The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-11-03
Changing a Name
BY OTILLIA F. PFEIFFER
20. 1920. Western Newspaper unton,)

menI, cnerlSnlnS nODDy purely III
dividual which centered about a name
fully as strange and uncommon-Ian
, Ssaar. 4
Having acquired a competence and
a social and business position at the
age Of fifty that was unassailable,
Ssaar was actuated by two predom-
mating aracteristics-pride and ex-
clusiveneses.
Until few days before the present
Ssaar had conceived the proud salts
faction that nowhere In the great city,
nowhere country wide was there an
other human being who bore his name.
But now poison had come into the cup
OF his triumphant assurance, there
was fly in the ointment! Lo, and be-
hold! After years of serenity and con-
fidence sharer in bis fame, his
Aaughtiness, his whimsical love Of be-
ing different from his fellow beings
had appeared-Miss Winifred Ssaar
Of Weston, an obscure little Iowa town.
The discovery had nettled and then
disgruntled him. Somehow it had
been pleasing to him to know that he
was the last, the only living descend
ant Of Bruno Ssar noted explorer.
{ He was seated in his sumptuous H.
brary watching the clock, and there
was impatience and the suspense Of
an unfulfilled purpose In his restless
eyes. He started up as a servant ush-
cred his expected visitor into the room.
"Been waiting for you, Alstyne,"
hailed the master of the mansion re-
lievedly. Something special and par
ticular. Sit down."
His caller was a young man he had
known for several years and greatly
liked. Hugh Alstyne had free-and-
easy manner, as If he did not worry
much, but intelligence was manifest
in his really handsome face.
II hope it's something to keep me
busy for a WHILE" said Alstyne, indo-
lently reposing in the arms Of a capa-
cious rocker. tive given up CONNER
cial reporting and don't want to 60
back to the law"
"You are right" nodded Ssaar
''there is some travel. difficulty to
be overcome, and some policy and
knowledge Of human nature to be ex-
erted. To begin with, you know how
I value and treasure my name. BY a
mere chance yesterday ran across 1t
as borne by another besides myself"
"Odd, isn't IT," remarked Alstyne.
II suppose you had ransacked all
genealogy to be sure that you couldn't
be classed with the Browns. Smiths
and Robinsons."
II thought I had" returned Ssaar,
palpably perturbed. II have never
known of the remotest branch of the
Ssaar family in this country, yet
there you are"
Ssaar pushed across the table a
small publication, sectional maya
zine published at an Iowa county seat.
1t was evidently the production Of
some ambitious editor who catered
solely to neighborhod clientele, and
was mildly and crudely potpourri Of
miscellaneous poetry. sketches and
farm interests. Its front page was
taken mp with a poem entitled "At
Twilight" readable. really meritorious.
A few brief lines under the name Of
the writer, Winifred Ssaar, welcomed
"a new and shining literary star to our
galaxy of writer's, Miss Ssaar being
besides well known in educational cir
cles."
"H'm! quite melodious," comment
ed Alstyne. "Some pretty ideas and
well expressed. A striving amateur,
I infer. What Of it?"
ITO be squelched" announced Ssaar
with spirit and deflniteness, lat once
and effectually. Can't you see she has
broken into writing? How soon may
not her name be blazoned wide? My
name! 1t Is made common and ordi-
nary. I want you to go toiWeston
where this young lady lives. You may
have to bribe the editor to refuse fur
Their contributions; you may have to
buy her off. You can draw on me for
any amount, but relegate this poetical
young lady back to obscurity in some
way"
Willing to kill budding genius are
you, just to suit caprice?" suggested
Alstyne satirically.
"Don't debate It," replied Ssaar.
"Reach the matter delicately, only re-
tire that name. Are you equal to the
task?"
"You have employed me in a num-
Der of little commissions" said Al
styne, "harder than this one. You are
willing to make up to this young
lady in money for what she loses in 1T
erary enjoyment"
''That's It, make 1t commercial
transaction II that is the only way
out. i allow you free swing"
Hugh Alstyne was highly success
full in his enterprise. He went down
to Weston to find Miss Winifred Ssaar,
an orphan school teacher lovely and
gentle beyond compare. He claimed
to be enraptured with her poems, made
a contract to buy enough to fill vol.
ume to be published under nom de