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SEEKING A WIFE
By Elmer Broods Warrington
"Now, Ezra, remember, you are
making a brand new start in life."
"Yes, ma'am," assented Ezra in his
usual homely, old-fashioned way.
He regarded his mother in a wist
ful 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 showy 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 hired a serv
ant girl onlythat week. Ezra, who
took infinite good out of expert cook
ing, missed the grand old meals on
which he had thriven since baby
hood. Ezra was lost. Even the new suit
he wore did not feel right. Every
thing had grown strange and unnat
rural since the day when his mother
had received the news that her broth
er William had left her a fortune.
"Now, I'm going to enjoy life," she
had declared with vim. "I never saw
Niagara Falls, nor the White House,
nor the ocean. I'm going on a 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 comforta
ble and have a good time. Here's
some money and spend it freely. I
suppose when brother William's es
tate is settled up there'll be a big
plum for us. And now, Ezra, remem
ber, you're making a start in life.
You won't be plain, plodding Ezra
Tuttle any more. You're a gentle
man of means, now."
"Yes, ma'am," said Ezra, more de
pressed than ever, with a longing
glance at the discarder homespun
hanging on the clothesline and the
woods and the brook near by, where
he knew every crook and turn and
had lived, a faithful lover of nature,
for so many happy, contented years.
"The girls will be after you, too,
Ezra," went on his mother. "Don't
let 'em fool you, for you can take
your pick of the highest in the land.
Why don't you run down country and
see the Mantell folks? And the
-A, (1
"All right, Ezra, you've been a good
son."
Moore family near by 'em. One's
high up in society and the other rich,
but they won't stick up their noses
at us, now we belong to the upper
ten. You might find a wife in your
own station of life among 'em," and
Mrs. Tuttel preened herself with truly
aristocratic airs.
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
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