Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1860-04-26
N ISC ELL A Ny.
THE LEAP YEAR PARTY.
NJ hAKT CLARKE.

"Cousis," said hsdge Carlton, sudden
" breaking of 10 the midst Of merry song
" cousin Grace, l am going to have . To-. o
yesr ball
"A leap year BALI r'
Yes, this is leap year, so mean 10 have
come fun out Of it, will issue inyi,ation,
for ball TO th- dies each one shall then
select the gentleman she will escort, call for
him, bring him here, fuipish bis boaust. and
give bim her arm TO estsr the room. Tn.
ladies 'bAll invite the gsbilensu to dance.
make love TO them, pass the rsfrsshm.ni,
At supper, and finally escort the dear er,a.
tures home"
''lt will be splehdid or course there i.
DO objection made 10 = serious proposal, il
soy Of the ladies' are so iuclinsdif
"koi at all. Now 10 make list, and then
pa 90 sobsebt Comsl"
hsdgs Carlton was the gayest little bru-
nstte tbA' over huttered, butte,ay-Iik. a.
Doogst the flowers Of society. Madg. va.
40 heiTess, seoquette. net hirt. for abe
would NOS Intentionally have wounded auy
Que for worlds: but she could net help be-
iug pleased With attention and showing she
was pleased. Msdgs vas tiny, beautiful,
sparkling, lSViog, aud lovely.
Madge Carlton bad two lovers. Ofadmis
rep she had a score; bat there we're tSomeu
Who bad made il the fret object Of their
life Go love this brigh little Madae. One
loved hopefully. earnestly sndeavoripg 10
uioA return. The other loved sadly, siient>
ly, not daring to WOO the tiny Airy
|. Harry Wells was handsome. talented
rich, good dancer, perfect gen item IN, 40 d
agsy idler in fashions haunts Lawreuce
hayes Was also talented, but quiet aud re-
served He had been hr. CARTONS clerk
for seven ysars, and bad loved Msdge when
she vas vipsome school girl Hs never
made love 10 bis idol lie Was poor. sky,
aud proud aud eould not stoop TO Try 70
win the bsiress, Tut e looked on when Har.
~ Wells eouritd her, trying % think b.
should be happy IL she married aud uas
happy Tith bis ,ivali crushing back bis own
ardent, ubstlhsh love into hopeless. tad cor
row.
Which did NJ dge prsfer1 She knew
these men loved her. Lawrence bad never
spoken, yet with = WoDan's quick ipstibc,
she felt bis love- She hirted Rsyiy with
Harry; rode With him, aud acee pted bis a.
teDiions; yet, With perfectly irsnk, easy
manner, she kept = wall OF ice between Har.
~ aud bsTself aud while he could ne, tell
what PrsVeatsd bin, be still felt that be had
best not temps bis fortune yet Sbs vas
not 90 fee With Lawrence Cav. laughing
aud radiant, she had . pretty, shy manner
~hsb a.ons With bin. He attributed il 10
his oWn ten Je-rs seniority. aud luk.d for
tie frauk, giriish maRbsI she exhibited to-
ward Harry yet, ShsB be covered With
bsr, drawing out abe treasures Of . Wellstor.
ed mind, sbd pure, Womanly heart. hid
den under ber gay rpaoDsr, he gbed to thick
h0W great was the treasure he coveted.
Sometimes he wished poverty could come T.
his smpioysr, that be might gather bis treas
urs close TO bis heart. SHIELD her FROM every
sorrow, and prove 10 sdyeTsity his great
love Undsf the grave reserve Of bis man,
ner, none iuspseted this baTBinR passion.
Meme Msdgs did
IL Ess the evening of The ball. Msrrier
lapghtfr uSs Vcr bes,d, brighter bushes
bevef ssss, than those iu HF CafltoDs oar.
lor. on the sveuisg of the lesp year tall A
gay group Of youoe people sss eolisst,d near
ths kOsts,s, Who Wss ths bright test rsvsl.F
there Laur Bos watched her ffou, hi. coz.
DsF. where BE- stood toying uitb soms oFps.
msnt upOs tie msn'le-pisee Hsfry vas,
ss usual 10 tuoh scenes, close b~side her
Mis- Carlton said Mr. BsfdinR ono Of
ibe greup sioubd hssgs. "ihsre u ons eos
ion ~ yosr invitation not compiled vi q. .
Indeed Rsbsu.0 IN this camp mast
b pot dova what isitg
TIE lsdiss Do pc, make love u usr
aNo. they DO soi = sehtsd several Of .bs
g stlsmsh.
~sbockibg' D. ihsy vsst 60 s1smp's ?
NJ Harding, sili Jeu taks n afm Tor q
rF0meDsdsf'
NJ Hsf4ibs lootsI down iY BE dr
fost bsigbi 20 ibs fiBy hitls Hiiob icaIs
hla. sod thea odlFsd Biz arr
"No, usks mias Af Harding 9
ash.
~Eiss Carlos. ere you 40"
No tooihef sgh Not ill sisn yoa
smi.s uyot ne EVtfytosy lsugsed -
MadEss pfsssjsd isvs.mssihg
aLadiss sid hsdgs. taks youf part.
bsFs fof lhs efst gusdflis
Tbsfs "a bssty q blssbihg sad soms
poafiog 80 ons - tWo 81 ths nest fsseihst.
ssg hssuS pl adsd Tfiof eogsgemeuts %
thirs % ioaHh inVitstiou fFos somo fsir
oHss Wto uoa.d MadTe cbeossi Harfy.
ol cuufael LaUfenss Ess uaickipR hsf IA
ils fgpfs Sitting ffoa gusst % russi. dad.
ias places To- dssesis. std eth ms8ry grace
Putting bsslfai fglks q ease, ia9odaciae
oouplss, pfomptihE tiBid gifis. ssffyiug
smilss sysFy shsse leaving = stfsak u san-
shias Ehsftyer sts seat She stoot hsisfs
ht@. Toe smile died out, sd shs Messed
sunsoa
"Ns. Hayes. sl.n have tAs plsasuss %
dssoihg shs sff qnstrlis gith yoaFf
lsssfsfss bsse5 oasfsd he an, spd Led
-. 4. /. .l... NJ. 49,