The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-17
"A Maudlin
/crotOf.''
[orIaInall

Margaret Parke was very superior
girl. Il you ask in what way she was
superior, can't tell you. She was in
tellectual She was dignified. she
was above the petty 1ealousies that
are common among certain class OF
women. And yet | question If these
are really the reasons Of her superior
Try
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, dlgnifed or free from
nettiness. About the only reason he
could have expressed In words was
that she had a musical voice she
couldn't sing note, but one who
heard her low pitched tones would pro-
nounce them melodious. But Falkner
didn't consider this a good and suffi-
Gent reason for choosing a wife.
Falkner was q 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 psycholog-
ical questions, but Falkner never yield
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
CT grade. IL 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 good talker,
he was better writer AS an anna
feur he had done some very good lit
erary work His forte was the essay.
On one occasion when absent be wrote
Miss Burke 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
When FaIkner had thus done what
he could to commend himself to the
lady be 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 it by mentioning the word love;
that II that word would spoil the
other. friendship, he desired that she I
would consider 1t unspoken. She seemed
moved by this delicate way Of putting
II. and he was encouraged, but she I
asked for time, and when be received
his answer 1t was that she wished the
friendship to be continued. He nat.
uralIy Inferred that this meant she de-
sired the love left out. He was great
ly disappointed.
He resolved that It should be exact
" as she desired-a case Of friendship. /
HIS attentions were continued. lie
rave her books, took her to amuse-
nents. After this had continued for
some time he said to her one day he
had often heard that word of love
spoils 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 Parle was about to 60 to
the country for the summer Falkner
called to say goodby. On the corner
inst before reaching her house boy
mt bunch Of violets under his nose
Their perfume was delicious. and 1t &C.
cured to Falkner to take them with
him as parting gift Miss Parkes
.ves lighted as she received them, ana
she thanked him with a kindly smile.
rbev conrersed for half an hour, dur
ae which she wore the flowers.
II his heart Falkner did not give up
aoee Of ultimate success in winning
~ rifl be wanted, but during this
summer he fell III and during his i'll
sass showed weakness which be sup
,ossd would ruin all He wrote Miss
safke how miserable he was and ended
.he letter with these words: Il lie here
ninkiux OF you as saw you last, with
he xlolets II your corsage. I have sent
..,t for some that l may inhale their
.srfame the better to bring you back
s ne. wish. dear heart that you
eeez really here to place a cool hand
Il my fhrobbing temples
IRE nsxf morning he felt much bet
81 and asked if bis letter had been
snfled. intending if # had not to de-
lfos It. Il had gone on its way, and
s. eroaned. The next day he was
.'osse and was tempted to write again,
naudlin.~ IS be expressed It. but re-
sstea On The morning Of the third
~ 1ho should Re ushered into his
son. Is hts landiady but Mss Parke-
zsV dazs nursing brought the in
ana Is conraIescsnee. during which 8