The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-02-06

IL ne IN sOOn,'
Very well. Let's go in the paror and
have a chat
Nellie sat in his lap, discussing the mer-
its of cocoanut cakes and sugar almonds a
little while; but puddenly, dropping her
candies in her lap, she asked, What's leap
-leap-I fordet. Do you know what's
itT
Leap ? leap frog leap. year? Is that
| itY
Yes. What is itg
Why, it's a year when you ladies can ask
the gentlemen to marry you. But you see,
Nellie, you're too young-or wouldn't you
ask me?'
ooh, no Wouldn't ask you. Mammals
going to ask you
The young man nearly dropped the child,
and then folded her close to him, lest per-
haps, he should forget her again. what do
you mean, darling 2? he asked. Now think,
Nellie, but don't tell Uncle Herbert any.
thug OF your own make up
'Oh' 10 really, truely, bless me, she's
a,ye-isn't that what you say when you'se
true? Well the little tot gave long
sigh ard paused Herbert not daring to inter
rupt her, lest she should see his anxiety and
miniature woman that she was, should refuse
to satisfy him.
'Well she repeated, you see, they does
SC ID Gamma, so they does. To day morn.
iug, they NAKED mamma cry tomorrow, she
would call yesterday tomorrow they scoId-
ed her again, because she wouldn't sing, and
then they said she was fordard. What's
fordard ?;
'Fordard, indeed ? calculated Herbert
under his breath. IF had been some 9th.
ers now. But Nellie how about lear
year !?
'Oh, yes most fordot, didn't 1? Well
you see, mamma said-but, oh, Uncle Her
bert never showed you my too weenie, ,nev
little kittens They's only little sings, wiv
out eyes Come out to piazza, and I'll SHOW
you.
Il was no use to be impatient. The youu,
man knew the child too well for that, and 81
they went out and inspected the kittens
Then he tried to coax Nellie back to tn
subject.
'Oh, fordot = she said. Only they mad
mamma say
'what did they say, darling? I'll Civ
you big doll
with real hair p
Yes, yes Real hair and eyes, and-oh
nothing. But did they say wanted to mar
ry-'
They say mamma wasn't girl, and sh
was old and mamma said-oh, there
mamma. Mamma, didn't you ask Uncl
Herbert to marry you? He wants t
know
l had come in, looking for the child, an
that was the speech heard. felt ready
sink with modification.
Kate, darling, can't hope you'll let m
ask You must know that | hoped, whe
these touching my veil and black dres'
were put aside, that | could ask you to |,
me care for you, and at once. Come, da
= ling as bid my face in my hands, You
asked me to marry you and [ must nan
the day ; and say now, at once. Let's civ
them good thorough surprise. | can que
how they've treated you.-Come, now, G
ready this fairy, this blessed little darir
'' that has brought me my happiness, and we
go to your own minister"
re ried to refuse, but | was so weary
living with mother.n-law, that at last Y
u three slippeed out of the house and de
v, n, - bn had la,tiy.J ma ri,
me to Frank, and knew Herbert well, ma
~ ried us.
H. We drove back, and reached the fro
. door as the family were returning. JUL
ei who woulnd appropriate Herbert, stepp'
~ forward.
Good evening, Mr.. Halstead So you m
u Kate on the steps Strange ? with CLAN
nc at ne, as if / had planned to meet him.
l! Not at all, Miss Julia, said Herbert. N
wife and just called in to receive your co
er gratulatons, and to leave little Midget he
al for few days.
ot No tableauX have ever seen was half
ay coniical as the one those three made.
ne really felt for Julia for | knew she car
'' | luI iitlbcll' Cue Sdlutu sell pOSotoSi
to quickly, and congratulated me, whisperir
as she kissed me 'Lo you asked him 2
b, My husband heard, and answered
a no, Miss Julia, she did not ask II
is Through other means, thank God, learp
the one | loved was unhappy; and a
er' hoped, for more than year past, to SO
ok ask her to be my wife, | persuaded her
marry me at once. Leap year privileges
ars still open for those who choose to I
ell them
i'm We are quite an old married couple no
l. for three years have passed, but Herbert a
| still often laugh over Nellie's leap-y
ms proposal.