Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1917-04-05
Simeon SILCHESTER
BY JANE OSBORN.

many hundred letters week. But
they were all addressed. not to Miss
Jane jerks, hut to Prof Simeon Sill
chester. handwriting expert Of the
Hearth Companion" Jane jerks was
| the youngest member of the editorial
staff of that widely-reud periodical.
As part of her duties she had 10 write
the monthly article on what Your
Handwriting Shows Meantime she
had TO answer letters from West,
East North and South from subsciib-
erS to the magazine Sometimes she
dreamed OF the day when she might
save enough to lcave the city and 30
| of somewhere in the wllds and get "a
ranch or something and run It."
Once letter came from a CORE
spondent who signed his name MON
tuua," and the writing rather puzzled
Jane jerks. But she hesitated only
moment, for really 1t didn't much
matter to her whether OF not she made
Il true character study. The writing
was legible, and, therefore, she made
the statement that the writer had u
| methodical, honest nature. There were
certain waVerings in the liue and this,
she said, indicated tlmldity. Il believe
that you are not married" she added,
with all the authority of Prof. Sim
con SllcheSter 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 woman good enough
| for you. You are cowardly," she went
on, "and what you ought TO do is to
stuud up for your syn rights. You
| are small in stature" this because the
writing was miniature but that does
not mean that you should also be
! tmid."
Three weeks later tall irate person
entered her office
81 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 feebly,
mo woman could take the message
! just as | want 10 give il, and few men
could, What | want 70 ask the profess
SOr is how iu--lll add the embellish-
mcntS when see him PERSONAL---VERY.
lac dared to call me a c0wardI ] 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 ii as the one she
had recently sent
I'm very sorry" Jane pleaded, feel
| ing just little amused in spite OF
her first terror ITO be sure PROBES.
sor Sllchester 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, che
| forgot her role. You see | am really
! Prof. Simeon Silchester. | try 10 make
! the right guesses How could | tell
that you were big man, and now did
! | know that you were perfect bear
| of courngef"
And you wrote that about my not
| having had the nerve To gel married.
! asked the big man, and then he
| laughed for the first time Well. thats
very funny. I've come all the way
! from my place in Montana Just TO hsve
fight with you. Nothing ever made
me so mad in my life as that letter
but | won't fight lady even when she
deserves H."
So relieved was Jane nj the way the
| angry one recovered from the first i'm
! tensty of his anger that she made him
! IN fins .,n nd afitsDh
| 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-
| pectution and interest. She told the
| stranger of her ambition and he was
| rs Interested as she In short. he won
| James confidence SO that when he sug-
| gcSted 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
Ia the girls office, the afternoon before
he was planning TO return.
How can l accept2' 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"
True" he snid 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 u good name ana it doesn't
sound faxed"
81 think it is good" said the girl.
II wanted to get unme that sounded
Ike what think "a handwriting expert
would hc--a thin old crank with a
white beard and long nose. | got
out the Who's Whe' and looked
through tim found a name that sound
ed just like that Don't you think it
was good selection?'
"Capiala thin old crank with
long nose Do you happen 10 know
the origiualT'
Jane reached for TIE who's Who"
nm thn fNp ~ hnr do III md found ttta !