The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-11-01
Bidding For
a Wife
Two SuitOrs Make 1t a
Jack Pot
By F. A. mitchell

In America marriage brokerage Is
practically unknown; in Europe there
are places where 1t is used not only
by persons of lower or middle grade.
but By these of rank. One day a
young man entered the office Of a
marriage broker in an ItaHan city and
asked the proprietor to get him wife.
The broker sat down at table. opened
q blank book. took up pen and be-
gan to ask the man questions.
Manner
Orchard Thurston wilkins"
"Age!"
Twenty eight"
Occupation
"Ns occupation"
'Income?
give thousand francs"
Nationality
American"
Residence"
1.-THE state Of California"
81 fear, Mr.. wilkins, that your in
come Is insufficient to secure you a
wife from among the better classes,
but will see what can do for you.
! know of 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 IL an introduction
would be worth while. Call again to-
morrow"
Mr.. Wilkins was the next day in.
formed that the broker had persuaded
Signor 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 1t was the first
preliminary step.
Surprising l don't fancy the ladyT'
asked Mr.. wilkins.
I'm 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 80 francs ($10). 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 a minimum.
wilkins was introduced to Blanca
AmodeO. She was dark eyed signo-
rina seventeen years of age, modest
looking and with a very soft voice
During the first part of the American
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 it was not long before the
two were chatting pleasantly. vii
kins was an entirely different mar
from any she had met before. He
lacked the amenities of an Italian-in
deed, seemed to her q trifle brusque-
but this was more than atoned for b,
a certain frankness and honesty tina
charmed her. He was not backwar,
In giving his estimate of European
customs and the superiority of Ameri
can methods. Signorina Blanca did no
take offense at this, but 1t was eviden
from the snap in her bright eyes &c
companying what she said that sh
was chatting him.
Nothing was said during the cal
about its object. wilkins took hi
leave as Ignorant of what the youn
lady thought of him as when he ha,
entered. Nevertheless he surmise,
that he had not made a disagreeabl
impression. Before leaving he aske
permission to call again, and his re
quest was cheerfully granted. Thi
looked favorable for what the gin
might do in the premises.
wilkins instructed the broker to ey
plain that In America couples were pei
mitted to get acquainted before be
coming engaged. He was also told L
say that no immediate decision was eS
pected from the young lady.
Signor Amodeo consented to the dc
lay, but not to the privileges commo
In America during an engagement
Since there was to be nothing simila
TO an American engagement this di
not matter. The father had the who
affair in charge, and no word came e,
cept from him. Wilkins called at IN
Amodeo domicile several times. a
was permitted to see Signorina Am,
deo alone-that is. no one was in III
room with them-but the door W;
left open, and there were ears in I'll
adjoining apartment. After the THU
call. before departing wilkins said
, her:
"Signorina, | owe you an explanatiC
as to why came away from my n
tive land for a wife, but | must al
your indulgence in the matter. | w
only say at present that | have q
! reasons. ! have seen enough of Y,
to feel assured that you are a love
little girl love you. and 1t is for v
to decide whether or no you will
my wife"