Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1900-02-06
MRS. NAYNhRD'S PROPOSAL.

The late Joshua Maynard was good
enough to accumulate a considerable for
tune and conSiderate enough to leave the
bulk of it to his widow. The estate was
not in the least involved, and all the
various charities and educational institu-
tons benefited under the will were set
tied with long before the expiration of
the year allowed by law for such bust
ness. Attention to these details did
much TO occupy Mrs. Maynard's mind
during the first months Of her widOw>
hood. As she was young and had often
passed for her husbands daughter, her
mourning was not oyerpOignant or long
enduring. There was an extended jour
ney abroad, and then she settled in her
New York city house to enjoy life in
her own way
This consisted in entertaining friends
Of her own choosing, among whom she
became a social leader but she lived
quietly, considering the extent of her for
tune. Having dread of money hunters
she Skillfully spread abroad the report
that she was determined never to marry
again.
One of Der friends was Lewis Baxter
He was q war correspondent, and as
there was no war on at the time and he
ism, he had no end of time on his hands,
and, by the same token, no little difficulty
in making both ends meet. The first
time she saw him Mrs. Maynard said to
herself: Now, l should like to have
that man for friend" And soon she
had him for friend. He became her
very devoted friend. Il shall see You
next-when?' she often asked as they
were parting. His answer generally
was: whenever you like But he
never came unlimited. He never paid a
formal call, or came. unless she specially
wished it, on one of her ''at-home" aft
ernoOnS.
brusque way, giving the widow the bene-
ut Of his grumbling against fate for
keeping him unemployed
80 | want another war; he said one
day. 1T is terribly selfish-but we are
all terribly selfish when we are hard up
Il have heard several secrets of yours
quite lately Mrs. Maynard interposed
Secrets of mine? | don't think
have any"
''Oh, yes. know. I have heard about
1t from grateful people whom you never
supposed that | knew anything about
"Oh-that-there's nothing in that. I
would be better to be dead, if one might
not do a good turn for some decent folks
IN distress every now and then. | don't
do 1t because [ am a charitable or gener-
GUS sort of fellow. | do it because it
pleaseS me-"
Then they rambIed on in talk about
charities, until Baxter arose to go, with
the remark that he feared he was boring
her. Mrs. Maynard assured him that if
that were the case she would tell him So
Convinced of her candor and admiring
her frankness, Baxter sat down again.
Il want to talk to you about yourself"
said Mrs. Maynard, calmly, and if BaX-
ter was surprised at this he was aston
ished when she continued You don't
know what to do with yourself. You are
wasting your life. The truth is. my
friend, that YOU ought to get married.
Get married. He sprang from his chair
with flush OF anger on his face-and
perfectly new revelation III his heart He
had not known it before. He had sat
with her and talked with her day after
day; he had been her friend and had
heard her call him comrade; he had
found her friendship grow day by day
more dear to him and more needful for
him; but he had never until now realized
the fact that ne was absolutely in love
with her How did he come to realize it
now? Just because of the few words of
easy kindly friendship she had let drop.
in which she told him he ought to get
married-to get married to some other
woman and be Mrs. Maynard's comrade
no more, $50 then he said. to his own
soul, she cares nothing about me-noth-
ing at all-eXcept as friend.
Mrs Maynard went on without seem
ing to take any notice OF his emotiOn--if,
indeed, she had noticed it.
Won't you sit DOWN. she asked
sweetly.
He sat down with something rather
like a growl.
Yes she went on. Il am quite con