, richly attired and with cold
heartless expression Of countenance
Miss Howe was very pretty girl and
evidently In robust health.
Near me at the lawyers table was
Samuel Graves. an attorney whom
knew. wondered what he was doing
there. was not long in finding out
I was endeavoring to improvise some
way of opening my case when this at
torney arose and said:
MAY it please the court, represent
the interests Of Robert Ainsworth II
this case, the husband Of Agnes Howe
There was a hum of establishment II
the court, Miss Howe's guardian being
as much amazed as any one else.
Robert Ainsworth being sutton fol
the hand of Agnes Howe, she was re
moved from him and the world and
has been kept in seclusion. It was moi
known to the guardian that he had
secretly married her ward, and he ha:
been ignorant of the place Of his wife's
detention. Learning that she was t.
be brought into court-for what reason
ls not apparent-he retained me to gail
for him the control of his wife as bel
husband"
was thus left out Of the case, and
although my theory had been incorrect
l was saved from humiliation. "A con
ference took place between those pri
marily interested, and the guardian
who had endeavored to prevent mar
rage of an heiress with poor man
her ward having been welded, gave uI
the struggle. The husband. q young
naval officer, was permitted to take
away with him his bride. and thu
episode was ended. :
Mrs. Ainsworth before leaving cour
called for me to be presented to bel
and thanked me for the part I had TAX
en- in gaining for her her freedom. Sht
took my address and soon after receiv
Ing her property sent me a check fol
q fee which set me up in my profes
sion and resulted In fortune. l have
ever since my efforts in her behalf beer
a prime favorite with her and her hus
hand