Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-23
A Leap Year Idyl.

os. Medill, in Chicago Tribune
My heart is broken!"
The words came with q strange, passionate
force from the lips Of Mignon McNuty as she
stood beneath the larches that beautiful June
evening and looked tenterly up ut George w.
Simpson, and In the fathomless depths Of her
great brown eyes there was wistful, fear
haunted look that told its own sad story of a
sorrow that was almost despair.
The man made no reply to the girl, nor did he
even look at her. His face was turned away,
and. although he could feel the little hand that
rested so lightly on his shoulder trembe like an
aspen, there was no sign in his face by which one
could read his thoughts. 1t was handsome
1acc-the lines perfect in their contour, and the
lar, white skin was mantled here and there by
Just the suggestion OF deeper color and vet,
II one looked closely. there was something I'm
pleasant about it all, and the clear gray eyes
heid ever lurking expression Of tirmness that
might easily become cruelty. 1t was face
that came nearest telling its own story when in
perfect repose. When George W. Simpson
became engaged in conversation women called
him divine. The RANT mouth, wreathed in the
sunniest OF smiles, lost all the rgidity of lines
that characterized it at other times, and the
gray eyes looking into yours SO frankly seemed
out open portals to soul within whose pre-
clncts the gaunt horrible figures of despair and
doubt had never stalked with echong tread.
AT last he turned to Mignon. II must go
now, ne said. passing his wOmanly- white hand
tenderiy over the girls brow and then kissing
her there in revereut fashion. viii you not
say gOOd-by!"
there was no answer, and he walked slowly
down the pathway leading to the gate, Mgnon
standing there like one in Il trance. In the
west the sun was sinking to rest, and over the
girls head lark uttered its musical cry as it
Few swiftly by. Not tar away was a horse car.
Inc gli die! not move.
The lark was lost in the far blup overhead
the street car sped Oh and Oil until the last rleam
CT It's rear platform vanished the sun sank lower
ara lower TIL 1t giUNcd globe OF flame upon
the edge ol the horizon. Through all this Mig
non never moved, but stood there under the
iarches with Ter head dropped upon her breast
her form thrown ont dark and motionless
against the gold CT the WESTERN sky and on her
face the look OF one to WHOM death would be n
blessing
The sun sank entirely, leaving only a trail of
name across the heavens; the wind rose and
blew back from her forehead the Masses of blue
oi"ck mar that clustered there She started
tAeii. as II awakened from a dream. and walked
swiftly into the house. Her mother, hearing
Tie u eil-known footsteps met her at the door
one glance tod her all
You have failed"
Yes. answered Mignon, she saws he will
marry no one and that eap-year is nothing but
foolish tradition. He is a iieartless couuet
Lat let him beware. There is one whom he NAV
YET meet whose Witcnery he cannot escape even
If he would. Pray heaven she may come this
way, ana the girl sank weeping upon a fuu-
teittt.
.'Of whom do you speak," asked her mother.
W no Is TINS peerless beauty"
Looking steadily at her mother MiunOn Missed
through her new teeth the fatal words:
SUSAN Is. AnthOny.a