Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-05-05
IN SEARCH OF A WIFE
BY ELMER 3. WARRINGTON.


usual 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 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 Tuttle had hirod 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. 1 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 Tuttle any more. You're
q gentleman Of means, now"
"Yes, ma'am," said Ezya, more de-
pressed than ever, with a longing
glance at his discarded homespun
hanging on the clothesliEe.
Immediately upon hearing that she
was an heiress, Mrs. Tuttle had drawn
/ a goodly amount from the bank ana
had planned out her grand tour"
: "I'll 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
indigestion. Certainly his mother had
been a model housekeeper. How he
missed the homemade sausage and
'buckwheat cakes, and neighberhood
pure maple sirup, the nectarlike COT
fee for breakfast.
II am lonesome and cut of sorts, +"
he ruminated, "and it will be an ex-
iperiergce, anyhow, and il 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
"a better one. He was coon aware Of
this. judging from the specious in
.quiries of Mr.. and Mrs. Mantell. Then
they threw Helena at his head.
Sbe was an only daughter, tall,
stately, cold as ice. Amid her state
liness, however, Ezra sooE 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" 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 private ho-
tel. There we're two girls here, one
a blue stocking, the other anguish
ing sentimentalist. They played their
arts alternately. The fimsy feeding
at the table dhote die the rest for
Ezra. He made his adieux and struck
off for rural iaunt feeling free once
more.
Then came the crisis in Ezra's life.
He was passing a field hedge when
his quick ear caught a moaning sound.
He brushed aside the Usage orange
bushes to locate man lying exhaust
ed to faintness. Beside him lay a
scythe. 1t 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. 1t was
a question of a speedy emergency
service. Within a 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
its top to discover handsome farm
house a few hundred yards distant.
He took up the man in his arms and
proceeded towards it.
"You saved my life," declared Rob
ert Wadham that evening, as he and
his daughter Elinor and Ezra sat IN
the comfortable best room.
The daughter-ah! there had come
q revelation to Ezra. Perhaps her
..x4,, o,ot;+u5o hod ctirrod him mora