The Sauk Centre herald., 1900-11-15
YOUNG MRS. MAYNARD
a Leap Year Story.

The late Joshua Maynard was good
enough to accumulate a. considerable
fortune and considerate enough tc
leave the bulk of 1t to his widow. The
estate was not In the least involved
and all the various charities and edu.
cational institutions benefited under
the will were settled with long before
the expiration Of the year allowed by
law for such business. Attention to
these details did much to occupy Mrs
Maynard's mind during the first
months Of her widowhood. AS she
was young-she had often passed for
her husbands daughter-her mourning
was not overpoignant or long endur-
ing. There was an extended journey
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 social leader. but she never
aspired to lead in high society and liv-
ed quietly, considering the extent of
her fortune. Having dread Of money
hunters. she skillfully spread. abroad
the report that she was determined
never to marry again.
. Among her friends was one Lewis
Baxter, Of whom she became quite
fond. Baxter was a war correspond
ent. and as there was no war on at
that time and he wasn't of much use
In ordinary journalism 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, should like to have that man
for friend" And soon she had him for
a friend. He became her very devoted
friend. II shall see you next-when p
she often asked as they were parting.
His answer generally was. whenever
you like" But he never came unin-
vited. He never paid formal call or
came unless she specially wished it on
one of her 'at home" afternoons.
Baxter grew communicative in his
brusque way, giving the widow the
benefit of his grumbling against fate
for keeping him unemployed.
day. ''It is terribly selfish. but we are
all terribly selfish when we are hard
up"
"But. look here. heard of several
secrets of yours quite lately" Mrs.
Maynard interposed.
Secrets of mine? don't think l
have any,"
"Oh. yes: I know. have heard
about it from grateful people whom
you never supposed that ] knew any
thing about
"Oh. that-there's nothing in that. 1t
would be cheaper to be dead if one
might not do good turn for some de-
cent folks in distress every now and
then. l don't do it because am q
charitable or generous sort of fellow. |
do it because it pleases me-"
Then they rambled on in talk about
charities until Baxter arose to go, with
the remark that he feared he was bor-
ing 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.
81 want to talk to you about your
SELF" said Mrs. Maynard calmly. and
IL Baxter was surprised at this he was
astounded 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"
sect marriedw He sprang from his
chair with flush of anger on his face
and perfectly new revelation in his
heart He had not known 1t before.
He had sat with her and talked with
her day after day: he had been her
friend and had heard her call him her
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 he was
absolutely in love with her. How did
he come to realize it now? Just be-
cause 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. .sbe cares nothing about me-
nothing at aIl-except as friendv'
Mrs. Maynard went on without seem
ing to take any notice of his emotion.
If. indeed. she had noticed 1t.
won't you sit DOWN. she asked
sweetly.
He sat down with something rather
like a growl.
"Yes,o she went on: "Im quite con-
vinced that you ought to get married
and to a woman with money"
"Do you mean to annoy meY he ask
ed angrily. "Do you really mean to
say that you believe ! am man to
sham love to woman to swindle her
out of her money! r
81 didn't say word about swindling
woman out Of her money"
.sNo. of course you did not say that.
But what else is it II. one makes sham
love to a woman in order to get hold OF
her money!
sBut why make sham love to her!
why not get to love her In spite OF her
money? Suppose know young wo-