Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1917-04-19
SIMEON SILCHESTER
BY JANE OSBORN.

staff 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
off somewhere In the wllds and get "a
Z ranch or something and run it."
Once a letter came from CORE
spondent who signed his name Mon
tana," and the writing rather puzzled
Jane jerks. But she hesitated only
/ moment, for really it didn't much
matter TO her whether or not she made
q true character sturdy. The writing
I was legible, and, therefore, she made
the statement that the writer had a
methodical, honest nature. There were
certain waverings In the line aAd this,
she said, Indicated timldity. 'Ibelieys
that you are not married." she,added,
with all the authority of Prof Sim
con Silchester 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 a 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.
II want to see Prof. Simeon Silches-
ter" he said deliberately. Il see you
are his secretary" the man continued.
"Perhaps l could take the message"
said Jane feebly.
mo woman could take>fhe message
just as want to give it, and few men
could. What / want to ask the profess
sor Is how in-I'll add the embellish-
ments when l see him personally-how
he dared to call me q coward? 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
"Tm very sorry" Jane pleaded feel
ing just q little amused in spite Of
her first terror. ITO be sure Profess
sor Sllchester 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 1 tell
that you were big. man, and how did
know that .you.were alperfect bear 1
Of courage?"
"And you wrote that about my not
having had the nerve to get married?'
asked the big man, and then he
laughed for the first time. Well, that's
very funny. I've come all the way
from mS 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 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 Sllchester.
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 1
city and never again did he speak Of .
the letter but always OF the ranch and
the girls ambitions to lead country,
outdoor life. The proposal occurred
In the girls office, the afternoon before
he was planning to return.
"How can | accept?" she said. Il
lon't even know your name. I'm dread
,ully frightened just to think of the
way we have grown so well acquainted
n such a short time"
"True," he said. I'm a bit fright
med myself" Here his expression
hanged quickly. How'd you hit on
hat name of yours-Simeon Sllches-
err It's a good name, and 1t doesn't
ound faxed"
II think It is good" said the girl.
I wanted to get name that sounded
Ike what think handwriting expert
would be-a thin old crank with a
White beard and long nose. got
nut the Who's Who and looked
through till found name that sound
d just like that Don't you think II
vas a good selectionT
"Capital-a thin old crank with a
ong nose. Do you happen to know
he originate"
Jane reached for the "Who's Who"
IN the top of her desk and found the
,lace "He seems to be an inventor
nd ranch owner, in Montana. Why,
hats where you come FROM
I