The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-09-23

GAART alton over and de-
SHaSN u cided that tn ey
GE~nNx would do the pick
0AON I ing and choosing
themselves.
The parents stole a march on
their daughter and chose Alexander
Broadwood-a perfectly respectable
and perfectly presentable young
man who, if he was rather weak in
the upper story, was possessed of a
father whose money was sufficient
to balance any little defects in the
son. II Anna married Alexander,
they reasoned, her life would be
thenceforth free from care. Not a
thing could they see against the wis
dom OF this choice-which had been
arrived at after a thorough can
vassing of the list of candidates.
and when the parents announced it
to Anna, together with calm state
ment of the reasons therefor, they
expected her to appreciate and ap-
plaud their work. But she didn't.
Instead she exercised her rights and
vetoed the proceedings of the par
entail congress; which veto was
promptly and unanimously over-rid-
den and she was ordered to marry
Alexander. The great weakness of
Annals position lay in the fact that
she could not dispute any of the
statements her parents made with
regard to the qualifications of AL
eXander-and that she had no op-,
posing candidate to present! She,
thought over carefully her list of,
admirers but could find no one she.
wanted to marry. Her mind lin
gered longest over Clinton Howard
but there were objections to him.
He had no money and had once
been harum-scarum sort of fell
low. He was very good looking, was
now working hard to establish him
self as a lawyer, and had the most
charming manners imaginable. At
least so Anna thought.
Clinton called that very evening.
He and Anna discussed several SUBJ
jects, he always succeeding in
bringing her over to his view of the
matter discussed. How different
from Alexander who always agreed
with her! When he had gone Anna
thought: What a wonderful brain
Clinton has, after all. And how
really charming his manners are.
wonder how one feels when they
are in love?"
FOR the next few days all she
could think of was Clinton. A few
days after his call upon Anna he
went to see Mr.. Wakefield at his
office in the city-went to see him
about some law business, for the
firm of which Clinton had just be-
come junior were handling a very
important lawsuit for Mr.. Wake
field, the loss of which would cause
him much distress of mind and de-
pletion of wealth.
Howard" said Mr.. Wakefield
when they had discussed the law
suit for some time, ''you are the
first man who has seemed really to
get grip on this case-and have
tried many lawyers in it. must
win the suit or I shall be practically
ruined-and I see clearly that you
can win it for me-"
81 can," replied Clinton, land 1
believe I am the only man that
can. Now to change the subject
want to marry your daughter"
"What?' gasped Wakefield, mar
ry Anna?"
Precisely" replied Clinton; 81
love her and believe she loves me.
l want your permission to find out,
anyway. 1 have sufficient income
and my prospects are good"
ooh, my dear Howard" cried
Wakefield, 81 couldn't think of it.
Annals mother and have already
chosen a husband for her."
'Has Anna agreed to your
choice?" asked Clinton.
NO." faltered Wakefield, mot
yet"
well, then, give me a chance"
persisted Clinton.
GO" MUST refuse" said Wakefield
sternly.
every well, them" retorted Gin
ton, II throw up your case. l will
throw it up in full court tomorrow
and state my reasons; could find
reasons"
"Oh, don't do that!" cried Wake
field, "give me time to consider"
Every well, I'll give you until to-
morrow morning." said Clinton.
That night Mr.. and Mrs. Wake
field talked the situation over. 1t
was a clear case of hold up; but
Wakefield must win that case. And
after all Clinton's prospects were
excellent. So Mrs. Wakefield said
to Anna the next day: "Your father
and l have been considering. AS
you don't seem to like the husband
we have chosen for you, choose one
yourself"
Anna did so, choosing Clinton,
who proposed that very night. Mr..
Wakefield won his suit-and also a
son-in-law who is now a distin-