Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-09-21
4 TALE OF LEAP YEAR.

"No'hiu. bu: c prisa,e-a common
privster
Itwuu'd L. vain 20 attempt to portray
the Lady MachDlian seorn which
curved Harriet Danes lip as she spoke
the sentence. John Carlyle. albeit he
was quite conscious OF no, deserving the
keen-edged contempt. quailed beneath
L, nevertheless.
But. Harriet"
"Hushw said the imperious beauty.
holding up a warning finger. want
10 understand this mIiter. Gilbert
Armour was promoted TO be second
lieutenant, was lie notf"
Yes
And you are his equal in all re-
spects3"
Yes
Might you not also have shared his
honors?"
Il might, | suppose, Harriet, said
the young soldier. fixing his calm, dark
eye upon ner fair face. " If had chosen
TO share them at the expense OF poor
Talcott, who earned his shoulder-straps
long ago. They should have been Lis by
every night IN mpnths since, but poverty
and obsCurity ARE not tie best place
winners. Either Gilbert Armour or |
mus, stand aside 10 see wronged man
iighted. He did not choose 10 sacrifice
promotion to a scrup!e. | did. Harriet,
was | wrong"
"Oh. of course il is nothing TO me, !"
said Miss Deane. You were perfectly
right in consulting your own choice.
VII. you be good enough 10 hand me
that work -basket?'
John Carlyle sat looking at the pretty
creature, around " HON the love OF his
strong nature had b,en on,wiued with
fervor rare enough in these matter-of-
fact days, in wstful perplexity. Shin
Ing auburn hair, parted away from a
low. pearl-pure brow; deep blue eyes,
ike the velvety peta, Of pansy, and a
mouth whose intense crimson reminded
you OF the inside leaves Of Lord Rag
Ian rose, she was by no means disagree
able 10 look at, and Mr.. Carlyle was
quite sensible oilhs fact.
Harriet" Ae .aiL. with an unconscious
tremor in tie syl!aL.eS, " ca ne"
Excuse me. sir, Interrupted Miss
Des.ne, with studied cor,mUIy. e" am
particularly bus counting these stitches
If YOU wolld be 50 obN.ing as not TO
interrupt NE"
All IMMERSED IS he was IN the devious
windings cf feminine na.ur,, Johu Car.
lyle instinct lively fei: iLat this was no
auspicious season for the !urtherance OF
his suit.
"r!l try again tonight" he unused.
walking houeward. She won't be
doing crochet woik forever. and cannot
90 away in such tortuTing suspense rs
this. She is veXeG about the shoulder.
straps; | wish. for her sake, | had
them, y, would not wear them tar.
nisAed by the i,intest stain OF injustice
or G'shouor."
Tie ,.elr J.nGary sly Was jewoled
with frosty stars, and the solemn old
church clock had just chimed nine from
lis dn betty, when a. entered the
brieh, room, with lis messy blue carpet
and hanziugS o. szIle six, and Parian
ststuCres hidden ly wastes OF vivid crim-
sci ros's.
{; vas not, however empty, rs he had
Lored and expected. Lieutenant Ar
mCur stood in the middle cf the apart
ment. decidedly conscious OF his fine
new sl.oui ler strl1s, and patronizing
hs'i Coz rretty girls. He nodded
laugh'rgiy q Carlyle, and went on with
th, sentence which the new arrival had
interrupted.
Leap year. to be sure it is. And 1
may Is well state al once that I'm ready
10 receive any propositions you ladies
may have to make
Nonsense, Gilbert" said Mary e.
phinstOne, his cousin.
Nonsense, Ell? Well, I'm glad you
consider it in that lght--I don't. I
think it's n great shame the girls don't
availthemselves of their privilege, when
we men are ready with our bushes and
timid glanees."
He looked at Harriet Deane as he
spoke. half in earnest, halt jestingly.
John Carlyle's eye followed the direc-
ton of his, as by sort Of fascination,
ard saw the rose tint mounting TO Har-
-ie: $ check. and the purple blue eyes
hidden by their white lids. How long
he stood there, with giddy pain surg
ing through his brain, and a chill at his
heart, as if cold hand was grasping at
its ibers, he did not know; it might
have been FIVE minutes, or it might have
been five hours; but he was reused by
the breaking up of the little party, the
so,.pd rs marry voicpS and Dlavfrll