Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-05-02

fond. Baxter was war correspondent,
and as there was no war on at that
time, and he wasn't of much use in or
dinary 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:
Nov, l should like to have that man
for friend" And soon she had him
for a friend. He became her very de-
voted 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 n
formal call, or came, unless she special
ly wished 1t. 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 1 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; 1 heard several Sc
crets of yours quite lately" Mrs. May
nard interposed.
Secrets Of mine? l don't think l
have any,"
"Oh, yes, know. l have heard about
It from grateful people whom you never
supposed that knew anything
about
"Oh-that-there's nothing in that 1t
t.n abA 20 ha 10
might not do good turn for some de-
cent folks in distress every now and
then. l don't do 1t because l am a char
liable or generous sort Of fellow. l do
1t 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 bOr-
ing her. Mrs. Maynard assured him
that II 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 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 sprung from his
'ehair with a flush of anger on his face
and a 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,
1o, 1f hAr
rade; he had found her friendship grow
day by day more dear to him and more
needful for him; bat he had never un.
til now realized the fact that he was
absolutely in love with her. How did
he come to realize 1t 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
toul. "she cares nothing about me-noth-
Ing at all-except as a friend!'
Mrs. Maynard went on without SEEM
ing to take any notice of his emotion
IL. indeed, she had noticed 1t.
Wont you sit DOWN. she asked.
sweetly.
He sat down with something rather
like growl.
Yes" she went on, 81 am quite con-
vinced that you ought to get married
and to a woman with money
do you mean to annoy mew he
asked, angrily. DO you really mean to
say that you believe l am a man to
sham love to a woman to swindle her
out of her money!"
Il didn't say word about swindling
q woman out of her money"
mo. of course. you did not say that
But what else is 1t, If one makes sham
love to q 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 l know a young wo-