The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-09-09

age bureau. reau as 10
low easily and for small pay
men, they introduced their mea
and women clients to ore another
and how these int:cductions led .
marriages and the establishment OF
happy homes.
After three days Of grave,
though. over the wisdom Of giving
resp.nse to the blandishmsnts OF the
circula., Florence wet into the IL
brary and began search among tie
photo graphs of herself to find oae
tha; would do to send to the "gency.
III her lett.I to the bureau Miss
Martin abstained from giving mucn
information concerning the proper
ty she owned.
On the day after Florence posted
the letter, Dick Stevens, the town
MARSHAL. happened to be passing
along the sidewalk in front of hef
home and he stopped to chat with
her for :. lew minutes as she trlm-
med some rose bushes near the
fsnce.
After a week of anxious waiting
for an answer to her letter, Flor-
snce went to the post Office one morn
ing and received the expected mis-
sive. Hurrying home she tore it
open, and as she did so, photo
graph fell out. 1t was the likeness
of a handsome mid.ile-agei man,
and the accompanying inclosnre
| stated that the writer and pros2ec-
I tive husband OF Flo: enco would al
rive IN Pineyille the next day to have
a talk with her about the adVisa-
bility Of their being Joined in mar
rage.
| Florence almost counted the nln-
utes until the next Gay when there
cs me knock On the door.
II would like to speak to Miss
Florence Martin sad the visitor,
who, though OF preoosscssing fac
ial appearance. and fairly we'll dress
ed. spoke in a tone Of voice which
showed Enthusiastically that he had
been indulging in some intoxicating
beverage.
II anu Miss FlCreE Martin.
You. Miss Martini" the pros
pective spouse said huskily as he
rose to his feet rather unsteadi1y.
why, there must be some joke
say, is this your picture?" and he
took Florence's photograph from HE
coat pocket and tlrust it closely up
before her sace.
Yes, that is. l had it taken--it
was three years ago-I know look
cider but-' said Florence in
quick, disjoirted lite eXclamations
that had anything but a modifying
effect cn her guest. He picked up
his hat. went quickly to door and
bracing himself against the panel,
was bold and shameful decep-
began to upbraid Florence in no un-
| Certain terms for what he declared
ton"
I've spent a whole lot OF money
70 come here" he exclaimed ia an
| ger. Ito find that you're twenty
years older than the woman in this
picture. he flung the photograph
into the hall and kept up TRADE OF
abuse until Florence coul.' stand it
no longer. She sent 10 rbe door
and tried TO close it. but the fellow
resisted her efforts. Thea as she
was about to fall from her excite
ment she heard the voice O Marshal
Stevens saying.
What is this man trying to do.
! Miss Martini
He insuited me gro-sly. she
cried. Make him get away at
once.
The marshal put his hand on the
strangers shoulder anc was about
to take him, to jail when Florence
interposed and tols the Office. TO
simply take him to the gate AMI
and make him go on about his way.
Stevens obeHed her instructions
and then returned TO earn Of the
strangers business in town. The
marshal told her that lie was pes,-
ing ner home when he heard the an
CRY voice Of the man at the covr
They talked for Yer an hour.
When the marshal left the house
his face wore a happy iLck. Sev-
eral weeks after the visit Of the
man from the marriage bureau the
Pineville Evening News containing
an article of interest to the whole
county
1t was the story Of the m2r7iaga OF
Florence Martin and Dick Stevens.