The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-11-08
Bidding For
a Wife
Two SuitOrs Make It q
Jack Pot
By F. A. mitchell

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
In America marriage brokerage is
practically unknown; in Europe there
are places where it is used not only
by persons Of lower or middle grade.
but by those Of rank. One day q
young man entered the Office of a
marriage broker in an italian city and
asked the proprietor to get him a wife.
The broker sat down at table, opened
. blank book, took up a pen and be-
gan to ask the man questions.
Name"
Richard Thurston wilkins"
"Agew
Twenty eight"
Occupation
mo occupation"
'TncomeT
give thousand francs"
"NationalityT
American"
'Residence?"
1.-THE state of California"
II fear, Mr.. Wilkins, that your in
come is insufficient to secure you a
wife from among the better classes,
but l will see what can do for you.
! know Of a young lady who is refined
and educated, but her parents are very
poor and anxious to shift the expense
Of her keeping on to other shoulders
than their own. 1t may be that they
would accept sutton for her with
no better income than yours. At any
rate, ! will see If an introduction
would be worth while. Call again to-
morrow"
Mr.. wilkins was the next day in.
formed that the broker had persuaded
6ignor Amodeo to consent to an intro
duction. There was nothing binding
In this. 1t was simply that the parties
to the contract might see and talk with
each other. In short it was the first
preliminary step.
"Supposlng I don't fancy the lady ?"
asked Mr.. wilkins.
In that case the custom Is that you
pay my brokerage. That Is ALL"
Mr.. Wilkins assented without asking
what the amount would be. thereby in
curing the distrust Of the broker, who
insisted on prepayment of his commits
sion. wilkins assented to this, paying
the modest sum Of 30 francs ($1W. The
broker explained that his charges were
sometimes as high as thousand
francs, but In the case Of one with so
small an income he had made the
charge minimum.
wilkins was introduced to Blanca
Amodeo. She was a dark eyed signo-
rina seventeen years of age. modest
looking and with very soft voice.
During the first part of the Americans
visit Signor Amodeo remained in the
room, but later left the two alone
This loosened wilkins tongue. and he
strove to draw out the young lady. He
found her quite willing to be drawn
out. and 1t was not long before the
TWO were chatting PLEASANTLY. Will
kins was an entirely different man
from any she had met before. He
lacked the amenities Of an Italian-in-
deed. seemed to her a trifie brusuue-
but this was more than atoned for by
a certain frankness and honesty that
charmed her. He was not backward
In giving his estimate of European
customs and the superiority Of Ameri-
can methods. Signorina Blanca did not
take offense at this, but 1t was evident
from the snap in her bright eyes ac.
companying what she said that she
was chatting him.
Nothing was said during the call
about its object. wilkins took his
leave as ignorant of what the young
lady thought of him as when he had
entered. Nevertheless he surmised
that he had not made a disagreeable
impression. Before leaving he asked
permission to call again. and his re
quest was cheerfully granted. This
looked favorable for what the gir
might do in the premises.
wilkins instructed the broker to ex
plain that in America couples were per
mitted to get acquainted before be
coming engaged He was also told Ia
say that no immediate decision was ex
pected from the young lady.
Signor Amodeo consented to the de,
lay. but not to the privileges common
In America during an engagement
Since there was to be nothing similar
to an American engagement, this die
not matter The father had the Who'll,
affair In charge, and no word came ex
cept from him. Wilkins called at the
Amodeo domicile several times. Fl,
was permitted to see Signorina Amo
dec alone-that Is. no one was in the
room with them-but the door wa
left open. and there were ears in thu
adjoining apartment. After the thirt
CALL before departing wilkins said Il
her:
"Signorina, l owe you an explanation
as to why / came away from my ma
tive land for a wife. but | must asl
your indulgence in the matter. | viii
only say at present that l have m,
reasons. l have seen enough of yo,
to feel assured that you are a Lowell,
little girl. love you, and 1t is for yov
TO decide whether or no you win b
my wife"
"Signor. l appreciate the honor yot