The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-08-03


ar, to her publisher. asking her TO favor
me with a short article.
a few weeks later she sent me
charming short story. and not long
afterwards ! was bic. owing to tho
leath OF q member Of our staa. to onei
her a weekly column I'm the Eclipse.
She held cut for high terms, but / knew
hc, name would prove a draw and
being anxious to secure her services. !
paid her fully as much as they were
worth, which is an unwisc thing to do,
but sometimes unavoidable.
All this led me INFO an animated cor
respondence with Jane Leslie, and
became deeply Interested in her person
ALLY We passed from business to
ir'rdly relations and in short time
battered myself that was her most
trusted friend. Her letters were in
st.nct win wit and humor She gave
me glimpfes into mind that was truly
masculine in its breadth and depth
and toward the sud she dropped hints
which stirred me to the bottom of my
soul, and being scantily appreciated in
her own home.
Once or twice my conscience pricked
me with the recollection of my sweet
wift's diifdent question Don't you
think tha; you would Cad Jane Leslie 4
more congenial companion than you
find mew and 1 repioached myself for
making true her surmiee by the pleas
ure which / took in this correspondence.
However, as l reminded myself. it was
purely pleasure Of the intellect and
my dear enc could not be Jealous, even
Il sh knew. Still, found myself wish
ing that she could talk to me as Jane
Leslie wrote.
in the spirit OF contrariety l deter /
mined to meet her; ana when next
wrcte l begged the favor Of a personal
! was prepared for refusal,
ana felt both relieved and triumphant
when she wrote asking if she under
stood me right-dld l mean that /
gIghed to give her an illustrated inter-
view in the Eclipse? II so, she would
have her photo taken specially for me.
She might have meant to imply that
any interview she granted me would
,nly be or business lines, but l jumped
It the excuse, begged her to have the
photo taken Immediately and TO ap-
,oint day and honr Tor our meeting.
She named Saturday afternoon, and,
most unfortunately, l had promised to
ale my wife on that day to the natl
lee at the Lyceum. When went home
lroke 10 her gently that | had been
obliged to make another appointment
set out that Saturday afternoon
ather hoping that should find Jane
4eslie a spec.acled bony, unattractive
,bjoct, and waen / had reached the ad-
.fess from which she habitually wrote
felt sure that no young and lovely
literary woman could abide there.
The door was opened a neat maid
eryant ushered me into an untenanted
asking me if l were the {
ertleman who came by appointment,
nd departed to summon the authoress.
/ had not long 10 take mental note OF t
latters unimportant for in very few '
minutes the drawing-room opened, ana f
turned to meet her-whom? .
1t was my wife who stood before me- I
lushing a little and smiling pleasantly U
What brings you herey' 1 stammer- b
"Here?" she said, innocently. 81 am v
pending the day with an old school t
lend. often come here
i have come to see Miss Jane Les
-" I said, taking the bull by the horns
ith as much GOODNESS as possible.
Il know he said. "That is why y
n here
Has Miss Jane Leslie deputed you
meet me?' asked coldly. .
IF one can be s7ld to depute one
~" she answered Struggling her y
.culders. "You have asked me % y
.vo you an interview for the Eclipse, Il
nd am here to give it TO you" i
"I--you? asked Jane Leslie" q
THAT is the name under which I q
rite" l'
you? You?" kept repeating with a
degree OF imbecility that, / think, no b
10 has ever before had an opportunity n
observing in me. care you Jane q
aslie27 p
She nodded gayly 81
An the stiffness went out OF me- lie
nix, a mere bundle OF relaxed muscles, lc
J the nearest chair
Then illumination came to me in in
is5. Ny dream was realized Here a
rs the noble mind Of Jane Leslie in az
o beautiful body OF my wife. The tc
,dy vVas mine huf the MIND was afli n,