The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-03-27

expended my patrimony
8A3 pretended my matrimony.
played poker, lawn-tennis, and bucket
~shops-parted soon with my money In
many ways. But there remained n
role OF the wearer Of cap and bells
that l had not played. That was the
seeker after buried treasure. To few
does the delectable Juror come. But
of all the would-be followers in the
footprints Of King Midas none a
found a pursuit SO rich In ~pleasurable
promise.
But, going back from my theme a
while-as lame pens must do was q
fool of the sentimental sort. saw
May Martha Mangum, and was hers.
She was eighteen. the color OF the
white ivory keys Of a new piano, beau
.tiful, and possessed by the exquisite
solemnity and pathetic witchery OF an
unsophisticated angel doomed to v
in a small, dull, Texas prairie-town.
May Martha's father vas a man hid
den behind whiskers and spectacles.
He lived for bugs and butterflies and
all insects that fly or crawl or buzz
or get down your back or in the but
ter. He was an entomologist, or words
to that effect. He spent his life
seining the air for flying fish Of the
June-bug order, and then sticking pins
through 'em and calling 'em names.
There was another besides myself
who thought May Martha Mangum
one to be desired. That was Good
loe Banks, a young mar just home
from college. He had all the attain
ments to be found in books-Latin,
Greek, philosophy and especially the
higher branches Of mathematics and
logic.
II 1t hadn't been for bis habit Of
pouring out this information and learn
ing on every n that he addressed
Id have liked him pretty well. But,
even as 1t was, he and / were. you
would have thought. great pals.
But, In our talks together and In our
visits and conversation with May
Martha. neither Goodloe Banks nor
I could find out which one Of us she
preferred. May Martha was a natural.
born non-committal; and knew In her
cradle how to keep people guessing.
Old Man Mangum certainly was
absent-minded. After a long time he
found out one day-a little butterfly
must have told him-that two young
men were trying to throw a net over
the head Of the young PERSONS daugh.
ter, or some such technical appen.
dage, who looked after his comforts.
l never knew scientists could rise
to such occasions. Old Mangum oral
ly labeled and classified Goodloe and
myself easily among the lowest or.
ders of the v~ertebrates; and In Eng
lish, too, without going any further In
to Latin than the simple references
to O~rgetorix, Rex Helvetii-which Is
as far as / ever went myself. And
he told US that II he ever caught US
around his house again he would add
us to his collection.
Goodloe Banks and I remained away
five days, expecting the storm to SUBJ
side. When we dared to call at the
house, again May Martha Mangum and
her father were gone. Gone! The
house they had rented was closed.
Their little store Of goods and chat
tells was gone also.
And not a word Of farewell to eth
er of us from May Martha-not . a
white, futtering note pinned to the
hawthorn-bush; not q chalk mark on
the gate post nor a postcard In the
~postofice to give US a clue.
For two months Goodloe Banks and
I-separately-tried every scheme we
could think Of to track the runaways.
We used our friendship and influence
with the ticket agent, with livery sta.
BILE men, railroad conductors. and our
one lone, lorn constable. but without
results.
In talking things over one after
moor he said to ME:
Suppose you do find her, Ed, where
by would you profit? Miss Mangum
has a mind. Perhaps 1t Is yet un-
cultured, but she IS destined for high
er things than you could give her. I
have talked with no one who seemed
to appreciate more the enchantment
Of the ancient poets and writers and
the modern cults that have assimilat-
ed and expanded their philosophy Of
life. Don't you think you are wasting
your time looking for herr"
my idea," said I. "of a happy home
y in an eight-room house IN a grove Of
live oaks by the side Of a charco on q
Texas prairie. A piano." I went on.
with an automatic player In the sit
ting room, three thousand head OF cat
tie under fence for a starter. a buck
board and ponies always hitched at a
post for the missus'-and May Martha
Mangum to spend the profits of the
ranch as she pleases, and to abide
with me, and put my slippers and pipe
away every day In places where they
cannot be found of evenings. That"
said l, rs what is to be-and a fig,
a dried, Smyrna, dago-stand fig for
your c~urriculums, cults and philos-
ophy."
she is meant for higher things"
repeated Goodloe Banks.
whatever she Is meant for" I an
swered. lust now she is out Of peck
ct. And | shall find her as oon as
/ can without aid Of the colleges"
The game is blocked" said Good