The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-07-03
A LEAP-YEAR EPISODE.

y :
not for a thousand pounds said Avice
Mere.
And she said it, too, exactly as If she
meant it, with redeemed checks, eyes
full of hazel fire, and two small dim
pied fists clenched tightly.
"My deal" said Penelope Paxton,
one OF those jorial old maids who are
privileged to say anything, you re-
mind me Of a famous historical char
acter."
"I?' said Avice momentariIy off her
guard.
Yes" said Penelope, "'Miss Betty
Baxter, who refused Captain Jones be-
fore he axed herr. "
"Oh, it isn't that,' protested Avice,
roster than ever. "Of course Mr.. Mar
ryatt has no idea of asking me; why
should he have? And if he did, /
shouldn't accept him"
"'Miss Betty Baxter" monotonously
chanted Penelope, "'who refused-'h
Penny, do be quiet!" said Avice,
stamping her foot in genuine annoy
ance. "YOu know what | meant"
mo, l DON'T said Penny. "And |
don't believe you know yourself"
"He said it was Leap Year." pleaded
indignant Avce.
80 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 l can, if you will set me
the example" grayely responded Miss
Paxton,
And he told Dr. Darien he wasn't
coming to our party tomorrow night,
because he didn't want to be married
against his will"
well, after all, there's something
IN that, " said Penelope reilectively. Il
never was man myself; but | can
imagine that, under such circum.
stances, cold SILVER would 90 all
through me-
Penny said Ayice solemnly, "dc
you really, seriously think that one O.
US girls ever thought Of marrying Johr
Marryatt?o
That IS question which | am no
prepared to answer said Miss Pax
ton.
And Ayice ran out of the room, an,
was surprised to find herself cryin
over the clove-scented blossoms of he
fayorite carnations, in the bathroom
window.
I'm sure l don't know why" sol
bed she, Il hate John Marryatt; and
think ii was horrid of DR.. Darien to 9
and repeat what was said to him
confidence! And if John Marrya
really believed that-that-- There,
won, t think about it any more,"
Leap Year, indeed! Why do Peep
tax such string of nonsense becau
the month OF February happens to ha'
twenty-nine days in it, instead
twenty-eight. ?"
In the meantime, Mr.. Marryatt h
packed his valise and gone off TO vi
an old uncle who was at the point
death.
ut won't be a very cheerful visi
said he to himself, "but it will be /
ter than a state of siege-for l h;
been told, on good authority, Il
every one Of those girls means to
engaged at the Leap-Year party.
ut will be the old story of the
bines over again, with the sexes
versed. And when marry-if | maj
i intend to have at least the priv
ege OF choice. So I'll just go up
Uncle Origen's.m
Uncle Origen's farmhouse was
the top of a bleak hill, where a f
dwarted cherry trees shook and SHIT
dered in the wintry blasts, and I
cows huddled in the shelter Of the h,
ricks to keep from being blown aw,
81 think were going to have
Storm" said Mr.. Marryatt. I'm on
certain that smell snow in the 4,
And there are more cheerful pla
during northeast wind than I'm
Origen's house,"
In fact he was almost disposed tc
sorry that he had come, when he ST,
there, knocking and humping "
the handle of his umbrella at
shrunken panels of the front door.
Pretty soon. a crooked old man, "
his garments fastened with tow stri
instead of buttons, came shuillng
the door, and peeped suspicior
around il.
"Ehp" said he, with one hand bacl