The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-23
SIMEON SILcHESTER
BY JANE OSBORN.

,i'y oSlc ali duuEcSSeG, IlOt ~ bliss
Jane jerks, but to Prof. Simeon Sill |
chester, handwriting expert Of the |
Hearth Companion" Jane JenGs was |
the youngest member of the editorial |
StaH OF that widely-read periodical. !
AS part of her duties she had to write
the monthlE article on what Your
Handwriting Shows" Meantime she
had to answer letters from West,
East, North and South from subscvib-
ers to the magazine Sometimes she
dreamed Of the day when she might
save enough 70 leave the city and 80
of somewhere in the wilds and get 50
ranch or something ana run it,
Once 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
a true character study. The writing
was legibIe. and, therefore, she made
the statement thar the writer had
meth0dical, honest nature. There were
certain waverings in the line.and this,
she said, indicated timidity. 4 believe
that you are not married." she added,
with all the authority Of Prof. Sim
con Sichester to back her Il believe
that the reason why you are not mar
ried is because you have never had the
deep, inner courage to look about ana
find for yourself q woman good enough
for you. You are cowardly," she went
on, 'and 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 tall, irate person
entered her office.
Il want to see Prof Simeon Silches-
ter" he said deliberately Il see you
are his secretary" the man continued.
Perhaps | could take the message"
said Jane feeb!y.
No woman could take the message
just as want to give it, and few men
could. What want to ask the profess
scr is how in-IlI add the embelliSh-
ments when | see him personally-how
he dared to call me q coward? / wrote
to him and this is tie 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.
Tn very sorry" Jane pleaded. feel
ing just little amused in spite Of
her first terror. ITO be sure Profess
SOr SilcheSter sometimes makes mis-
takes she began. Il 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 SiIchester | try to make
the right gucsses. How could | tell
that you We're a big man, and how did
know that you We're q perfect bear
of courage?"
And you wrote that about my not
having had the nerve to get married!"
asked the big man, and then lie
laughed for the first time. Well that
very funny. I've come all the way
from my place in Montana, just to have
q fight with you. Nothing ever made
me SO mad in my life as that letter
but ! won't fight q 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
ana 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
50 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 81
/ 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. I'm 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 it doesn't
sound faxed"
4 think it is good" said the girl
Il wanted to get a name that sounded
like what think handwriting expert
would be--a thin old crank with 8
white beard and a long nose. | got
out the Who's Who and looked
through till found n name that sound
ed just like that Don't you think il
was a good selection?"
"Capital-a thin old crank with q
long nose. Do you happen to know
the originate"
Jane reached for the "Who's Who
on the top of her desk and found the