Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-20
EVENING STAR.
POPPING THE QUESTION.
ct is my privilege, sir,
nd would you rob me of that nrIvIIeo

Leap year confers privileges on unmarried
ladies, Of which, during other years, they are
deprived. They may, without being accused
of gross improperly, indicate in an indirect or
even direct manner, their partiality for an
individual Of the sterner sex, who has found
favor in their eyes, and who isl restrained by
undue humility or difidence from taking the
initiative in the matter so closely connected
with his happiness The course adopted by
Susan Sammons, a bright. rougish-looking
blue eyed brunette, TO disappoint a rival and
secure good and sffectionate husband, is the
case in point.
Susan was brought up in close proximity to
a distant relation, q year or two older than
herself, whose name was Edward Nevins.
They were thrown much into each others So
ciety from early childhood-had played to-
gether, frolioked together, flirted together, and
being strongly attached to each others com
pany, were regarded, and very justly, as inti-
nate friends. Edward looked upon Susan as
sister, and was in the habit of confding to
her all bis griefs and joys-his undertakings
and his feelipg-and this familiar and friend
ly intercourse continued until both had arriv-
ed at an age when many begin to think seri-
ously of forming connections Of that character
which will endure for life
Edward had never dreamed of getting mar
ried-the idea had not entered his head He
liked Susan, but had never thought of her as
wife. On the other hand, Susan could not
but acknowledge that cousin Edward was the
most agreeable young man Of her acquaint
ance, and that, however pleasant their pre-
sent relations were to each other, they would
soon, as matter of course, be exchanged for
others Of mere tender and enduring charac-
ter.
Matters were in this state when boarding
school friend of Susan's, Harriet Manners,
came to spend few weeks with her. She
was pretty, lively girl--was aware of her
own attractionsLand il soon became painful
ly evident to Susan that her dear friend was
determined to dazzle, captivate, "set her cap
for," and feloniously carry of her own cousin
Edward
Such base ingratitude on the part Of her
friend cut poor Susan to the heart. She deS-
perately resolved to do sOmething-some ter
rible thing perhaps-what, she did not know.
Her spirits, usually high, fell at once to zero
and melancholy marked her for its own. As
she was walking in the garden the morning
after she made the above discovery, and
debating within herself whether she had bet.
ter TeprOach Harriet for baseness-assign some
plausible excuse for the fatal visit, which il
was expected would last ten days longer, a
whole age when devoted to mischief-or give
her hand to Charles RainswoIth, whom she
had refused twice within year, her reflections
were interrupted by the entrance into the
garden Of Edward Nevins Indeed, Edward
had been smitten with IIarriet's charms, and
wished to advise with his cousin Susan"
about the best II lie of popping the question"
to the captivating stranger. The young man
looked sober and somewhat embarrassed. He
hastily advanced towards Susan without no.
ticing that her tranquility was also distur bed.
o, Susan, he exclaimed, 81 am so glad
to have found you. L have something to tell
you want your advice. H.
"Whats the matter with the man ?'' said
Susan, in a tone of chagrin. Don't act like
fool You surely can't be in love-"
That's it ?'' cried Edward. 81 believe L
am in lo7e, and Susan, you are a good girl,
and the best friend 1 have in the world, I'll
tell you all about it. L"
ooh don't Edward Don't say any more
You really make me blush this declaration Is
SO very unexpected-and SO i'll timed that"
"Why, what are you talking Of, Susan?
You really don't know that you"
NAY, cousin Edward" exclaimed Susan,
with a fond and beseeching look, and putting
her hand over his mouth" this is hardly fair,
as 1t is leap year; it is not right to cheat me
out Of privilege"
Privilege! Why Susan, L verify believe
you are crazy; saw you in the garden, and
came here merely to propose to you to"
"Oh stop Edward. The proposal, as it is
leap year, should proceed from tho lady, and
not from the gent!eDan-and as see you are
oSAs VI AofAbS Jul lO d
close suppose 1 must go through with the
odiOus matter of form. Therefore /, Susan,
ask you, Edward, if you will take me for your
betrothed? believe that is all that is neces-
sary, is it not? ?''
And she said this with such an air of child
like simplicity and mOdesty, and gazed upon
Edward with such a tender and confding
glance that he could not resist it. The bland
ishments of the artful Harriet were forgotten :.
and he saw before him the beautiful and
blushing girl, who had almost thrown herself
into his arms.
ooh, Susan, said the almost faithless swain,
can you indeed love me? This is the happiest
hour Of my life.''
The contract was signed, if not sealed Har-
riet cake was dough, and thanks to the pres
cnce Of mind of Susan, in keeping her cousin
in the path, when he seemed strangely dis
posed to wander from it, matters took their
proper and natural turn-and Edward never
had occasion to regret that leap year gives to
the ladies the precious privilege Of popping
the question