The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-02-01
SIMEON sIlcnEsTER
sy JANE OSBORN.

tneS were all addressed, not to Miss
Jane jerks. but to Prof. Simeon Sill.
CHESTER, handwriting expert of the
Hearth Companion" Jane jerks was
the youngest member Of the editorial
STAN of that widely-read periodical.
AS part OF her duties she had to write
the monthly article on What Your
Handwriting Shows" Meantime she
had to answer letters from West
East, North and South from subscrib-
erS to the magazine. Sometimes she
dreamed OF the day when she might
save enough to leave the city and go
on somewhere in the wilds and get "a
ranch or something and run it,"
Once q letter came from q CORE.
spondent who signed his name .Mon-
tana," and the writing rather puzzled
Jane jerks. But she hesitated only
q moment. for really 1t didn't much
matter to her whether or not she made
true character study. The writing
w1s legible. and, therefore, she made
the statement that the writer had a
m~ethodicat. honest nature. There were
certain Waverings in the line and this,
b said, Indicated timidity. II believe
that you are not married." she added.
with all the authority Of Prof. Sim.
con S~tlchester to back her. II believe
that the reason why you are not mar
ried is because you have never had the
deep, inner courage to look about and
find for yourself q woman good enough
for you. You are cowardly," she went
on, land what you ought to do is to
stand up for, your own rights. You
are small in stature" this because the
writing was miniature, "but that does
not mean that you should also be
timid."
= Three weeks later a. tall, irate person
entered her Office.
$ Il want to see Prof. Simeon Stitches
ter" be said deliberately. 81 see you
are his secretary" the man continued.
Perhaps I could take the message"
said Jane feebly.
mo woman could take the message
just as l want to Eiye It, and few men
could. What'I want to ask the profess
:sor is how in-ill add the embellish-
ments when i 9 him personally-how
he dared to call me a coward7 I wrote
to him and this is the answer he sent
me" The man from Montana threw
the opened letter on the desk and Jane
jerks recoEniz&d It as the one she
Aluaddasssscently sent
Tn very sorryY' Jane pleaded, feel
. Ing. Just a littlS amused in spite Of
her first terror. ITO be IRE Profess
sor 4Sllchester sometimes makes mis-
takes" she began. II am very sorry"
Then for some reason, probably be-
cause of the steadfast and searching
gaze Of the gray eyes Of the man, she
forgot her role. "YaH see 1 amlreally
Prof. Simeon Silchesker. l try to make
the right guesses. How could / tell
that you were a big man and how did
] know that you were q perfect bear
Of courageT
And you wrote that about my not
having had the nerve to get married2"
asked the big man, and then he
laughed for the first time. Well, that's
very funny, I've come, all the way
from1ny plaeesin Montana, Just TO- have
a fight with yon, Nothing ever made
me 50 mad In my life as that letter
but + won't;fight a lady even When she
deserves IT.: : s.,.-
So relieved was Jane at the way the
angry one recovered from the first in
tensity of his anger that she made him
tarry On that first call, and pledged
him never to tell another soul that
there was no real Simeon Silehester.
They spoke of Montana and ranges
and the girls face lighted up with, e1-
p~ectation and interest. She told the
stranger Of her ambition and he was
as interested as she. In short, he won
James confidence so that when he sug-
gested that she take luncheon with
him she did not think to hesitate.
So the acquaintance progressed with.
in. the ten days that the Montanan lat
allowed himself to remain in the big
city and never again did he speak Of
the letter but always Of the ranch q
the girls ambitions to lead a country.
outdoor life. The proposal occurred
in the girls office, the afternoon before
he was planning to return.
. '.How can 7 accept?" she said. Il
don't even know your name. I'm dread
fully frightened just to think of the
way we have grown so well acquainted
in such a short time"
"True," he said. Tn a bit fright
ened myself" Here his expression
changed quickly. How'd you hit on
that name of yours-Simeon Silches'
ter? It's q good name, and it doesn't
sound faxed"
II think 1t is good" said the girl.
II wanted to get q name that sounded
like what I think a handwriting expert
would be-a thin old crank with q
white beard and a long nose. l got
out the Who's Who and looked
through till / found n name that sound
ed Just like that Don't you think 1t
was O good selectionT
"Capital-a thin old crank with a