The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-08-28
A TALE OF LEAP YEAR.

Nothing but private common privatcn ~
1t would be vain TO attempt to portray the
Lady Macbethian sCorn which curved Harriet
Deane's lip as she spoke the sentence. John
Carlyle, albeit he was quite conscious of not
deserving the keen-cdged contempt, quailcd
beneath it, nevertheless.
"But, Harriet"
Hush" said the impcrlous beauty, hold.
ing up awarnng finger, II want to understand
this matter. Gilbert Armour was promoted
to be second lieutenant, was he not?"
ayes"
"And you are his equal in all respccts?"
"Yes.h
"Mlght you not also have shared his hon.
ors?"
II might, | suppose, Harriet" SAID the
young soldier, fixing his calm, dark eye upon
her fair face, "lf | had chosen to share them
ut the expense OF poor Talcott who earned his
shoulderstraps long ago. They should have
been his 10y every right months SINCE, but pow
erty and obscurlty are not the place winners.
Either Gilbert Armour or | must stand aside
to see wrongcd man rghted. lie did not
choose to sacrifice promotion to scruple
did Harriet, was | wrong?"
"Oh, OF course 1t is nothing to me" said
Miss Deane You were perfectly right IN
consulting your own choice VIII you be
good enough to hand me that work baskct?n
John Carlyle sat looking at the pretty crca-
ture, around whom the love of his strong ma
ture had en cntwined with fervor rare
enough iese mater-otfuct days, in wistrul
perpiex1 Shining auburn hair parted away
IRON pcarlpurc brow; deep blue eyes
like the slvety petal of a pansy, and a mouth
whose intense crimson reminded you of the
inside leaves of Lord Raglan rose, she was
by no means dlsagreeabIe to look at, and Mr.
Carlyle was quite sensible of the fact
Harriet" he said, with an UNCONSCIOUS ire
NOR in the syllables, II came"
Excuse me, sir" interrupted Miss Deanc
with studied ceremony, 81 am particularly
busy counting these sttches-if YOU would be
so Obllglng rs not to interrupt mcn
All IMMERSED AS he was in the devious wind
lngs OF feminine nature, John CARLYLE instinct.
lively felt that this was no auspicious season
for the furtherancc of his suit.
III Try again tonight" he unused, walking
homeward. "She wont be doing crochet
work forever, and | cannot 90 away in such
torturlng suspense as this. She is veXed about
the shouldcr-straps; | wish, for her sake, |
had them, yet would not wear them furnished
by the iaintest stain of injustice or dishonor. >"
The clear January sky was ieweIed with
frosty stars, and the solemn old church clock
had just chimed nine from It's dim belfry
when he entered the bright room. with iis
messy blue carpet and hangings of azure silk
ana ParIan staluettes, hidden by vases of vivid
crimson roses.
IT. was not however, empty, as he had honcd
ana expected. Lieutenant Armour stood in
the middle OF the apartment, decidedly con.
sclous OF his fine new shoulder-straps and ma
tronlzlng half dozen pretty girls. lie nodded
laughingly to Carlyle, and went on with The
sentence which the new arrival had inter.
rupted '''''i
Leap year, to be sure it L. And NAV As
wei sIale al once that I'm ready to receive any
propositions you ladies' may have TO make ~
Nonsense, Gilbert" sand Mary FInb,n
stone, his cousin.
"Nonsensc, eh? Wen, I'm glad Won con
slider 1t IN that light don't. | think ,,,s y
great shame the girls don't avail themselves
OF thelr privilege, when we men are ready will
our blushes and timid chances"
lie looked at Harriet Deane as he snoko
hali In earnest, half Jestingly. John Carivlc,s
eye followed the direction OF his. ne nv a cor,
oil fascination, and saw the rose tint mountin q,
70 narriets check, and the purple blue eyes
hluden by their white lids How lone h,
S'ood mere with giddy pam surging through
ms 1iaih' anu chill ut his heart as if a cold
manu- was graspihg az It's fbers, he did moi
know; 1t might have been five Minimize or =,
might have been five hours but he was ronsod
by The breaking up of the little marty ,Lo
sound OF merry voices and playful adlenx
Harriet Deane was standing under a cho,
deller, one white hand resting on the carved
back OF gothic char, Gilbert Armour Ionnc
ing on sofa, where the blue silk cnr,aIx.
swept over the entrance 10 a bay window s,
John Carlyle pressed forward Miss Flnb,n.
stone laid her hand on his arm softly.
"No--no," she whispered, archly, don't Won
see it's an understood matter with Gilber, and
Harr1eti Give me your arm home, for Gil
bert VIII never think Of me again"
John Carlyle turned silently away with
white lips and clenched teeth, blind TO the