The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-04-30
A LEAP-YEAR PROPOSAL.
BY IRIS PoNsoNBY.
CHAPTER /.

dellO, ola 1ellOW! Onall see you
at the grand bal masaue? Grandest
hop, and also the last one, of the sea-
son, you know Better GOMEZ"
"No-that is, 1 guess can't come.
Should like to, pom honor; but, press
ing business, you know"
The two friends, SO lately met, sepa-
rated. The first speaker, Carl Du
Quesne, young and thriving barrister,
but few months from England, hur-
ried to his club at the ST. Frisco, while
his old college chum, Frank Greedy, q
bashful young lawyer who had but
lately hung out his single, turned to-
ward his unpretentious rooms at the
Lyons Hotel.
AS he threaded his way along the
narrow streets, lost in meditation,
deep, profound, his thoughts ran thus:
Il don't know but l may step in, after
all, if but to look after my own char
acter. Let me see (thrusting his hands
in his pocket; this is leap-year, sure
enough. If wasn't such an idiot to
run whenever / see pretty girl APP
preaching, might have found my des-
tiny ere this. But, here we be-"
This last exclamation was caused by
finding himself in the center of COM
modious room, where huge fireplace
sent forth ruddy, pleasant glow.
Deuce take 1T, where is my meer-
schaum? Whew even my cigar case
is Why, bless my stars" he ejac-
ulated, dazedly, "if things don't seem
little mix jerusalem but I'm in
the wrong place."
IN, IoI
he been that he had mistaken the num-
Der, and now was, horrible to relate, in
an apartment occupied by female, as
the tasty oil paintings, and exhibition
of musical lore, indicated. He flew
around the room in pitiful frenzy, in
quest of hat which would not appear,
and was celebrating upon the conse-
quences of leaving the room without
that article, when chorus of sweet,
girlish voices arrested his Mortified
senses, followed by peal upon peal of
silvery laughter, drawing nearer every
moment to the apartment in which he
was standing.
"Good Lord, deliver mep he cried
out, mentally, as he stood for one mo-
ment undecided whether to risk all and
fly past them, or run his chances of be-
ing undiscovered in some friendly re-
treat. He eagerly grasped at the lat
ter probability, and made dive for the
only door in his rear. and which he
found opened into small dressing
room literally hung with numerous
garments in the feminine line.
Hastily drawing the door to after
him, he was not q little disconnected to
hear an ominous click, while his "hair
now stood on end" as he assured him.
self that he was close prisoner, and
at the mercy of the gay, fun-loving
creatures just entering the apartment
he had so lately quilted.
In vain he racked his brain tor some
plan of escape. In vain he listened for
q signal of exit from the noisy, all
confding group. As well might he
have thought to enter from thence into
an enchanted castle; and, having be-
come invisible, return by passing
through their midst unperceived.
At length, yielding himself to the in
evitable, he crouched upon his knee,
ut the key-hole, and prepared to take a
complete survey of the entire groups
the knowledge almost overwhelming in
lbb BItdb DOWcI, Vi DtuOlulnR 30 mucn
beauty unseen, and listening to fem
mime wit unblushingly.
He beheld quartette of girls seated
before the broad, rosy fender, with
glowing, healthful cheeks and bright,
sparkling eyes.
They were all chatting at once, and
laughing immoderately at one another's
sallies.
Frank Greedy recollected having
seen them all at distance before TO.
night; but whether either of their
names was Sally, Sue, or Betsy Ann,
he could pot tell. He was soon set at
rest. however, upon that subject.
The sauciest looking of the four-a
dashing brunette of eighteen summers
after coluettish toss of her ringlets,
began:
3Alla Caswell, say, whom do you
purpose to invite to attend you on the
occasion of the 23d? 1t should be some
one highly gifted with the art of con-
versing nicely, you are such a quiet
little puss. you know" And she play
fully pinched one ear of tho young girl
sitting beside her