The Raymer enterprise., 1917-03-01
SIMEON SIlCHESTEG
BY JANE OSBORN

jane slfliks ltetiA6u anu NlAsAE ~ W
many hundred letters week. Bui
they were all addressed. not to Miss
Jane jerks, but to Prof. Simeon Sil-
chester, handwriting expert Of the
Hearth Companion. Jane jerks was
the youngest member Of the editorial
staff Of that wldely-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 subscrB-
ers to the magazine. Sometimes she
dreamed Of the day wnen she might
save enough TO leave the city and 90
OF somewhere in the wllds and get n
ranch or something and run IL"
Once a letter came from a CORE
spondent who signed hls mime Mon
tana. and the writing rather puzzled
lane jerks. But she hesitated only
moment, for really Ii didn't much
matter 10 her whether or not she maue
true character study. The writing
was legible. and, therefore. she made
the statement thai the writer had a
methodical. honest nature. There were
certain wayerings in the line ami this,
she said, indicated timidity. Il believe
that you are not mHrried. she Hdded,
with all the authority Of Prof SIM
con SilehesteF TO back her II believe
that the reason why you are moi mar.
ried is because you have never had the
deep, inner courage 10 look abuui and
lind for yourself woman good enough
for you You are cowartIiy. she went
on, 'and what you ought 10 do Is 10
stand up for your own rights You
are small In stature" this because the
writing was miniature. -bui that does
not mean hat you should also be
timid."
Three weeks later q 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 | could take the messag ge. ="
said Jane feebly. =
mo woman could take the message
Just MS want To give 1t. and few men
could. What want TO ask the profess
sor is how In--Ill add tile emhellish-
ments when see him personally
he dared to call me a coward? ! wrute
TO him aud this is the answer Dc sent
me" The man from Montana threw
the opened letter IN the desk and lane
jerks recognized ii us the nHr she
had recently sent
I'm very sorry. Jane pleaded. tcei.
ing just a little amused IN spite Of
her first terror To 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 Silehpster. Try to make
the right guesses How could | tell
that you were big man, and h1w did
know that yon were a perfect bear
of couragef"
And yuu wrote that about my not
having had the nerve to get marriedT
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
a fight with you. Nothing ever made
me SO mad In my life us that letter
but ! 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 mnde 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 h. was
us 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 country,
outdoor life. The proposal occurred
in tile girls office. the afternoon before
he was planning TO return.
"Ilow can | 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 short time"
"rrue," he said. "I'm bill fright.
ened myself" Here his expression
changed quickly. How'd you bit nu
that name Of yours-simeon stIches.
ter? It's a good name. and II doesn't
sound faxed"
Il think ii 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 a