The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-04-14

very well. Let's go IN the par
Tor and have a chat"
Nellie sat In his lap, discu Ssing the
merits of cocoanut cakes and sugar
almonds little while; but suddenly
dropping her candies in her lap, she
asked:
"What's leap-leap-leap-I for
get. Do you know what's it ?"
Leap? leap frog? leap year? is
that it?
eyes. What's p"
"Why, its a year when young
ladies can ask the gentlemen to
marry you. But you see, Nellie
you're too young-or wouldn't you
ask me"
ooh, no! l wouldn't ask you.
Mammals going to ask you"
The young man nearly dropped
the child, and then folded her close
to him. "What do you mean dar-
ling?" lie asked. "Now think,
Nellie. but don't tell Uncle Herbert
any thing OF your own make up"
"Oh, no! really, truly, bless me,
she's allve-isn't that what you say
when you are true? We'll !"-the
little totgave long sigh and paused,
Herbert not daring to Interrupt 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 scold mamma, so they
does. To-day morning they NAKED
mamma cry, tomorrow (she would
call yesterday tomorrow they
scolded her again because she
wouldn't ring, and then they said she
war forward. What's forward p
Forward indeed !" calculated Her
bert under his breath. ''If it had
been some other now. But Nellie,
how abont leap year ?"
"Oh yes l most tordot, didn't Il?
Well, you see, mamma said-but, oh,
Uncle Herbert, | never showed you
my two vicente new little kittens
They's only little sings, wivout eyes.
Come out 10 the piazza and pll show
you"
1t was 10 use to be impatient
The young man knew the child too
we'll for that, and so they went out
and inspected The kittens. Then he
tried TO coax Nellie back to the sub
ject.
ooh, tordot !' she said. "Only
they made mamma SHY"
"What did they say, darling? I'll
give you big doll -"
with real hair ?"
eyes, yes !! and eyes, and--oh,
nothing. But did they say wanted
to Marty"
They say mamma wasn't a girl,
and she was old; and mamma said
oh, there's mamma. Mamma
! didn't you ask Uncle Herbert to
marry you? He wants to know"
| had come i'll, looking Tor the
child, and that was the speech
heard. l felt ready to sink with
modification.
"Kate, darling, can't l hope you'll
let me ask? You must know that |
hoped, when these touching my veil
and black dress) were put aside, that
l could ask you to let me care for
you, and at once. Come, darling, u
as / hid my face in my hands
you've asked me to marry you
and l must name the day and say
now at once. Let's give them a
good thorough surprise. can
guess how they've treated you
Come, now, get ready this fairy, this
blessed little darling, that has
brought me my happiness, and we'll
go to your own minister"
tried to refuse, but | was So
weary of living with my mother-in
law, that at last We three slipped out
of the house; and dear DR.. S.
who had baptised me, married Inc to
Frank and knew Herbert well, mar
ried us.
We drove back and reached the
front door as the family were return
ing. Julia, who would appropriate
Herbert, stepped forward.
Good evening, Mr.. Halstead. Sc
you met Kate OH the steps Strangep
with glance at me, as If l had
planned TO meet him.
IN OF al all, Mss julia" said Her
bert. "My wife and l'just call in tc
receive Your congratulations and &c
leave little Midget here for few
days"
NO tableau | have ever seen was
half SO comlcal as the one those three
made. KNEW she cared for Herbert