Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-09-20
A Leap Year Frolic.


mems whose brains are as light as their
purse who vow eternal alteration to my
shadow and apron strings, but mean my
gold instead. Dear me my money is a
bore. | wish twas all sunk at the bot
tom of the Dead sea. Then l should
have little peace"
So saying, Gypsie Lantrem, the pret-
ty heiress, threw herself down on the So
ia with half look of disgust. A
"Why, Gyp, what's up now 2" quer-
led her friend, Nell Dale, as she looked
up from the book she had been reading.
30, that green gawky, Ross, who came
yesterday to visit uncle, is determined
to torment my life out of me At the
ball, last night, he was hanging around
me all the evening. | snubbed him sew
eral times for his rudeness but that
wasn't enough. This morning he has
presumed so far as to follow me in my
walk. | gave him to understand that |
felt indignant, and rushed back to the
house and up here, to smooth my temper
and propose something"
"PrOpose something? Well, let's
hear it at once"
"Well, as said before, I'm tired of
our stereotyped entertainments. Let's
get up something new and rOusing.
Something that will create sensation.
We haven't had anything of the kind
for an age"
Cali right ! I'm with you, Gyp.
What shall it be ?"
What shall it be ?-sure enough.
have racked my brains for a brilliant
idea to no purpose; so brought it to you
to solve"
"Shall it be a masquerade ?"
"l've thought of that. But l had one,
several years ago, which in my mind,
proved failure. SO have given that
up in disgust"
"Indeed !" and Nell laid her head
with its golden curls upon her hand fol
a moment, as though in deep thought
Then jumping up she said enthusiastic
ally, 40, Gyp, l have it now. A leaE
year ball ~ .. ...
'Just the thing l'' cried Gypsie, rap
turOusly. Il wonder haven't thought
of it before. Yes, indeed, that will b.
charming. For once in our lives WI
girls can do as we like. Oh, Nell, yot
are jewel to think of such a capito
plan"
"When shall it be ?" asked Nell, try
ing to extricate herself from her impet
uOus friends embrace.
"Why, the first of next week, to b
sure. | can't wait longer than that
Won't it be jolly, though ? But we mus
pop the question to some one that vii
be all the fun"
"POp the question ? Oh, Gyp, what
witch cat you are. But III do it if yo
will"
agreed. You corner that very de
testable old bachelor, Smith, and II
pounce upon Ross. Well give their pre-
ciOus senses a shock for once, which IL
venture they won't be particular to hav
repeated"
Now, you won't back out, Gyp?"
"Not |, my dear. Here, | give yo
my hand on it. Now, let's consider it
settled thing. Remember feminin
rights are at stake. and we must do tn
thing up in a creditable way"
"All right, we'll discuss our plan
by and by. Just at present l mus
leave you to think of them, while l a
tend to some work in the parlor" "
SO saying, Nell left the room and Gy
gave herself up to thoughts of the col
templated scheme, wholly unaware (
the smile which fitted over the face {
a person just leaving the library, a roo
adjoining the ono in which the aboV
conversation had taken place.
"Forewarned is forearmed, said Ros
"No, Miss Gypsie, you don't accomplis
your designs on this awkward greeny
for once. l fear your cousin Hugh
message will not be delivered at ono
since might be subjected to a thil
snubbing, for my rudeness if attemp
ed to address you" And Bertram Ro
entered the stting-room with a boz
Gypsie's uncle had sent him in scar,
of, by means of which he had overheal
the conversation between Gyp and Ne
That evening Ross avoided Gyp, al
she, noticing it, was pleased to think s
had succeeded in silencing him so 500
Before the close of the evening mu:
was called for. and Gypsie's uncle pl
vailed upon Ross to take seat at t
piano. Gyp was confident that he wOu
make @great calf of himself a
winked at Nell to see the fun. But l
so. He seated himself at the instrumt
in decidedly cool and collected ma
ner, and gracefully touching the Ike.
ran through a delicious voluntary Il
there might be lao doubt Of the exa
ness Of note, and all felt the perfect
|. of his lingering; clear, distinct, rOuI
precious, full shower of pearls uE