Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-01-26
YOUNG MRS. MAYNARD
A Leap Year Story.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

NsOSOSOs1O
The late Joshua Maynard was good
enough to accumulate considerable
fortune and considerable enough to
leave the bulk Of it 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 daughtcr-hcr mourning
was not ovcrpoignant or long cndur-
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 Il social leader. but she never
aspircd to lead in high society and liv-
ed quietly. considering the extent of
her fortune. Having Il 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
cnt. and rs 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 a friend And soon she had him for
friend. He became her very devoted
friend Il shall see you neNt-whcn:
she often asked as they were parting
His answer generally was, "Whcncver
you like" But he never came unin-
vited. He never paid Il formal call or
came unless she specially wished it on
one of her "at home" afternoons.
Baxter grew communicative in his
brusquc way. giving the widow the
benefit of his grumbling against fate
for keeping him unemployed.
$50 want another war" he said one
day. ut 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 intcrDoScd.
Secrets Of mine? | don't think |
have anv."
about it from grateful people whom
YOU never supposed that | knew any
thing about
ooh. that there's nothing in that. 1t
would he cheaper to be dead if one
might not do GOOD turn for some de-
cent folks in distress every now and
then. | don't do it because | am a
charitable or generous sort of fellow. |
do it because it pleases ne"
Then they ramblcd on in talk about
charities until Baxter arose to go. with
the rpmark that he feared he WAS bor-
ing her. Mrs. MAYNARD assured him
that if that were the case she would
tell him so. Convinced of her candOr
ana admring her frankness, Baxter
sat down again.
81 want TO talk TO ven about yO,r-
self" said Mrs. MAYNARD calmly. and
if Baxter WAS SURPRISED Mt this he was
asto,lndcd when she continued: "You
don't know what TO do with Yourself
You are wasting vour life. The truth
is nv friend that Won ourbt to rct
married"
sect morricdr He s,ronr from his
chair with finish of anger ON his face
and pcrfcctIv new revelation in his
heart He had NOT known II before
He had sat with her and talked with
ber dov artar dov. he had bcen her
friend and had heard her call him her
comrodo. ho had found hcr friendship
grow doy bv day more dear TO him and
moro nocdful for him. but he had never
until now rcalizcd the fact that he was
absolutely in love with her, How did
hc como 70 realize If now? lust he
cause of thc few words of easy. kindly