The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-03-22

sbops-parted soon with my money In
many ways. But there remained one
role Of the wearer of cap and bells
that | 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 has
found a pursuit so rich in pleasurable
promise.
But, going back from my theme a
while-as lame pens must dol was a
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 live
in q small, duh, Texas prairie-town.
May Martha's father was 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
SEEMING 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 man 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 his habit OF
pouring out this information and learn
ing on every one that he addressed
I'd 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
! could find out which one of US she
preferred. May Martina was a natural
lOlH uDu"SUlJtltLttly anu hhoW AL hSh
cradle how to keep people guessing.
Old Man Mangum certainly was
absent-minded. After q long time he
found out one day--a little butterfly
men were trying to throw a net g
the head of the young person, a daugh-
ter, or some such technical appen-
dage, who looked after his comforts.
never knew scientists could rise
to such occasions. Old Mangurn oral
ly labeled and classified Goodloe and
myself easily among the lowest Or
ders Of the vertebrates; and in Eng
fish, too, without going any further In
to Latin than the simple references
10 Orgetorix, 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 sub
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 wa 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
~postotiice to give us a clue.
For two months Goodloe Banks and
I-separately--trled 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
noon he said to me-:
Suppose you do find her, Ed. where
by would you profit? Miss Mangum
has a mind. Perhaps 1t is yet I'M
cultured, but she Is destined for high
er things than you could give her. |
have talked with no one who seemed
to appreciate more the enchantment
Of the ancient poets and writer's 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
In an eight-room house In a grove of
live oaks by the side of a charco on a
Texas prairie. A piano." | 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, is what Is to be--and a fig.
a dried, Smyrna, dago-stand fig for
your curriculums. cults and philos-
ophy."
She is meant for higher things"
repeated Goodloe Banks
Whatever she is meant for" I an.
swered, lust 10y she Is out Of peck
ct, And | shall find her as soon as
can without aid of the colleges"
The game Is blocked said Good
Toe, putting down q domino; and we
had the beer.
~ W -. |
Shortly after that q young farmer
whom | knew came into town and
brought me a folded blue paper. He
said his grandfather had Just died. ]
KE IT