Smyrna times., 1900-11-28
YOUNG MRS. MAYNARD
A Leap Year Story.


leave the bulk of it to his widow. The
estate was not in the least involved.
and all the various charities and edu-
catlOnal 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 6 social leader, but she never
aspired to lead in high society and liv-
ed quietly. considering the extent of
her fortune. Having n 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 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"
she often asked as they were parting
His answer generally was, whenever
you like" But he never came unin-
vited. He never paid a 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.
$50 | want another war" he said one
day. 1T is terribly selfish. but we are
all terribly selfish when we are hard
up"
"But, look here. l heard of several
secrets of yours quite lately" Mrs
Maynard interpOsed.
Secrets of mine? | don't think
have any"
"Oh yes; know. l have heard
about it from grateful people whom
you never supposed that l knew any
thing about
ooh, that-theres nothing in that. 1t
would be cheaper to be dead if one
might not do a good turn for some de-
cent folks in distress every now and
then. don't do 1t because | am a
charitable or generous sort of fellow.
do it because it pleases me-"
Then they rambled on in a talk about
charities until Baxter arose to go. with
the remark that he feared he was Dor.
ing her. Mrs. Maynard assured him
that If that were the case she would
tell him so. Convinced of her candol
and admiring her frankness, Baxter
sat down again.
Il want to talk to you about your
self" said Mrs. Maynard calmly, anC
if Baxter was surprised at this he was
astounded when she continued: "Yol
don't know what to do with yourself
You are wasting your life. The trutl
is, my friend. that you ought to &c
married"
"Get married. He sprang from hi
chair with flush of anger on his fac
and a perfectly new revelation in hi
heart. He had not known it before
He had sat with her and talked wit
her day after day; he had been he
friend and had heard her call him he
10. hn bor frinnh (
grow day by day more dear to him an
more needful for him. but he had neve
until now realized the fact that he wa
absolutely in love with her. How di
he come to realize it now? Just b'
cause of the few words Of easy. kindl
friendship she had let drop. in whic
she told him he ought to get married
to get married to some other woma
and be Mrs Maynard's comrade 4
more. $50. then" he said to his ow
soul, "she cares nothing about me
nothing at all-except as a friend"
Mrs. Maynard went on without seen
ing to take any notice of his emotion
If, indeed, she had noticed it.
"Won't you sit DOWN. she aske
gweetly.
He sat down with something rath
like growl.
"Yes," she went on; "Pm quite co
vinced that you ought to get married
and to a woman with money"
"Do you mean to annoy meT he as
ed angrily. do you really mean
say that you believe ! am a man
sham love to a woman to swindle
out of her moneyT
"I didn't say a word about swindli
a woman out OF her money"
mo. of course you did not say tn
But what else is 1t II one makes shf
love to a woman in order to get hold
her moneyY'
"But why make sham love to h'
why not get to love her in spite OF J
anonora C1Inr,oao 1 knoru a rOIInp Y