The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-01-07
YOUNG MRS. MAYNARD
5oooos ooooooooooooocoooooS
= leap Year Story.


The late Joshua Maynard was good
enough to accumulate considerable
fortune and consideratc enough to
leave the bulk of it 10 bis widow. The
estate was not IN the least involved.
and all the various charities and edu.
cational institutions benefited under
the VIII 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 wldowhood As she
was young-she had often passed for
her husbands daugh;er-hcr mourning
was not overpolgnant 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 a social leader, but she never
aspired to lead in high society and liv.
ed quietly, considering the extent Of
her fortune. Having 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, | should like TO have that man
for friend" And soon she had MIN for
a friend He became her very devoted
friend. Il shall see you next-whenT
she often asked as they were parting.
His answer generally was, whenever
you like" But he never came unin-
yited. He never paid a formal call or
came unless she specially wished lt on
one OF her lat home" afternoons.
Baxter grew communicative in his
brusque way, giving the widow she
benefit of his grumbling against fate
for keeping him unemployed.
$50 l 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, heard Of several
secrets of yours quite lately" Mrs.
Maynard interposed.
Secrets Of mine? l don't think
have any"
"oh, yes; know. 1 have heard
about it from grateful people whom
you never supposed that l knew any
thing about
"Oh, that there's nothing in that II
would be cheaper TO be dead if one
might not do a good turn for some de-
cen folks in distress every now and
then. | don't do Il because am a
charitable or generous sort of fellow. /
do II 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-
inW 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
II 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 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 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 II now? Just be-
cause of the few words Of easy, kindly
friendship she had let drop, In which
she told him he ought 10 get married
to get married TO some other woman
and be Mrs. Maynard's comrade no
more. $50, then" he said 10 his own
soul, "she cares nothing about me-
nothing at all-except as friendP
Mrs. Maynard went ON without seem
ing to take any notice OF his emotion.
II, indeed. she had noticed Il.
won't 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 woman with money"
"But don't care about her. l don't
want her. Who iN sheT
"Oh come now, as II could tell you
her name after the way In which you
have taken my offer~
"Your offerl You have no right to
make any offer OF the kind. You are
not The Matrimonial News or what