The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-07-24
A Reversal
OF Position
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS


being poor and not in a position to pro-
pose to her. The American method or
marriage Is that the husband supports
the wife. But few such expcdieEts
have been published, This Is probably
because the matter Is n delicate one.
concerning only the contracting par
ties.
George Parkinson was looking Tor
some signal from Lcticia Scni borough-
He was n sensitive fellow and would
make no advances himself whatever.
Miss Scarborough had number OF
| suitors, who, whether or no they pos
| scssed the whcrewitha 10 warrant
their asking her to marry them, were
not backward In indicating their In
tcntion. George seldom went to see
her without stumbling on fresh ar
| rival of flowers sent by some fellow
Ms preliminary to an ofrer OF his
hand. They made him bite his liz. for
he very much wanted the young lady
for himself. but was too proud even
10 indicate the fact In any formal or
informal way lie held that if n wom-
an with future wanted II man With
out one for n husband she VIII hnd n
way TO let him know that n proposal
from him will he accepted.
uIc had been on friendly terms with
hcr-to apply no stronger word-tor
some months without her giving him
the signnl. During this time other
stars had appeared In the matrimonial
heavens. but had disappeared Ike
| ,.sIl having cir
clcd around the sun. 20 forth never 10
return. out Of the withcred nowcrs
they left George gathered hope. In
one way nt least his position was pref
crnblc 10 thcIrs-thcy had placed n gulf
betvccn themselves and the lady 10y
proposlng 10 her. George had done
nothing OF the kind So long ns he
vns not n rejected sultor he was free
10 continue his attentions nd llbitum.
He noticed that they all went
through much the same course \
man would meet Miss Scarborough at
some function; would ask permission
10 call: would do 40 several times
Then an Invitation 10 theatcr. concert
or opcra would follow: more calls;
flowers. Then the scene would rud-
denly durkcn like n moving picture
screen when the llus have run out
The ndy would remain; tho man
would take himself out of her world
= altogether.
George did not accuse Miss Scnrbor-
ough Of encouraging these mcn' lie
knew thnt she wished simply tn be
. friendly with them, Ia avail herself
Y of their ntteations. for which, 10y the
bye. she always gave some Kind oil
~ return, and when she saw the usual
m signs of n coming declaration she
Il stroye 10 prevent Il, What reason had
/, he 10 suppose. n hc could bring him
!. self as he expressed Il. Ia ask her u
/, share her fortune with him. that he
:, too. would not cease Ia revolve about
the central sun aud 20 out Into spocef
II is IA common thing for women q
/" hiring men Ia declaration 10y some
D. nrtitice. but there are few cases OF
Al man schcmlng for n proposition iron
li womnn. Indeed. such n condition u
nm anomaly. Georsc determined to d'
that very thing He did not pout a
NJ ynmctmug slc had mil O. nim. hc di'
s.. uot Iu.r I.a.uiah.uliy ui her mon drol
hls exc lci1re hrr gu2c, lie t"'d he
that he wis going tp "a tar country L
- take up "a now uhojc, never io return
This was wursr-iar worse than On
suhtcriugcs Wuucu resort t", hccaus
they usually mis- mp a qnantnm
truth In their statements ANA IN nm
event custom excuses thcm for sayin
, one thing aud meaning another bu
l George deliberately He'd.
: lie was somewhat encouraged whe
, he made the announcement of his II
tended departure Ia her Ia see h'
vince. But he remembered that no on
+ likes 10 give up friend. nnd such Ill
inclination H. no proof TINT womn
viii marry man a. keep hin from -
! ng 10 foreign country fhe hsh'
l the date Of his departure. and Georg
who was trine impatient, said that
. was fixed for one week from that dn
YOU viii surely come 10 see me
: fore you roT' she asked
Certainly. But | shall he very bus
for few DAYS before I depart. ] vi
call to say farewell next Wcdncsdi
afternoon"
. ON the appointed day he called al
. was ushorcd into the library where
|. found the lady sitting AT desk wr
] ing "A letter ON his entrance she IL
j the desk 10 welcome him. After cha
tlng with him for awhile she left I
i room, saying she had little parti
n gift for him which she would bri
N back with her. George, after her VII
drawal. went to the desk for a pen
4 i'm order 10 write an address. Catchl
Fl glimpse of his name, he seemed VI
"a bic to prevent a rapid glance Mt
note. II was to the wtiter's most
innate friend, saying
"a To-day Is my parting With George ~
vi hnson Would that I were the man a
= he ne woman that ! might propose
hlrlt
|eS There wasn't much Of H. but th'
WAS nothing indefinite IN H. Geol