Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-05-07

Everybody knew Willie Strange. He
was ~ of those men who seem to
be ubiquitous. One might find him at a
private view. II tea, q dinner, "A concert,
a first night, and a dance, all between
the hours of midday and midnight. 1t
Was a hobby of his to go everywhere,
see everything and meet everybody;
and he worked very hard at it.
Although everybody knew Strange,
Very few knew his wife. and not many
knew that he had one. With the ma
jority of his acquaintance he passed
AS i'm attractive bachelor. 1t may have
been partly her OWN fault that Mrs.
Strange went out so little-if Willie
We're questioned on the subject he
woul say that it was entirely her own
fault. h was born to be a ~stay-at-
nome; and to tell the truth, her hus-
band encouraged her destiny.
1t is. incOnvenient to- have a wife
tackled on to one at all times. 1t gives
q man little chance to express himself.
If charming women chose to consider
Willie ulencumbered. he was willing to
let them remain i'm error and enjoy the
pleasure of their society. He never did
anything scandalous, but he cultivated
more tender Incidents than convention
allows to Il married man.
Of all the acquaintance that Strange
delighted to form. that of the celebrity
OF the hour appealed to him most. If
the celebrity were a man, Willie was
pleased to be seen talking and driving
IN the same motor with him; ii q wom-
an. and a young one. Willie was more
pleased and did his best to f1irt with
her. There was no more skillful hunter
OF lions and lionesses than Willie. =:
Al the commencement of the publish
ing season of 19- appeared The Diary
OF a Neglected Woman The publish
orc lSNll07 n StotoronOt f1aot fhou lil,,f
know who had written 1T. that ii was
a work OF genius, and that ten editions
had been called for I'm a fortnight. The
literary papers were filled with guesses
as to its authorship. Polite and cul-
tured circles We're divided on the sub
work of a man despised the uphOlders
of n woman theory. and the uphold
ers OF the woman theory derided the
masculine camp. The first question
that met O IN the street was not
How do o do?" but Have you read
'The Diary of "a Neglected Woman??' -
and the second was Have you any
an idea which was different from ev-
erybody else's. OF course, Strange had
his idea. more for the sake Of having
one than for any conviction 1t con-
veyed TO his mind. He asked his wife
II she had any idea; but, as he had
SIiC OiOII appear 10 Oo par
ticularly interested in the matter. She
said that she had read the book, and
1t didn't seem to her that it mattered
much II the author hose to remain
anonymous. Strange could not look at
1T In that light. II h author persisted
In remaining anonymous, you could not
make his or her acquaintance, and that
was annoying.
. ITO my mind" he said to his wife,
"a man has no right to hide his light
under a bushel in that way. It's silly.
Naturally. people want to congratulate
him. People like to congratulate a sue
cessful man; it's a duty they owe to
him and to themselves"
perhaps he's a poor, little. obscure
man-old, perhaps. who never goes out
anywhere, and woul be frightened at
h idea OF such a thing" suggested his
wife.
oh, no." said Willie; and. besides.
and get used to it. But, really. you
know. l think it's a woman; somehow it
sounds like a woman
Willie chung to the idea of a woman's
authorship, because it was glorious to
dream of a distinguished Irritation with
the writer of The Diary of a Neg
lected Woman" 1t would be al
1t myself. do you think that it's a
woman" he asked his wife. and again
he reflected inwardly that of course she
wouldn't know.
Very likely" said Mrs. Strange.
One evening, when he entered a fash
Bohemian drawing room. he
saw a tall. beautiful woman in black
surrounded by nearly every one in the
room. The crowd vas buzzing and
staring at her, and now and then some
OF would start forward and shake her
by the hand. Willis went up to q man
of his acquaintance and asked him who
the tall woman was.
DON you know?" asked the ac-
quaintance, surprised. for Willie was.
as a rule. the first to get hold of a
piece OF interesting news. They've
found 1t at last
Pound what?' asked Willie.
The author of The Diary OF a Neg
1ected Woman"
rs that the neglected woman?- ex-
claimed Strange. delighted that he had
been right on the question of sex, and
that flirting with her would be the ex-
IRENE pleasure. With well-mannered
insistence he pushed his way into the
throng. n was soon at the celebrity.s
elbow. In half ar hour he had struck
up a sympathetic acquaintance with
her. He had primed himself with the
falnous book against the possibility Of
such a meeting. and his knowledge
formed a good bas for conversation;
not that Willie needed such adven-
titious aid. He could always find plenty
to talk about before he arrived on the
sentimental ground where few men
could rival him. What a good thing
1t was" he commented. that it had
turned out to be a woman after all: and
a young and good looking n into the
bargain" 1t might have been an aged
person in spectacles, or. an addressed
1mpossibiity. such as his wife suggest
ed, a drunkard perhaps. This creature
was splendid-nO man could demand
any more. Her very MISUNDERSTANDING
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS satisfactorily 70.
mantle.