Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-09-22
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|. A WOMAN LAWYER I.
= BY HENRY wALpRoN. N

The town OF Hanley knew the Wlu-
ow Burns as moderately well OF and
having a daughter who was very plain
faced and very bad tempered
The widow also was spoken Of as
being an obstinate woman and very
commanding. When she wanted a
mudhole in the street in front of her
house filled up she commanded the
town authorities to do II, and the nuis-
ance vanished or there was a row.
When the town wanted a footbrldge
over Mill creek, behind her house, to
accommodate score Of workingmen,
she said those sons Of toll could either
wade the creek or take the long way
around, and they are taking that way
yet.
The town bought q site for q new
schoolhouse. The new building would
cut Off the widows view Of the mill
pond, and she threatened injunctions
and lawsuits until the site was
changed.
When the good wife of Jonas Rich
ards died SOM gossip that had been
buried for twenty years was revived.
The Widow Burns, as q girl, was en-
gagged to Jonas Richards, rs q young
man. They had q quarrel and a sep
aration, and each found and married
new love. Now that death had freed
them the gossips were ready to whis-
per.
Mr.. Richards had only one child-a
daughter, Nellie, eighteen years old.
Between her and the widows daugh-
ter, Vic, there was2feud, as a matter
Of course. With the young men Of the
town II was between pretty face and
a plain one, with the usual results.
Up to the time Mr.. Richards became
a widower Vios mother had very few
words of consolation for her when she
lost a beau, but later on she one day
said to her:
"That Richards girl may have a
stepmother some day to bring her to
time"
"You don't think her father will
ever marry AGAIN." was queried.
ut wouldn't surprise me-"
"But who could it be?"
"Never you mind"
"why, mother you must know some
thingl"
as it true that she is engaged to
Frank Haskell" asked the mother.
"Yes, they say So"
"And when is the marriage to come
Off"
There's no date set. He is waiting
for an estate to be settled up"
The step-mother might forbid him
the house"
"But her fatherT
"Oh, he would do Just as he was
told by his new wife, even to locking
the girl up II she made too much fuss.
Not a word Of this to anybody, daugh-
ter. I'm rather expecting Mr.. Rich.
ards to ask me very soon to be his
wife, and Of course / shall say yes
and name an early date"
How the wiles of the Widow Burns
healed the long-standing quarrel-how
the widower was drawn to her-how
he was influenced by her, though he
had not proposed marriage-need not
be told. Suffice 1t that one evening he
said TO his daughter:
II have changed my mind about
Frank Haskell"
"why, what do you mean, fatherr
was asked.
HE is not to come here any more
and neither are you to meet him any
where"
But we are engagedw
you must break It."
II must have good reasons to-"
at is enough that say So"
There were no threats. The next
day Nellie Richards met Frank Has
kell on the street, and as they walked
she told him what had occurred.
ut is the doings of the Widow
Burns" he replied. ut is more than
whispered that your father and she
are TO be married In few weeks. We
must do something"
There was q woman passing her va.
cation in Hanley, and II was under
stood that she was a lawyer. Young
Haskell secured an interview with her
10 ask III Sne were inemper VI tne
profession and to add:
81 want some legal advice. ! am
engaged to a girl whose father has
turned me outdoors"
'It is not the first case Of the kind"
"She is willing to elope with me-"
swell, why don't you do it?"
Because she is only eighteen, and
under the laws Of the state 1t would
be abduction"
''Has she got any friends over at
Grafton, for instanceT
81 think So"
swell, am going to drive over there
Thursday morning. If should find a
young lady near the schoolhouse at
about nine in the morning / should
ask her TO ride with me. You had
hattar on over Friday IN see n tailor