Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1880-02-05
Misreilauy,
A LEAP-YEAR STORY.

SHlpToN, January lS80.-MY DEAR
EST NELL: ! am going to bave a party.
You must come. You know it is leap
year. So come prepared to admire, not to
be admired; to be smitten, not to smite;
to compliment, not to be cJmplimented;
to love, not to be loved. This grand event
comes off on Thursday, the 18th. Come
on Monday and help me fix things. I'll
he ut the station to meet you. Yours, in
an awful hurry, FLORENCE RICHARDS.
Flory Richards was the only daughter
of gentleman of good position and un-
limited means. At school she had been
the bosom friend Of Nelly Grant, the child
of equally good parentagc, but very small
fortune.
Nelly was very quiet: Florry very gay;
therefore as opposltes are said to attract,
they liked each other, and so well that
their friendship did not end with their
school life.
Monday arrived, and with it Nelly.
After the first rapturous greetings were
vcr Flony exclaimed, Isn't it Just
| plendid about my party. Wen have
uch fun. Lots Of nice gentlemen will be
thele, so you can take your choice"
"Let me tell you, Flo, said Nellie, 81
could not refuse, but as | have come it
will be only as looker'on, for never can
so far forget myself as to ask Il gentleman
to dance"
"Oh, you'll soon get over that. It's the
custom, you know" said Flo. at would
not be leap.year party without that"
Nelly did not say anything. She thought
it was not worth while. And, Oh, Nell!
Just guess who have invited out of COM
Aliment to you! Some one you know
very well--nelther more nor less than
Will Hare. "
"What2 Will OF my youth, whom
have not seen for five years. You don't
say SOP"
"Yes, even he. lie has been staying
near us for the past month, and he and |
are quite good friends. He spoke of
knowing you so WELL and has told me all
about what good times you used to have
together"
49," thought Nelly, she has not for.
gotten, after all. "
Amidst the confusion of the next few
days Nelly had not much time to think,
|
The evening is come; the guests have
nearly all arrived, and Nelly, if the plain
est dressed, is at least the prcttiest girl in
the room. And so thought Flo, who, af.
ter finishing her own toilet, stopped to
give touch to the hair which was all
Nely's own, and pat to the cheek that
knew not the rouge pot.
| As Nelly said, she was not much but a
locker on. 1t was the first party of the
kind she had ever attended. When she
saw the gentlemen with lockets and
chains, round their necks, bangles dang
ling from their wrists and fans in their
hands, she was very much amused, ana
the coolness with which the ladies were
taken up an introduced surprised her.
But when young girl came and leaned
over gentleman sitting near and lispcd
"Mr. Graves, you are looking charming this
evening. May not have the pleasure Of
this waltz with you?" she felt disgusted
"Mr. Smith, is there any name down for
the next polka? IT not may | have the
pleasure2" "Mr. Brown, will you prom,
enade, or shall | get you an ice?"
And thus they ratified on, to the bewil
! dermentof Nelly,
One young lady in particular she no
tced, Miss Martel, who was making full
use OF those opportunities which it is sale
are accorded to the gentle sex but ono,
r every four years. She paid the gentlemen
every attention possible, and even went 8,
far as to attempt to take their place Will,
waltzing. And no one thought anything
Of it except the young lady who never be
fore had seen woman try to be man
1t was all taken as matter of course, an,
, these are the poor young things that
really don't know mamma, what hirtinj
is"
"But where is Mr.. Hare all this time P
the impatient reader asks. Patience, pa
tience! the climax is coming.
Nellie had plenty of partners, thanks t
, Flo, but after supper she was left to her
shelf few moments and she happened +
overhear this scrap Of conversation: "Mr
: Thompson, did you see Miss Martel to
. nightp how charming she is; do you no
, think SOP Rather wild, did you say
Oh, you dreadful creature! Did you hea
/, she's engaged 10 Mr.. Wilham Hare
Rather pleasant match, only-"and the,
, passed on.
"What," thought Nellie, "will engag
ed to that girl whc, to say the least, i
! decidedly fast(p) Welll he must b
changed from what he was when he and
vant ndtting together" Truly, the worl,
\ IS turne upside down, when girls max
! love to ounQ men aud they like IL.
can't stand this any longer. | will sill
, off and be quiet somewhere"
Il She crossed the hall and sought relug
! in small study which had not beel
! thrown open TO the guests. Glad TO es
cape from the noise and nlatter, she SAN
into chair, took book, composed her
sell, -and must confess II, thought q