The Lincoln County herald., 1872-11-27
LEAP YEAH.

W uoe ttSc 10 ", "uu0tiuo dohcu
CATER Hitchcock, carefully folding the
evening paper, and placing it on the
stand.
The person addrssssd-s tall, slender
soman about thirty. .fivs- looked up from
her knitting, and answered, with pleas
ant smile.
"About half past eight, I believe"
aud rising, began to put away her work.
CATERS question had been fer the
last six years the signal for retiring to
rest, and although it was fully an hour
aud half before the usual hour, Made.
line never thought for q moment of hesi
tating to obey.
Something has occurred" she thought
"and he will tell ms before lokg" for
CATER had looked at his watch at eight,
at i've minutes after, and at quarter past
had changed his chair, and coughed un
easily, and now he asked, What time is
it?'
Madeline was the orphan daughter Of
an old schoolmats CATER had taken her
home with him when she was only ten
years old, and bis sister had cared for her
with mothsrly solicitutc until she was
woed aud won by Frank Reynolds, and
went to a distant city to live. Gator
had made terrible to do about her mar.
rying, called her an ungrateful good for
nothing, and declared it was proper pun
ishment for taking her in the beginning !;
but, nevertheless, spared no expense on
the wedding trousEeau, Aud when,
abeut nino years after, she came back to
her old home, widowed and chldless, she
was tenderly welcomed ty the lonely
man, for the grass waved over the grave
Of the good, true hearted sister.
For six years she kept house for him !;
cared for him. humored him, and made
every hing bend to his comfort as few
daughters ever do. Lovers she had in
plenty those who would at any moment,
have laid heart fortune aud hand Il, her
ieet; and when CATER heard that Made
line had refused them, he chucked al,
their discontinue, and smoothed her soft
brown hair, telling her she was a good
girl every way worthy Of their love, only
he knew that she never would leave him
liz huu SlOWu cO dCClotOuICl W eeclUp
her happy, contented face BY the oppo
site side Of tho fire, with some kind of
work in her hands, that occupied neither
brain nor attention, but left her always
Tree to listen to him when he spoke, or
play chess when the whim seized him,
that he felt no fear at tho attentions SIZE
received. He seldom spent an evening
from home, unless Madeline was with
him and no had never left his native
city since she came home lie was
thinking Of all this to night, as he
watched her holding her work SO care.
fully.
What are you going to do, Madeline p
he asked, at last.
Going to put my work away" she
answered, simply.
What are you putting it away for p
"You asked me the time, and that is
equivalent to saying'I am tired of you,
Madeline, 60 to bed"
mo it amt" said CATER, gruffly
"come back here ! want to talk to you
there, do let that knitting work alone
what IS that you are in such hurry to
finish p
"Stocking.," answered Madeline, sen
tentously; stocking for Madeline Rey
nolds."
Haven't you any more, that you are
making such fuss about this pair ?"
"Yes, have pair on, l believe, and
in case Of emergency l could borrow OF
you"
CATER sat for few moments in per.
feet silence at last, with a violent effort
aud with the air Of u man who has just
made Up his mind to have tooth pulled
said I:
"Maddy, l am going away"
Going away?" she repeated "where
to, pray?"
The tone of surprise in which the
question was asked fully satisfied CATER
of the importance of tho revelation.
YES! l am going to New York
Bounehus is going to be married on New
Years day, and wants me to be grooms
man. Who would have thought old
Bounehus would have got married at
last; why, he's at least ten years older
than |, aud | am most ffty. You see.
Maddy, child, your old bachelor friend
is not too old to get married yet.
Dreadful pity leap year is most over
here am hale. hearty man, in prime
of life, with plenty of money to support
a wife, and no wife forthcoming. But
what makes you SO quist-don't you
want me to go?'
"No," said Madeline. gravely, 81
would rather you would not go; | had
made different calculations for New
Years; in fact | rather think Of getting
married myself" b"
Madeline, are you crazy ?" and
CATER fairly bounded in his chair with
establishment. "Why, what will become
Of tho house what will become Of me ?
III starvs, l know I shallr'
you might live with me-" remarked
Maddy, in the same grave, business like
tone.
"You know very we'll" said CATER,
testify. "tbat I never could live wi an,