The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-31
A Reversal
OF Position
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS


marriage is that the husband supports
the wife. But few such expedierts
have been published This is probably
because the matter is a delicate one.
concerning only the contracting par
ties.
George Parkinson was looking for
some signal from Leticia Scarborough.
He was a sensitive fellow and would
make no advances himself whatever
Miss Scarborough had d 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 fresh ar
rival Of flowers sent by some fellow
as 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 future wanted man with
out one for husband she will find
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, go 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 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-
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
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 a coming declaration she
strove to prevent it. What reason had
he to suppose, IL he could bring him
self, as he expressed 1t, to ask her to
share her fortune with him, that he,
too, would not cease to revolve about |
the central sun and go out into space?
1t Is a common thing for women to
bring men to a declaration by some
artifice, but there are few cases of a
man scheming for a proposition from
a woman. Indeed, such a condition is |
an anomaly. George determined to do
that very thing. He did not pout at
she had said to him; he did |
not look languishingly at her nor drop
his eyes before her gaze. He told her |
that hewas going to a far country to |
take up 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. But
George deliberately lied.
He was somewhat encouraged when
ne made the announcement of his in,
ended departure to her to see her
vince. But he remembered that no one
likes to give up friend, and such dis
Inclination is no proof that woman
will marry man to keep him from 60
ng to a foreign country. She asked
he date of his departure, and George,
who was trife impatient, said that il
vas fixed for one week from that day.
you will surely come to see me be.
ore you go" she asked.
Certainly But shall be very busy
or few days before depart. l will
all to say farewell next Wednesday
afternoon"
On the appointed day he called and
vas ushered into the library. where he
ound the lady sitting at a desk writ
ng letter. On his entrance she left
he desk to welcome him. After chat
ing with him for awhile she left the :,
DOM, saying she had little parting /
lift for him which she would bring !
Jack with her. George, after her with. [
travail. went to the desk for a pencil {
n order to write an address. Catching 9
glimpse OF bis name, he seemed una
lie to prevent a rapid glance at the
tote. II was to the writer's most in
innate friend. saying:
Today is my parting with George Par
linson. Would that / were the man and
lie the woman that l might propose to {
iiml
There wasn't much of it. but there {
vas nothing indefinite in IL. George
would not have have accepted a dec
nration of love without a proposal of
marriage. Such would be an insult
rom a man to a woman, and why not
rom a woman-with a fortune-to "a
When the young lady returned he
old her that he was broken hearted at