Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-18
"A Maudlin
...@cratOI.''
tOriginal.l

tellectual. She was dignified. She
was above the petty JealOusies that
are common among certain class OF
women. And yet question if these
are really the reasons of her superior.
ity.
Emerson Falkner as soon as he knew
her wanted her for his wife. Why he
wanted her he could not explain even
to himself. 1t was not because she
was Intellectual, dignified or free from
pettiness. About the only reason he
could have expressed in words was
that she had a musical voice. She
couldn't sing a note, but one who
heard her low pitched tones would pro-
nOunce them melodious. But Falkner
didn't consider this good and suffi-
cient reason for choosing wife.
Falkner was a methodical man and
never went about anything of impor-
lance without thinking out how it had
better be done. THAT girl can never
be won by nonsense" he said. "She
must first of all respect the man she
marries and love him for his moral
and intellectual worth" Acting upon
this, he began his courtship by intro
ducing when with her, topics in which
she was most interested. He found
that her taste for books ran in much
the same lines as his own, and this
made them cOmpanionable. At times
they differed on the matter of favorite
authors or philosophical or psychology
l~,.f G.aIlr rsold-
ed for the sake of pleasing. The con-
sequence was that there was often
spirited sparring between them that
added zest to their intimacy. -
His invitations TO her were In ac-
cordance with his estimate of what
pleased her. If he invited her to the
theater, the play must be OF the high
er grade. if to the opera the music was
usually by either Beethoven or Wag-
ner. But more than to the theater or
opera he took her to lectures.
Though Falkner was a good talkef,
he was a better writer. AS an anna
teur he had done some very good lit
erary work. His forte was the essay.
On one occasion when absent he wrote
Miss Burke a series of letters which
when he returned she told him were
well worthy of publication. He sug-
gested that she keep them, and some
day they might find their way into
print. ~ ''~ ~''-1' -
When Falkner had thus done what
he could to commend himself to the
lady he desired he went to see her
one evening braced for proposal. He
told her that his friendship with her
had been so delightful that he feared
/, to risk ii by mentioning the word lore;
| thai IL that word would spoil the
Others friendship, he desired that she
would consider it unspoken. She seemed
! moved by this delicate way of putting
II. aud he was encouraged, but she
asked for time, and when he received
his answer it was that she wished the
friendship 10 be continued. He nat
urally inferred that this meant she de-
sired the love left out. He was great
ly disappointed
Hesresolved that il should be exact
Iy as she desired-a case of friendship.
His attentions were continued. He
gave her books. took her to amuse-
ments. After this had continued for
some time he said to her one day he
had often heard that word of love
spoils a lifetime of friendship, but in
their case they had proved the state
ment false. She made no reply to this,
and he construed her silence to mean
assent.
When Miss Parke was about To go to
the country for the summer Falkner
called to say goodby. On the corner
just before reaching her house boy
put a bunch of vi0lets under his nose.
Their perfume was delicious, and it oc-
Cured to Falkner to take them, with
him as parting gift. Miss Parke's
eyes lighted as she received them. and
she thanked him with a kindly smile.
They conversed for half an hour, dur
ing which she wore the flowers.
In his heart Falkner did not give up
hope OF ultimate success in winning
the girl he wanted, but during this
summer he fell iii and during his Ill
ness showed weakness which he sup
posed would ruin all. He wrote Miss
Parke how miserable he was and ended
the letter with these words: Il lie here
thinking of you as saw you last. with
the violets in your corsage. | have sent
out for some that l may inhale their
perfume the better to bring you back
to me. wish, dear heart that you
were really here to place cool hand
on my throbbing temples"
The next morning he felt much bet
ter and asked IL his letter had been
mailed, intending if Ii had not TO de-
strOy Il. 1t had gone on its way, and
he groaned The next day he was
worse and was tempted to write again,
| s'maudlin," as he expressed ii, but re-
sisted On the morning Of the third
day who should be ushered into his
room by his landlady but Miss Parke.
A few days nursing brought the in
valid to convalescence. during which
interval there came about a betrothal.
The lady had changed her mind, but,
womanlike, could not or would not
| give a reason.
Cne sisy iaier ON raIkner asked MIS-
wife WHARF, the letters he had once