The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-02-08
SIMEON SILCHESTER
BY JANE OSBORN.

Hearth Companion" Jane jerks was
the youngest member of the editorial
| staff of that widely-read periodical.
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
off somewhere in the wilds and get "a
ranch or something and run It,"
Once a letter came from q CORE
| spondent who signed his name "Mon-
| tana," and the writing rather puzzled
| Jane jerks. But she hesitated only
a moment for really it didn't much
matter to her whether or not she made
true character study. The writing
| was legible, and, therefore, she made
| the statement that the writer had
methodical, honest nature. There. were
| certain waverings in the line and this,
| she said, indicated timidity. Il believe
that you are not married." she added,
with all the authority of Prof. Sim
con Silchester to back her. 81 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 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
not mean that you should also be
timid."
Three weeks later tall, irate person
entered her Office.
81 want to see Prof. Simeon Silches-
ter" he said deliberately. 81 see you
are his secretary" the man continued.
perhaps l could take the message"
said Jane feebly.
"No wOman/could take the message
just as | want to give it, and few men
could. What want to ask the profess
sor is how in-sIl edd the embellish-
ments when l see him personaily-how
he dared to call me a coward? l 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 recognized it as the one she
had recently sent
I'm very sorry" Jane pleaded, feel
ing just little amused in spite of
her first terror. "To be sure Profess
sor Silchester sometimes makes mis-
takes" she began. 81 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. "You see am really
Prof. Simeon Silchester. try to make
the right guesses. How could l tell
that you were big man, and how did
l know that you were perfect bear
of courage?"
"And you wrote that about my not
having had the nerve to get marriedF"
asked the big man, and then he
laughed for the first time. Well, that's
very funny. I've come all the way
from my place In Montana, just to have
fight with you. Nothing ever made
me so mad in my life as that letter.
but l won't fight a lady even when she
deserves it."
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 Silchester.
They spoke of Montana and ranges
and the girls face lighted up with eX-
pectation 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 had
allowed himself to remain in the big
city and never again did he speak of
the letter but always of the ranch and
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 l accept?" she said. II
don't even know your name. Pm dread
fully frightened just to think of the
way we have grown so well acquainted
in such a short time"
"True," he said. "Tm a bit fright
ened myself" Here his expression
changed quickly. How'd you hit on
that name of yours-Simeon Silches-
ter? It's a good name, and 1t doesn't
sound faxed"
II think it is good" said the girl.
81 wanted to get name that sounded
like what think handwriting expert
would be--a thin old crank with
white beard and long nose. | got
out the who's Who and looked
through till found name that sound
ed just like that Don't you think 1t
was good selectionT
"Capital--a thin old crank with
long nose. Do you happen to know
the originate"
Jane reached for the "Whos Who"
on the top of her desk and found the
place. Gle seems to be an inventor
and ranch owner, in Montana. Why,
that's where you come from"
Somewhere near" said the man.
'In fact I'm the white-bearded long
nosed crank. Now you know who |
really am. win you take me2'
And the girl, weary OF impersonat-
ing the handwriting expert and already
in heart surrendered to the man who
..L..-.-.I I'm.