26 LIFE AND WORK OF DR. A. A. MURPHREE

son was vice-president and chief attorney for the old Florida
Central and Peninsular Railway, and a power in the state
politically. Many stories are told of his influence in public
life and in business. His alert mind had a powerful grasp
of any situation confronting him, and his knowledge of men
and their motives was almost uncanny.
 Colonel Henderson liked the firm-faced, pleasant-natured,
black-haired mathematics teacher. He liked him so well he
invited the young man frequently to his home, that great old
southern domicile with the white columns and spacious rooms,
standing just across the corner from the capitol and just north
of the Supreme Court building. These visits led to the ro-
mance that resulted in the beautiful life companionship of Dr.
Murphree and Jennie Henderson Murphree.
 It was not exactly a whirlwind courtship, neither was there
undue delay in the ripening of their friendship.
 Mrs. John W. Henderson, who, at that time, was a young
lady about Jennie's age, tells the story of how Albert and Jen-
nie became engaged.
 It was Thanksgiving Day, 1896. Among the guests in-
vited to partake of the big thanksgiving dinner at the Hender-
son home were Prof. Murphree and Miss Sadie Lewis, now
Mrs. John W. Henderson.
 "We knew they were up to something when Albert took
Jennie to ride in the old phaeton, behind a big horse named
Ball. They drove gaily away and returned shortly before
dinner, even more gay. Jennie did not need to 'tell me that
her beau had proposed and that she had accepted him. Need-
less to say, dinner was a lively affair. Jennie told me later
that they had driven out about three miles east of town to a
cross-roads and there he had proposed."--
 The wedding took place in August of the next year, 1897.
It was a brilliant wedding in fine old Southern style at the
home of the bride.
 "It was a summer wedding and flowers were used pro-
fusely to decorate the big living room where the ceremony
was said, and for that matter, every nook and corner of the
big home," Mrs. Henderson relates. "Jennie selected me as
one of the bridesmaids. Miss Ella Nash was maid of honor.