New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31
THE INS1TI4TE UIDOW.

The dangerous character of widows has Deen
recognized from the earliest times. The rule re-
garding them formulated by the elder Weller was
only the crystallized wisdom Of the ages. But, as
usual with the wisdom Of the ages, nobody ever
paws any attention to it. AS we have ever main
tanned, man learns nothing by experience. There
fore he no more heeds the warning to beware Of
widows than he does the one to shun strong drink
or to fly from temptation in general The WIDOW
has the same fatal fascination for man that the
candle has for the moth. But in the past even the
most cautious man has understood that he has
only, N beware of the other mans widows.-nOw
il appears q man must sometimes guard against
his own widow
or course such a remarkable tbsag as this could
only come from Indiana. We may say, in pass
inr that we purpose calling the attention OF the
Psychological Society to Indiana Strange occur
rences take place there altogether TOO ofen TO be
accounted for on natural grounds This latest
is reported from Indianapolis. Last spring one
G.. A. BoeclSling foolishly sued his wife Madeline
for divorce OF course he didn't get IT, More
than that Mrs. Boeckling put in cross bill,
secured a decree in her favor with $1,000 alimony
and the right TO return 10 her maiden name OF
Rovlc Mark the weakness of man-the relent-
lossness of the widow This was in April. With
in n little month-in May-whcn the birds sang in
the Indianapolis trees and the spring flowers lent
their fragrance 10 the soft Indiana breezes. we
find G. A Boeckling having paid the last install
mont on the alimony and settled with his lawyer,
AGAIN LAYING his heart at the feet of Madeline
Rovle late Boeckling. Matters ran on till the
leafy month Of June. Madeline said it was very
sudden-she must have time TO cOnsider-and con-
fer with mamma 1t was different with woman
than with a man, she told him-a woman staked
her all-she placed her heart, her happiness, her
very life in the hands of her husband. Beslces,
She said 20 him. besides, George. / fear you do
not love me for myself alone- fear it is the 81 800
alimony which you have just paid me. Prlthee
speak not so" answered George Booking, biting
his lip say not so, dearest. Do thou wilt
with the fifteen hundred, but only be mine" SO
she acknowledgement July 80 was selected
for the wedding On July 25 there came mes
sage from Boeckling which caused the light TO go
out from before Madeline. In it the gay de-
ceivcr said he had changed his mind and would
not marry her At first she stunned and
helpless. It was 10 o'clock in the forenoon. But
time can heal all things-even a crushed and
broken heart. At half-past l that afternoon
aftcr luncheon-she called on her lawycr-the same
one who had got her divorce for her-and In
strlcted him to bring suit for $4,000 for breach
Of promise OF marriage against her late husband
and later lover. At a quarter before 3 she
was back home alone with her grief.
Was there ever more pathetic instance Of mans
guilelessness and widows implacabeness?
Why Docking refused at the last moment
we do not know; but we suppose that
the spell must have become broken in some way.
The strength lie needed came to him at last But
his present position is deplorable. lie must
either pay $1,000 damages or marry the lady and
probably he promptly sued for divorce and have
TO pay as much alimOny; since the court would
no doubt take into consideration the fact that
il was his second offence and increase the almony
accordingly. The trial will come in about a
week and seems certain to 20 against him. Mean
time men go on dalying with widows if there
were no danger and il is even said in indianapolis
that the very judge who tried the divorce case and
who will try the breach OF promise case is at
this moment corresponding with Kolomo widow
who has had two husbands, and has three
children, all boys, and each the owner Of tin
horn and bean-shooter.