Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-06-24
st perhaps he should forget her

lest perhaps he should forget her
again.
What do You mean, darling?" he
asked. Now think, Nellie, but don't
tell Uncle Herber: anything of your
own make up"
'Oh, uoi really, truly, bless me, she's
alive-isn't that what you say when
you're true! Wellr' the little tot gave
a long sigh and paused, Herbert not
daring to interrupt her, lest she should
see his anxiety, and miniature woman
as she was, sshould refuse to satisfy
him.
"Wellr' she repeated, "you see they
does scold mamma, so they does. To
day morning they naked mamma cry,
TO- morrow (she would call yesterday
to- morrow they scolded her again be-
cause she wouldn't t sing, and then they
said she was fordard. What's for
dardy'
Forward, indeedr' calculated Her
bert, under his breath. IF it had been
some others now. But Nellie, how
about leap year?'
"Oh, yes! l most fordot, didn't r.
Well, you see, mamma said-but, oh,
Uncle Herbert, 1 never showed you my
two vicente new little kittens! They S
only little sings, wivout eyes. Come
out to the piazza and I'll show you"
1t was no use to be impatient, the
Young man knew the child too well for
that, and so they went out and inspect
ed the kittens. Then he tried to coax
Nellie back to the subject.
"Oh, l fordotr' she said. "Only they
made mamma say"
"What did they say, darling? I'll
give you a big doll"
"With real hair?'
"Yes, yes! Real hair and eyes, and
oh, nothing. But did they say l want
ed to marry"
"Tbey say mamma wasn't 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"
1 had come in, looking for the child,
and that was the speech heard. Ifelt
ready to sink with modification.
"Kate, darling, can't / hope you'll let
me ask? You must know that hoped
when these touching my veil and black
dress) were put aside, that could ask
you to let me care for you, and at once.
Come, darling" as hid my face in my
hands. You've asked me to marry you
and l must name the day; and l say
now, at once. Let US give them good
thorough surprise. l can guess how
they've treated you. Come, now, get
ready this fairy, this blessed little dar-
ling that has brought me my happi-
ness, and we'll go to your own min
ister."
tried to refuse, but was so weary
of living with mother-in-law, that at
last we three slipped out of the house;
and dear DR.. s., who had baptized
me, married me to Frank, and knew
Herbert well, married US.
We drove back and reached the front
door as the family were returning
Julia, who would appropriate Herbert,
stepped forward.
"Good evening, Mr.. Halstead. So
you met Kate on the steps? Stranger
with glance at me, as if had plan
ned to meet him.
"Not at all, Miss Julia said Her
bert, "My wife and just call in to re-
ceive your congratulations and to leave
little midget with you a few days"
No tableau l have ever seen was half
SO comical as the one those three made.
l really felt for Julia, for / knew she
cared for Herbert. She gained self pos
session quickly, and congratulated me,
whispering, as she kissed me, $50 you
asked himP'
NV husband heard and answered:
"No, Miss Julia, she did not ask me.
Through other means, thank God, !
learned the one loved was unhappy;
and, as hoped, for more than year
past, to soon ask her to be my wife, /
persuaded her to marry me at once
Leap year privileges are still open for
those who choose to use them"
We are quite an old married couple
now; for three years have passed, but
Herbert and still laugh over Nellle's
leap year proposal.