Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-13
A LEAP YEAR EPISODE.
4 Clipper E.ittlc story abou. Love and
ahings.


Ehings.
81 wouldn't marry John Marryatt not
for thousand pounds. - said Avice
Mere.
And she said it, too, exactly as if she
meant it, with Redeemed cheeks, eyes full
of hazel fire, and two small dmrled fists
clenched tightly
"My dear" said Penelope Paxton, one
of those ioyial old maids who are privi-
legged to say anything, ''you remind me
of famous historical character"
"I?" said Avice, momentarily off her
guard.
EYES," said Penelope. Miss Betty
Baxter, who refused Capt. Jones before
he axedher y
"Oh, it isn't that - protested Avice,
roster than ever. "Of course Mr.. Marry
att has no idea OF asking me; why should
he have? And if he did, / shouldn't ac-
cept him.
chanted Penelope, "who refused--'
'Penny, do be quiet' said Avico,
stamping her foot i'll genuine annoyance.
"You know what mean :"
"No, | don't said Penny, "And
don't believe You know yourself"
"He said it was Leap Year" pleaded
indignant Avico.
80 it is, said Penny "Getthe alma
nae, and look for yourself. Four into
eighteen hundred ana eighty-four goes
Penelope, can't You talk common
sense %
"To be sure [ can, if YOU will set me
the example,! gravely responded Miss
Paxton.
"And he told DIR. Darien he wasn't
coming to our party tomorrow night, be-
cause he didn't want to be married
against his will"
"Well, after all, there's something in
that" said Penelope rcAectively. II
never was a man myself but | can i'm
agine that, under such circumstances. a
cold SILVER would go all through me. !"
Penny, said Avice solemnly, "do YOU
really, seriously think that one of us girls
ever thought of marrying John Marry
att 2"
"That is question which | am not
prepared to answer" said Miss Paxton.
And Avice ran out Of the room, and
was surprised to find herself crying over
the clove-scented blossoms OF her favor
lite carnations,in the bath-ro ON window.
I'm sure l don't know why" sobbed
she, 81 hate John Marryatt; and | think
1t was .horrid of DR.. Darien to go and re-
peat what was saidtto him. in confidence I!
And If John Marryatt really believed that
-that--There, L won't think of it any
more
leap Year, indeed Why do people
talk such a string of nonsense because
the month OF February happens to have
twenty-nlne days in it, instead of twenty
eight ?"
In the meantime, Mr.. Marryatt had
packed his valise and gone off to visit an
old uncle who was at the point of death.
"It won't be a very cheerful visit" said
he to himself, "but it will be better than
state of siege-for | have been told. on
good authority, that every one of those
girls means to get engaged at the Leap
Year party
at will be the old story of the Sabincs
over again, with the sexes reversed. And
when L marry-if | marry-I intend to
have at least the privilege Of choice. so
Ill just go up to Uncle Origcn's.'
Uncle Origon's farmhouse was on the
top of II bleak hill, where q few dwarfed
cherry trees shook and shuddorcd in the
wlntry blasts, and the COWS huddlcd in
the shelter Of the hayricks to keep from
being blown away.
81 think we're going to have storm, -
said MIR. Marryatt. "1'm quite certain
that | smell snow in the air. And there
are more cheerful places during a north
east wind than Uncle Orgen's house :
In fact he was almost disposed to be
sorry that he had come, when he stood
there, knocking and humping with the
handle of his umbrella at the shrunken
panels of the front door.
Pretty soon crooked old man, with
his garments fastened with tow strings,
instead of buttons, came shutting to the
door and peeped suspiciously around it.
"Eh ?" said he, with one hand back of
his poor old purple ear. Pears to me
heard somebody knocking, didn't ?"
'Yes, it's me-" said our hero-"John
Marryatt don't you know ?"
Married." squeaked the old man.
"To whom p
'John-Mar-ry-att p distinctly re-
peated the visitor. Glow is my Uncle
Origen?"
The crooked old man sheltered his can
die fame with one hand and stared as if
he were gradually being transformed into
one huge eye.
Gland sakes alive !" said he. Didn't
you know? He was buried yesterday |"
Here was cheerful welcome for city
visitor
"But what can do ?" said Marryatt,
with helpless gaze down the darkening