The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-02-10
III SEARCH OF A wife
gy ELMER 3. WARRINGTON.


Yes, ma'am," assented Ezra in his
usua, homely, old-fashioned way.
He regarded his mother in wistful
manner. For the first time in his life
she did not seem to him like his
mother. The cid familiar dimity gown
lad given place to a snowy brocade.
The iron:gray hair showed traces Of
walnut stain. There was even 'sus-
picion Of powder about the sunken
faded cheeks.
Then, too, the meal on the table.
Mrs. Rachel Tuttle had hired a serv-
ant girl only that week.
''Now I'm going to enjoy life," she
had declared with vim. 'I never saw
Niagara fails, nor the White House,
no: 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 therell be big plum for Us.
And now, Ezra, remember you're max
ing start in life. You won't be plain
plodding Ezra Tuttle any more You're
gentleman Of means, now."
''Yes, ma'am," said Ezra, more de-
pressed than ever, with a longing
glance at his discarded homespun
hanging on the clothesline.
Immediately upon hearing that she
was an heiress, Mrs. Tuttle had drawn
a goodly amount from the bank and
had planned out her grand tour"
I'll have one grand breathing spell,
after all my years OF drudgary," she
declared, and Ezra was silent, but
he mourned in spirit. Three days Of
the slatternly new cook had given him
indigestion. Certainly his mother had
been model housekeepsT How he
missed the homemade sausage and
buckwheat cakes, and neighborhood
pure maple sirup, the nectarlike cof-
fee for breakfast.
II am lonesome and out Of Sorts"
he rurinated, "and it will be an ex-
perience, anyhow, and If mother is
going to wander about and break up
the home, why not 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 a 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
liness, 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 a show.
Three days Of these people was all
/ could stand" soliIoquized Ezra as,
gracefully as he could, he took his de-
parture, feeling that he was lucky to
have escaped still a bachelor.
Then Ezra tried the Moores. They
had money and lived at a private ho-.
tel. There were two girls here, one
a blue stocking, the other a languish-
ing sentimentalist. They played their
arts alternately. The fimsy feeding
at the table d'hote did the rest for
Ezra. He made his adieux and struck
of for a rural jaunt feeling free once
more
Then came the crisis in EZra's life.
He was passing a field hedge when
his quick ear caught meaning sound.
He brushed aside the Usage orange
bushes to locate a man lying exhalst-
ed to faintness. Beside him lay
scythe. It was dabbled with blood.
Then Ezra saw that he must have
stumbled, and one limb had fallen
athwart Of the keen blade.
The mans eyes closed as Ezra
sprang to his side. The latter saw at,
a glance that the victim Of the acci-
dent was bleeding to death It was
a question of a speedy emergency
service Within few minutes Ezra
had stanched the ebbing life tide,
bound up the limb at the cost Of his
coat, and had the satisfaction Of see
ing the man come back to conscious
ness.
Home" he just whispered, and
pointed up near rise. Ezra ran to
it's top to discover a handsome farm
house a few hundred yards distant.
He took up the man in his arms and
proceeded towards it.
You saved my ife," declared Rob
ert Wa0ham that evening, as he and
his daughter Elinor and Ezra sat in
the comfortable best room.
uG QGuSulSI- lASIS AoQ SOA0o
a revelation to Ezra. Perhaps her
pretty gratitude had stirred him more
deeply than common, or her tender de-
votiol to her father.
Four months later, tired-out, dis
appointed woman. Mrs. Tuttle got OF
the train to receive roya! welcome
from her Weitinr :Cn.
"Oh, just tu set back to the COM
forts Of home! !'1a ticed CT trapse-
ing!" Sle cTigd. 'I;oIsa FL i 5iscz-
der, sCpp2se?'
"Neatest yen ever saw K, .er sea
responded. Cot new hcaaekGeTas."
What
Yes. ny Tife."
And Ezra I'd ais cso:n,. Cox &c
mad met, :cya> tuci &c ",':i;' . I!;s
issw'ei Si:2cr