Connecticut western news., 1900-11-15
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YOUNG MRS. MAYNARD
A Leap Year Story.

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 The late Joshua Maynard was good enough to accumulate a considerable fortune and considerate enough to 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 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 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, I should like to have that man | for friend" And soon she had him for l a friend. He became her very devoted friend. q shall see you next-whenf 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 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 1 for keeping him unemployed. "So want another war" he said one 1 day. Ut is terribly selfish, but we are | all terribly selfish when we are hard | up."
 | "But, look here, I heard of several secrets of yours quite lately" Mrs Maynard interposed.
 Secrets of miner I don't think have any"
 | l about 1t from grateful people whom you never supposed that I knew any thing about
 | "Oh, that-there's nothing in that | would be cheaper to be dead if on, might not do a good turn for some de cent folks in distress every now ant then. I don't do it because I am , charitable or generous sort of fellow. do 1t because 1t pleases me-"
 Then they rambled on In talk abou charities until Baxter arose to go, witl the remark that he feared he was bor ing her. Mrs. Maynard assured hin that If that were the case she woul, tell him so. Convinced of her cando and admiring her frankness, Baxte sat down again.
 "I want to talk to you about your self," said Mrs. Maynard calmly, an If Baxter was surprised at this he wa astounded when she continued: "Yo don't know what to do with yourself You are wasting your life. The trut Is, my friend, that you ought to ge l married"
 "Get marriedw He sprang from hi chair with flush of anger on his fac and a perfectly new revelation In hi heart. He had not known 1t befor' He had sat with her and talked wit her day after day; he had been he friend and had heard her call him he comrade; he had found her friendshl 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 al 1 he come to realize 1t 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 T
 more. "So, then" he said to his ow
 soul, "she cares nothing about me
 nothing at all-except as friendw
 Mrs. Maynard went on without seer
 ing to take any notice of his emotio
 If, indeed, she had noticed 1t. Wont you sit downY she aske
 sweetly.
 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 mer he as
 ed angrily. Do you really mean
 say that you believe I am a man
 out of her moneyw
 "I didn't say a word about swindlil
 woman out of her money"
 "No, of course you did not say thu
 But what else Is 1t if one makes sha
 love to a woman In order to get hold
 her moneyY
 "But why make sham love to he
 Why not get to love her In spite of h
 money? Suppose I know a young "
 man who admired you greatly and h
 money and who, l think. would mar n you if you tried for her. ,, Tried for her! What a way of D,
 ting it!'
 My friend, do not be too excited; not insist on riding the high horse qui
 so much. We are people of the worl = you and l."
 "I am not" he interrupted, land
 didn't think you were either"
 "Oh, we'll, we live in the world, al
 we have to recognize It's ways and e fall In with them more or less. No