The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-11-20
YOUNG MRS. MAYNARD
A Leap Year Story.

New YORK city mouse TO ENJOY lie III
her own way.
This consisted in entertaining friends
of her own choosing. among whom she
became a social leader, but she never
aspired to lead in high society and liv-
ed quietly, considering the extent of
her fortune. Having a 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, l should like to have that man
for friend" And soon she had him for
a friend. He became her very devoted
friend. Il shall see you next-when? r.
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 lat home" afternoons.
Baxter grew communicative in his
brusque way. giving the widow the
benefit of his grumbling against fate
for keeping him unemployed.
r,,op+ ono+bo. bo eo IA ono
day. st 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 |
have any"
"Oh, yes; 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 a good turn for some de-
cent folks in distress every now and
then. | don't do it because l am a
charitable or generous sort of fellow. |
do it because 1t pleases me-"
Then they rambled on In 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 candor
and admiring her frankness. Baxter
sat down again.
81 want to talk to you about your
self" said Mrs. Maynard calmly. and
if 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"
"Get married. He sprang from his
chair with flush of anger on his face
and perfectly new revelation in 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 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 he
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 eomrade no
more 80, then" he said to his own
soul. "she cares nothing about me
nothing 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.
Wont you sit down" she asked
sweetly.
He sat down with something rather
like growl
"Yes." she went on; I'm 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 10
sham love to woman to swindle her
out of her money!
81 didn't say word about swindllng
a woman out of her money
mo. of course you did not say that
But what else is it if one makes sham
love to woman IN order to get hold Of
her money!
"But why make sham love to her!
why not get to love her In spite Of her
money! Suppose | know Young wo-
man who admired you greatly and has
money and who, | think, would marry
you if you tried for her.
"Tried for her What way of put
ting ity'
"My friend, do not be too excited; do
not insist on riding the high horse quite
so much. We are people of the world,
you and L."
81 am not" he interrupted, land |
didn't think you were either"
"Oh well, we live in the world. and
we have to recognize its ways and to
fall In with them more or less. Now.
suppose this young woman did admire
you and that l told you thought
could help you and make things easy
for you. why should you not begin by
making love to her and end by falling
In love with heretofore or after mar
riage? | don't think it matters very
much, but on the whole fancy It had
better begin after than before"
"You are In chatting humor today"
he said moodily.
az? Not the least in the world. am
thinking only of your good"
'aThen please don't think Of 1t any
more-in that way"
"In that way? Why, what harm
could 1t do you to marry rich young
woman who would be very fond of
your
"But don't care about her. don't
want her. Who is sheY
"Oh, come now, as If could tell you
her name after the way in which you
have taken my offerw
"Your offerl You have no right to
make any offer Of the kind. You are
not The Matrimonial News or what
ever it Is called"
"But, now, seriously" she said, lis II
fair that my friend should be cut of
| from al chance OF marrying the man