The Press., 1917-08-02
Bidding For
 a Wife
Two SuitOrs Make It a
 Jack Pot
By F. A. MITCHELL

| HSke0 tue pfOpFleIOr CO get nll0 a W1IS The broker sat down at a table, opened a blank book, took up a pen and be gan to ask the man questions.
 "Name?'
 "Richard Thurston Wilkins"
 "Age?"
 '"Twenty-eight."
 "OccupatiOn?"
 "No occupation"
 "Income?"
 "Five thousand francs"
 "Nationality?"
 American"
 'Residence?"
 '@The state of California"
 "I fear, MT. Wilkins, that your in come is insufficient to secure you q wife from among the better classes but I will see what I can do for you I know of a young lady who is refined and educated. but her parents are very I poor and anxious to shift the expense of her keeping on to other shoulders than their own. It may be that they would accept a suitor for her with no better income than yours. At any T would be worth while. Call again to. morrow"
 MT. 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. It was simply that the parties to the contract might see and talk with Tn sh preliminary step.
 ''Supposing I don't fancy the lad? !? asked MT. Wilkins.
 'In that case the custom is that you pay my brokerage. That is all.'
 Mir. Wilkins assented without asking what the amount would be, thereby in- curing the distrust of the broker who insisted on prepayment of his commis- sion. Wilkins assented to this, paying the modest sum of 50 francs ($1O). The broker explained that his charges were sometimes as high as a 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
 
 rina seventeen years of age, modest looking and with a 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 it 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 trifle brusque- 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 chaffing 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 girl 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 to 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 tn America during an engagement Since there was to be nothing similar to an American engagement, this did not matter. The father had the whole affair in charge, and no word came ex- fept from him. Wilkins called at the AmodeO dOmicile several times. He was permitted to see SignOrina Amo- deO alone-that is. no one was in the room with them-but the door was left open. and there were ears in the adjoining apartment. After the third call. before departing Wilkins said to her:
 "Signorina, l owe you an explanation as to why I came away from my na- tive land for a wife, but l must ask your indulgence in the matter. I will snly say at present that have my reasons. I have seen enough of you to feel assured that you are a lovely little girl. love you, and it Is for you to decide whether or no you will be my wife"
 ''SignOr. I appreciate the honor you do me. But you are mistaken in say ing that this decision rests with me. It is my father who will act for me-"
 And if the decision rested with yOu?'
 She put out her hand and turned away her head.
 Wilkins needed no other reply. He departed to make through the broker the formal proposition for the signOri- mas hand. His instructions to the broker were listened to in silence, and when he had finished he received the following reply:
 "SignOr, if you wanted Signorina AmOdeO you have made a mistake in taking so much time to decide. While you have been considering another broker has introduced another party with much larger income than yours, and he has been accepted By Signorina Bianca?"
 "SignOrina Blanca has nothing to do in the matter. The suitOr has been ac- cepted by her father"
 'WhO is this new person, and what Is his incOme?"
 'sHe is Herr Otto Schmidt, and his income is 10000 francs"
 "YOung or OldY
 Herr Schmidt Is sixty years old"
 "Good lookingY
 "Good looking! Not at all He has