The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1913-07-31
A Reversal
OF Position
By LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

| gil Will Il lOl tuHC li'Ny -
the man she wants for husband, he
being poor and not in position to pro-
| pose to her The American method OF
marriage is that the husband supports
the wife. But few such expedieEts
have been published. This Is probably
because the matter is delicate one,
concerning only the contracting par
ties.
| George Parkinson was looking for
some signal from Leticia Scarborough.
He was Il sensitive fellow and would
make no advances himself whatever.
! Miss Scarborough had a number OF
suitors, who, whether or no they pos
sessed the wherewithal to warrant
| their asking her to marry them, were
| not backward in indicating their in
| tention. George seldom went to see
her without stumbling on a fresh ar
rival of flowers sent by some fellow
| as q preliminary to an offer OF his
| hand. They made him bite his lip, for
| he very much wanted the young lady
for himself, but was too proud even
| to Indicate the fact in any formal or
| informal way. He held that If Wom-
| an with q future wanted man with
out one for a husband she will find a
way to let him know that proposal
from him will be accepted.
He had been on friendly terms with
| her-to apply no stronger word-for
some months without her giving him
| the signal. During this time other
stars had appeared in the matrimonial
heavens, but had disappeared like
those comets which, having once cir
cled around the sun, 60 forth never to
return. Out Of the Withered flowers
they left George gathered hope In
one way at least his position was pref
cradle to theirs-they had placed gulf
between themselves and the lady by
proposing to her George had done
nothing Of the kind. So long as he
was not q rejected sutton he was free
to continue his attentions ad libitum.
He noticed that they all went
through much the same course. A
man would meet Miss Scarborough at
some function; would ask permission
to call; would do so several times.
Then an invitation to theater, concert
| flowers Then the scene would sud-
denly darken like moving picture
screen when the films have run out.
The lady would remain; the man
would take himself out Of her world
altogether.
George did not accuse Miss Scarbor.
ough of encouraging these men. He
klok cl, xx-;cl, civ w f0 he
friendly with them, to avail herself
Of their attentions. for which, by the
bye, she always gave some kind OF
return, and when she saw the usual
signs of coming declaration she
strove to prevent it. What reason had
he to suppose, if he could bring him
self, as he expressed it, to ask her tC
share her fortune with him, that he
too, would not cease to revolve about
the central sun and 60 out into space?
It is a common thing for women tc
bring men to a declaration by some
artifice, but there are few cases of q
man scheming for a proposition from
woman. Indeed, such a condition is
an anomaly. George determined to dc
that very thing. He did not pout al
something she had said to him; he die
not look languishingly at her nor droI
his eyes before her gaze. He told bel
that he was going to a far country tt
take up a new abode, never to return.
This was worse-far worse than the
subterfugeS women resort to, because
they usually mix up a quantum Of
truth in their statements, and in any
event custom excuses them for saying
one thing and meaning another. Blu
George deliberately lied.
He was somewhat encouraged whel
he made the announcement of his in
tended departure to her to see he
vince But he remembered that no on,
likes to give up friend, and such dis
inclination is no proof that a woman
Will marry man to keep him from go
Ing to foreign country. She asked
the date of his departure, and George
who was trife impatient, said that i
was fixed for one week from that day
You will surely come to see me be
fore you go:" she asked
, Certainly. But shall be very bus,
for few days before l depart I will
call to say farewell next Wednesda.
afternoon"
On the appointed day he called an,
was ushered into the library, where b.
, found the lady sitting at a desk writ
, ing letter. On his entrance she lief
the desk to welcome him. After chat
ting with him for awhile she left th
room, saying she had little partin
gift for him which she would brin
, back with her. George, after her with
o drawal went to the desk for a penci
6 in order to write an address. CATCHING
, a glimpse of his name, he seemed una
+ BILE to prevent a rapid glance at tn
note. 1t was to the writer's most in
). innate friend. saying:
Today is my parting with George Par
kinson. Would that were the man an
u he the woman that / might propose t
= him!
t was nothing indefinite in It, Georg
e would not have have accepted a dec
), laration of love without q proposal O
t marriage. Such would be an insul
t from a man to a woman, and why no
: from a woman-with a fortune-to a.
pOOr-man?
P! When the young lady returned b
r told her that he was broken hearted a
leaving her and that If she would mai
" him he would not go,