The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-07
IN SEARCH OF 4 WIFE
ny ELMER 9. WARRINGTON.


He regarded his mother in wistful
manner. For the first time in his life
she did not seem to him like his
mother. The old familiar dimity gown
had given place to a snowy brocade.
The iron-gray hair showed traces Of
, walnut stain. There was even a sus-
! picion Of powder about the sunken
faded cheeks.
Then, too, the meal on the table.
Mrs. Rachel futile had hired a serv.
ant girl only that week.
Nov I'm going to enjoy life." she
had declared with vim. Il never saw
Niagara falls, nor the White House.
nor the ocean. I'm going ON tour,
Ezra, and take In some relatives in
New Hampshire and sort of spread
myself on all the money I'm going to
get. You say you don't want to jine
me, that you don't like rummaging
around. All right. Ezra, you've been
+ a good son and you shall have your
own way. Make yourself comfortable
and have a good time. Here's some
money, and spend it freely. l suppose
when brother Williams estate is set
tied up there'll be big plum for US.
And now, Ezra remember you're max
ing start in life You won't be plain
plodding Ezra futile any more. You're
a gentleman OF means, now"
yes, ma'am." said Ezra, more de-
pressed than ever, with longing
glance at his discarded homespun
hanging on the clothesline.
Immediately upon hearing that she
was an heiress, Mrs. futile had drawn
goodly amount from the bank and
had planned out her grand tour"
III have one grand breathing spell,
after all my years Of drudgery." she
declared, and Ezra was silent, but
he mourned in spirit. Three days Of
the slatternly new cook had given him
been a model housekeeper How he
missed the homemade sausage and
buckwheat cakes, and neighborhood
pure maple strip, the nectarlike cof-
fee for breakfast.
II am lonesome and out Of sorts"
he ruminated, and it will be an ex-
perience, anyhow. and II mother is
going to wander about and break up
the home, why not a wife? Maybe
I'll find one IN my travels-who can
tell?" and he smiled quantity.
Ezra was no clod, only homespun.
He knew fully how to conduct himself
in company and made good impress
sion with the Mantells. His rumored
fortune it was. however, that made
better one. He was soon aware OF
this, judging from the specious in.
Quiries of Mr.. and Mrs. Mantell Then
they threw Helena at his head
) She was an only daughter, tall
stately, cold as ice. Amid her state
Illness, however, Ezra soon discerned
that she was bent on capturing him
The family were truly aristocratic
that was their bent and pose They
were selfish. skimping. sacrificing
comfort to make q show.
| Three days of these people was all
could stand" soliloquized Ezra as
gracefully as he could, he took his de
, parture, feeling that he was lucky to
: have escaped still bachelor.
Then Ezra tried the Moores. They
had money and lived at a private no
/. tel. There were two girls here, one
blue stocking, the other languish
i Ing sentimentalfst. They played theil
' arts alternately. The flimsy feeding
!; at the table d'hote did the rest fol
!, Ezra. He made his adieux and strucl
e of for a rural jaunt feeling free ono,
!, more
d Then came the crisis in Ezra's life
He was passing a field hedge wher
=" his quick ear caught a moaning sound
He brushed aside the Usage orang,
!" bushes to locate man lying exhaust
ed to faintness. Beside him lay |
Then Ezra saw that he must hav,
stumbled. and one limb had fallel
athwart Of the keen blade.
u The mans eyes closed as Ezr,
. sprang to his side. The latter saw a
I a glance that the victim of the acci
It dent was bleeding to death. It wa
VI question Of speedy emergenc
& service. Within a few minutes Err
,e had stanched the ebbing life tide
bound up the limb at the cost of hi
coat, and had the satisfaction Of see
ing the man come back to conscious
ness.
Home" he just whispered, an
pointed up near rise. Ezra ran t
lie its top to discover a handsome farm
IS house a few hundred yards distant
l. He took up the man in his arms an
70 proceeded towards it.
/, You saved my life." declared Roi
ert Wadham that evening, as he an
his daughter Elinor and Ezra sat
the comfortable best room
The daughter-ah! there had com
a revelation to Ezra. Perhaps he
= pretty gratitude had stirred him MOI
- deeply than common, or her tender d.
Z votion to her father.
7 Four months later, a tired-out, di
& appointed woman, Mrs. futile got o
= the train to receive a royal welcom
! from her waiting son.
z "Oh, just to get back to the cor
: forts of home! I'm tired Of traps
Z ing!" she cried. House all in disc
Z der, l suppose?"
Z "Neatest you ever saw it," her sc
: responded. Got a new housekeeper
T What
! Yes, my wife"
z And Ezra told his mother how |
- had met, loved, wooed and welded Il
- jewel, Elinor.
-