Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-08-01
velIs'al
osidon
b LOUlsE 3. CUMMINGS.

There may be many ways BY which
a girl with q fortune may propose to
the man she wants for a 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 expedierts
have been published. This is probably
because the matter is delicate one,
concerning only the contrac citing par
ties.
George Parkinson was looking for
some signal from Leticia Scarborough.
He was sensitive fellow and would
make no advances himself whatever.
Miss Scarborough had 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 sec
her without stumbling on q fresh ar
rival of flowers sent by some fellow
as a 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 liza wom-
an with a future wanted man with
out one for 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
"oovens. but had disappeared like
those comets which. hav,ns once once CIR
cled around the sun, go forth never to
return, Out Of the withered flowers
they left George gathered hope. II
one way at least his position was pref
cradle to theirs-they had ~ 1,aced a gulf
between themselves and the lady by
proposing to her. George had done
nothing of the kind. So long as he
was not 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
or opera would follow; more calls;
flowers. Then the scene would sud-
" ii sNf0
screen when the films have run out.
The lady would remain; the man
would take himself out of her wonld
altogether.
George did not accuse Miss Scarbor-
ough of encouraging these men. He
knew that she wished simply to be
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, ii. he could bring him.
self, as he expressed it, to ask her t.
share her fortune with him, that he,
too, would not cease to revolve about
the central sun and 90 out into space?
1t is a common thing for wcmen to
bring men to declaration by some
artifice, but there are few cases of a
man scheming for proposition from
a woman. Indeed, such condition il
an anomaly. George determined to do
that very thing. He did not pout al
something she had said to him; he did
not look languishingly at her nor drop
his eyes before her gaze. He told her
that he was going to far country to
take up a new abode, never to return.
This was worse-far worse-than the
subterfuges women resort to, because
they usually mix up quantum of
truth in their statements, and in any
event custom excuses them for saying
one thing and meaning anv.....: nn.
George deliberately lied. zs
He was somewhat encouraged when
be made the announcement of his in
tended departure to her to see her