The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-12-09
The Revolt of
the Genii
By WALTER ARNOLD

| ~ LBEtI. QAhE1AA was lOl ~ JCoAf'
a old and unmarried. The reason
was that in all those forty years he
had never wanted wife. That was
what he told those impertinent people
who asked him why he had remained
single. When he wanted a wife he
reckoned he would get one-he always
had got everything he wanted so far.
When lie was child his parents
spoiled him, and after their death,
leaving him with great fortune, he
continued the process by spelling HIM
self. Aladdin had a lamp and when
he rubbed it genii appeared and pro-
vided him with anything he wanted
slaves of the lamp Albert Oakham
had something just as good-a check
book with q huge bank account be-
hind it. When he scratched the check
book with a pen obsequious genif in
up-to-date clothes appeared and
brought him what he desired.
And now at forty Oakham scratched
the magic book and ordered wife.
Not just any wife, you understand,
but certain one; young lady whom
he himself had picked for the posi-
ton. OF the genii who responded to
the call Albert selected Mrs. Floren-
ella Wareham. Mrs Wareham was
society woman-that was her bust
ness. She had no money, but she knew
society from A to lizard and was the
most successful matchmaker going.
Now don't for minute picture Mrs.
Florencia Wareham as an old woman.
She was not even middle-aged. She
had been married off by her parents
when she was hardly out of her
stems to q man much older than her
self who had gone into bankruptcy
and died year after their marriage.
Mrs. Wareham was only thirty-fve,
strikingly good looking and bright as
they make 'em. Secretly she loathed
the part she had been forced to play
in the social game, but custom carried
her on.
Oakham had met Alice Brixton only
twice when he resolved that she was
the person he desired for his wife,
and had a talk with Mrs. Wareham.
Then everywhere Alice was invited
Albert was invited. Mrs. Wareham ar
ranged that. She also arranged "acci-
dental meetings between them. Mrs.
Wareham's many friends also helped
through sheer good nature. Alice was
at first a little offish. She had fixed
her regards upon struggling young
lawyer not at all in her set either So
cially or financially. This much to the
distress of her estimable parents, who
quivered with hope when Albert Oak
ham appeared on the scene.
Alice was one of those athletic girls
you know the kind She was tall, 4
stately, black-eyed. No word regard
ing matrimony had ever passed be-
tween her and her young lawyer. He
felt that aspiring to Alice was like
crying for the moon and she hesitated
to give him the encouragement which
would have caused him to overleap all
financial and social considerations and
seize upon the prize regardless of con-
sequences. Alice soon began to think
of her young lawyer with sigh-to
regard him as something desirable but
impossible-and to accustom herself
to look forward to being Mrs. Alfred
Oakham. Everything was going ac-
cording to schedule as things always
went when Albert Oakham scratched
his magic book, though sometimes he
had to scratch harder than usual.
Then all at once things began to
go wrong. Through some misunder-
standing when Alice Brixton was in
vited to house party on Long island,
expecting to meet Albert Oakham
there, Albert would be invited to a
house party in New Jersey and the
other way about There were dozens
of other little things which seemed to
be keeping them asunder or destroying
their harmony of intercourse. Some
hidden, malicious influence seemed to
be at work Albert spoke to Mrs.
Wareham about 1t. They were alone
In Albert's library at the time.
sYes,'' said Mrs. Wareham, ut is
as you say-and / am responsible. You
promised me large amount of money
if / would bring about marriage be-
tween you and Alice Brixton. You
knew her affections were engaged
elsewhere and so did /. You were
afraid that if you plunged boldly in
and demanded Alice for wife you
would simply provoke her into going
off and marrying her young lawyer
out Of hand. You wanted my skill to
bring about the result desired, and
We're willing to pay for 1t. / have
taken such contracts before and have
not been particularly ashamed. | took
this one and became ashamed | am
ashamed Of my whole life Of sham
society and everything connected with
it. Next week am going to begin as
settlement worker. And I may as
well tell you that Alice Brixton was
married to her young lawyer, In New
Jersey, yesterday and was present.
In fact, / brought them together"
She arose and started to leave the
room. 'sHey Herel Where are you
| coin o o, cried Alfred