The Press., 1888-03-08
foreground. who really believed a murder

foreground, who really believed murder had been done. {, When they were comparatively alone. Josie said to Gerald Arnold, who had wrapped the bandaged hand in his silk handkerchief ::
 t'Take me,home ]"
 sEvery wish of yours shall be my law hereafter, darlingI" he whispered, m- pressively, as he left her to call carriage.
 During the ride home she attributed hls lover-like expressions to desire for reconciliation, and, pleased though she was, she coyly endeavored to change the subject. .,.
 s'It has been the dreadfulest evening !" she said. "Wonld you believe it? George has gone home, when I was expecting him to take me to the ball tomorrow evening.
 "Why, darling, will take you v he whispered, pressing her uninjured hand.
 "There now he thinks I wanted him to ask mel" she thought, blushing fnri- ously in the darkness. But she went on, bravely
 "I do believe it was something connect ed with that leap-y year letter, too. He has acted so strangely for several days"
 "Leap-year letter." repeated her com panion.
 "Yes, the leap-year letter Josephine Nostrand sent to our great t-great-grand- father more than a hundred years ago. l sent it by him to Stella Drew, for her col lection. You saw it, didn't you-the col lection, I mean? The letter was real ar l ticle, too-more than can be said of some of her experimentation the stupid boy must have lost it, for Stella Drew says she has never seen it.
 "By love !"' said her companion, start. inrp CGNHou # dated 1T21 and signed Josephine ?
 ''Yes," replied Josie. "Did you ever see it ?'' ~~
 'I believe have the identical letter in my pocket at this moment. George must have sent it to me-
 "Why-what for?" asked Josie, inno- gently.
 Mischief, of course, returned her com panion. "I-I really thought you had taken advantage of the leap-year, Josie, and had proposed to me but did think that your education had been neglected when you dated the letter 1784, and spell ed in such dreadfully old-fashioned man. ner."
 At first Josie could not be made to com prehend; but when safely at home, and her wounded hand was re. bandaged, she saw the identical letter she had given to 1 GeOrge 1nclOSed Ill an envelope QlFecteo III his unmistakable penmanship, she under stood.
 "The miserable boy ought to be whip ped," she said. "No wonder he ran away from his evil doing l"
 "And yet, Josie" said Gerald Arnold grsvely, f:that letter is what brought mt back to you. If I had never received it, should be halfway to Europe by this time. Are you sorry that it was sent, darling ?"
 "No-not exactly" she returned, blush ing crimson. "But he ought to be taugh better than to play such tricks upon hi' elders"
 "How much the elder?" queried Gerald encircling her with his arm.
 ''Six months" confessed Josie, hiding her face on his shoulder.
 It was some tune before George wal heard from but, after hearing how thing had turned out, he ventured to presen himself at his uncle's once more, and whel reproached for his mischievous deed, h. replied, saucily:
 Don't pretend to be angry, Josie; yol know that you are rejolced that that olt flove-letter did it's work better the seeon' time than it did the first. Eh?"
 And Josie did not contradict him.