Connecticut western news., 1884-06-18
A LEAP-YEAR EPISODE.

A LEAI LAh Ill 1nODI. 'I wouldn't marry John Marryatt not for thousand pounds p said Avice Mere.
 And she said it, too, exactly ns if she meant it, with reddeued cheeks, eyes full of hazel fire, and two small dimpled fists clenched tightly.
 s'My dear," said Penelope Paxton, one of those iovial old maids who are privi- legged to say anything, "you remind me of famous historical character.
 "I?" said Ayice, momentarily off her guard.
 ssYes," said Penelope. "Miss Betty Baxter, who refused Capt Jones before he axed her P
 "Oh. 1t isn't that P protested Avice, rosier than ever. "Of course Mir. Mar ryatt has no idea of asking me; why should he have? And if he did, I shouldn't accept him."
 ''Miss Betty Baxter" monotonously chanted Penelope, "who refused" "Penny, do be quiet!" said Avice, stamping her fcot in genuine annoyance. "You know what I mean l"
 "No, don't" said Penny. "Aud I don't believe you know yourself.
 "He said it was Leap Year." pleaded indignant Avice.
 ''So it is" said Penny, ''get the almanac, and look for yourself. Four into eighteen hundred and eighty-four goes--' Penelope. can't you talk common sense ?"
 ''To be sure can, if you will set me the example P gravely responded Miss Paxton.
 'sAnd he told Dr. Darien he wasn't coming to our party tomorrow nigkt, because he didn't want to be married against his will"
 ''Well, after all, there's something in that" said Penelope refectively. "I never was a man myself; but I can imagine that, under the circumstances, cold shiver would go ali through me. D .'Penny," said Avice solemnly, ''do you really, seriously think that one of us girls ever thought of marrying John Marryatt ?'
 ''That is question which I am not prepared to answer" said Miss Paxton. And Avice ran out of tho room, and was surprised to find herself crying over the clove-scented blossoms of her favor ite carnations in tho bath room window. ''l'm sure don't know why, sobbed she, 1T hate John Marryatt, and I think it was horrid of Dr. Darien to go and re, peat what was said to him in confidence And if John Marryatt really believed that-that There, I won't think of il any more p
 "Leap Year, indeed Why do people talk such string of nonsense because the month of February happens to have twenty nine days in it instead of twenty eight?" In the meantime Mir. Marryatt hat packed his valise and gone off to visit al old uncle who was at the point of death '1t won't be very cheerful visit, said he to himself, "but it will be bette than state of siege, for have beer told, on good authority, that every on' of those girls means to get engaged a the leap-year party.
 ''It will be the old story of the Sabinel over again, with the sexes reversed And when marry-if Imarry-I intend to have at least the privilege of choice So Til just go up to Uncle Origen's."
 Uncle Origen's farm house was on tn, top of bleak hill, where few dwarfec cherry trees shook and shuddered in tn wintry blasts and the COWS huddled il the shelter of the hayricks to keep iron being blown away.
 ''I think we're going to have storm, said MT. Maryatt. 'I am quite certail that smell snow in the air. And ther are more cheerful places during a north east wind than Uncle Origen's house I
 In fact he was almost disposed to b sorry that he had come, when he stooc there knocking and humping with tn handle of his umbrella at the shrupkeI panels of the front door.
 Pretty soon crooked old man, wit his garments fastened with tow strings instead of buttons, came shuff1ing to tn door and peeped suspiciously around il
 'Eh ?" said he, with one hand bac of his poor old purple ear. "'Pears t me I heard somebody knocking didnC I ?"
 "Yes, it's me-" said our hero--'Joh Marryatt, don't you know?"
 "Married?" squeaked the old mar gro whom ?"
 'John--Mar--ry-att" distinctly It peated the visitor. "How is my Uncl Origen?
 The crooked old man sheltered hi candle-f flame with one hand and stare as if he were gradually being trans ormed into one huge eye.