The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-03-22
M j g G eIlane O us.
A Leap Year Proposal.

the paror of the farmhouse of Farmer
Jones, who lived many miles from the city
The lights of the sperm candles on the cen.
tire table burned dimly, and Hettie sat
imbedded in a luxurious rocking chair
reading all about the doings of some noble
courter and his galantry to beautiful
young lady.
Hettie Jones was eighteen. Pert and
pretty, golden hair, large blue eyes, little
dimpled hands and head just filled with
romantic ideas.
Her great and only fear was that she
would never get a husband. This was
from two facts. First, she was too pert,
saucy, dignified and some people said -
conceited, and that's why the young men
were shy and gave her wide berth then,
again, she had been to boarding school,
and assumed so many city airs that the
farmers sons in her neighborhood felt 30
much out of place in her society that they
rather avoided than sought her.
Hence it was that the young men were
shy. AT the quiet country church on
Sunday they scarcely nodded, some smiled,
and few vcntured word or two.
Hettie was the est-dressed young lady
at the meetings. She hated those horrid
conceited city young men. They were at
best, a set of coxcombs, society butterflies,
and too fond ofwines, late suppers, and no
sleep. She never told many people of this.
More folks might have imagined it, had
they considered the fact that she preferred
country life and manners, and had not Wis
tied the city but once in six months, Meth
er had she many callers, and no person had
ventured to say that Hettie had a beau, or
that she correspondent with anybody but
ladies.
Still the young men in that valley dared
not venture too high. In spite of the many
invitations extended, they did not trust
themselves under the fire Of her little busy
chattering tongue. They knew she was
rich, handsome, lady-like, a thorough
scholar, and plenty of them had seen her
at work in the bayfield,, at the wash-tub,
in the dairy and at sewing. And then
IIettie was accomplished in household af-
fairs.
Ever since she was ten years of age she
loved Harry Helms, living on the adjoin.
ing farm. They never corresponded not
withstandipg they had been fast friends
before she went to school. Her three years
of seminary life turned her little head some
what, and she forgot all about writing to
any one And when she came home the
first time, she was so Frenchified that she
hardly knew her old friends.
Harry Helms had grown up to be hand
some, athletic young man. He was tower
of strength in the neighborhood, and the
idol of all the girls. Even he was shy,
however, of Hettie, his dear friend since
childhood. He was four years her senior.
He had frequently called on her, but only
for very short time. In fact he was
about the only visitor at the Pine Hill
farm.
On the night in question Hettie sat read
ing and wondering whether Harry Helms
would get back from the city in time to
call. He had been away three months, and
had promised to come to her on the night
of his return. Not promised to call exact
ly, but promised to bring several articles
she had asked him to purchase for her, and
that she wanted them just as soon as lie got
home.
That young man would not have missed
that engagement for half the world, but not
another soul knew it but himself Hettie
Jones would never have dreamed it. He
urged his horses up hill and down, and
when the sun faded in the twilight, and the
shadows deepened into darkness, lie reach
ed home that very night.
One hour afterward he was knocking at
the front door of the Jones farmhouse.
Two minutes afterwards Hettie was in.
spectng the articles purchased, and for q
while the parlor looked like peddler's
pack.
A half an hour later the visitor wanted
to leave, but he was prevailed upon to re.
main. "Why do you always hurry away
from me ?" she asked, deeply in earnest
at does seem to me as if you had forgot
ten that we were once very good friends
Mr.. Helms.
Eyes, once! Then you never called mt
mister; and you were different person
then. Now we are very different was the
young mans reply, as he drew his chail
closer to the fire and further away from the
cherry checked girl.
A thousand odd fancies floated through
her brain at that time. She knew she deep
ly loved him, and yet she was not under
stood. Probably the boyish love of year.
had departed from the strong man in from
of her.
Don't you like to he called Mr.. Helms
Ii 1t will please you better. Will call you
Harry, as did years ago, but then yo,
must take me out walking and sing to mt
just as you did then; and you must call mt
Hettie, just the same as you did when w
were little; and you must think more o
me than anybody else, just as you did then
and" In the twinkle of an eye he
heart seemed to swell in her throat, sh'
suddenly realized what she was saying, ant
in an instant she turned deathly pale.
Her hands were cold as ice, her lips wer,
bloodless, and her face white as snow.
was faint in reality. When she awok,