Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-13
LEAP YEAR LESSONS.

said the girls.
For the leap year party was intended for
something more than run, although of course
there was to be great deal of fun; but pri-
marty, fundamentally ana indisputGby, the
leap year party was to furnish particularly
effective lever for the higher education OF
young men, in the matter OF society be-
havior. The average young lady was, Of
course, to invite a special partner, for whom
che would call in her carriage, but it was
decided that three or four should go as ''club
men" These without special partners were
SSedSed 10 drop in upon the scens very laJe
tesa@@ evening, and then, Win persistent
nonchaiance, not 10 dance but 10 stand sdly
in the doorways They were TO gaze care
lessly and with very conspicuous lack of all
interest at the scene, and occasionally, just
Is a young gentleman had very evidently
accepted another partner, they were to rush
toward him with sudden Inspiration and IN
usual animation and urgently request the
honor" On learning that the dance had Just
been promised they were to retreat, mur1nur-
ing with ineffable regret, Jaw, really, Mr.
Trevor, that Is too cruelI" 1t was decided
that to make this lesson more effective, these
''club men" should be the picked girls
of Lakeville, the loveliest dancers, the richs
est helresseS the favorite bellies; those Tor
whose entrance the "men" would be watch
Ing with the most eager interest, and whose
persistent lack of any interest in the dancing
would be the most aggravating deprivation.
If any cynic should be inclined to remark on
the probable confusion in the conclave when
IT came to the young ladies voting for each
other as TO who were the favorites. can
only say that he is very ignorant of one Of
the loveliest traits in girl nature: the whole
hearted hero worship of each other which
rarely fails to delight in another girls popu-
larity. Finally, it was suggested that the
point would be still more conspicuous if only
one girl went ''club man." and the vote
was unanimous that Helen Colgate should be
the one. Ii again any cynic should feel in
clined to mention that the power of depriving
an acknowledged belle of her privileges for
one entire evening might have tempered the
difficulty Of thus acknowledging her. to be
the belle, can only say again that he evil
IDENTIFY does not know Helen Colgate, or the
bevy of girl friends who delight in her wit
and glory In her beauty. Yes, Of course,
Helen was Enthusiastically the one to teach the
young men this particular lesson. The only
question was, would Helen be able to hold
out against the bewildering strains OF her
favorite waltzes and the mute chances of i'm
ploring alteration from her hopeless admir-
ers. Remember, Helen, you must not
e dance more than three times the whole even
ing" was the parting injunction of the con-
spirators.
That there could possibly be any counter
conspiracy in the camp of the enemy had not
entered into the calculations OF the fair con-
testants. But the young men had not failed
to appreciate their own opportunity, and
were quite as well organized for the fray as
their gentle opponents. 1t was decided that
the most important thing to impress upon
the fair feminine mind was the desirableneSs
OF chaperons. The long suffering youths had
acquired positive hatred of certain agree
able partners, who might have been found
charming had they been provided with a
chaperon TO whom they could be led back
Rfter the pleasant dance. They were de-
termined to aveuge themselves for the extra
hours of tedious promenade with the I'M
chaperoned young ladies who could not be
dropped unceremoniouSly IN the middle Of
the floor and who had no mamma to be
taken to- All were agreed as to the necessity
for impressing this lesson; but there were diff
ferenceS OF opinion as to the way of impress
ing it Some voted for all to have chap
erons, that the young ladies might discover
for themselves how great the advantage was
They could certainly be trusted to find out
how much more likely they were to be liked
If they thus made themselves easy to dispose
Of before WEAKNESS set ID. Others voted ON
the contrary for none to have chaparons,
that the fair offenders might in this way dis
cover tho mistaken policy in not having any.
Finally, by a curious coincidence, the gentle
men hit on the same device as the ladies, and
hot rla !,
to have one LETT unchaperoned, with all the
rest provided for.
All the girls but one, therefore, found, on
running lightly up the steps to call Tor their
partners, portly father, burly uncle, and
in some cases even an AGED grandfather,
hooded, wrapped, and with divine patience
stamped upon his brow IN advance. ready 10
accompany the youthful Tom. the irnpres-
sionable Dick and the frivolous Harry, 10
the dangerous scene Of the festivities.
Lily Gowan, however, whose fate WIS Jack
Tottenhsm for the evening, found him wait
ing for her with, indeed, the desirable chan
eron in attendance; but on reaching the car
riage, Jack exclaimed suddenly and Rgbrlv.
$50 sorry, dear papa! but there doesn't seem
to be room for both you ami ray corsage bou-
Quet, and l can't leave my corSage BOUQUET
Rt home; don't sit up for mel" and the car
riage door was shut on LILY and Jack and TIE
huge bouquet, of dimensions that nearly hid
sven the broad and manly breast Of Mr.
TottenhaIn Lily and her coadjutorS were
not long in discovering that this had been
premedltSted
After the first dance every other young
gentleman would duly ssy, And now, ii
you please, viii you take me back 70 papGr
and be duly parted with, either with regret
or relief, but certainly with gratitude for
che open chance to be independent again.
All bat Lily! poor Lily, with her unchap-
eroned Jack, who smiled, ard chung TO he-
sr1n. and chatted and whispered with most
Fascinating effort, but who, II he had been
Helen of Troy herself, would have become a
kore at last in the enforced c0-lp2nionship
Round and round walked poor Lily with her
helpless Jack. more and more si1npered Jack
with inane satisfaction at the success OF his
Transparent ruSe; sud more and more diff
fult did It become for the other young gen.
Eemen rot TO besray oUtwardly their enjoy
tnent OF the situation Butit Jack IOttenham
snd the gilded youth Of Lalleviile generally
thought they were going 70 get The bstterof