Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-02-14
LEAP YEAR SKETCH.


-
A Fourtsen-Year-OidP Public school Pupil
Relates Her Experience at . Leap Year
Party-How the Girl. Acted aud what
They Did.
The appended sketch was written by
young miss-only IA years old-of the
Springfield public schools. 1t relates her
experience at her first leap year party and
will be found TO be remarkably bright and
interesting reading. She conceived the idea
herself and has carried it out entirely un-
known to her family. The sketch would
do credit to a much cider head.
My First Leap Year Party.
oh. Sue. | am 80 happy Just think
Clara Cook is going to have leap years
party Friday night and II is to be such fun
for the girls. We girls are going to ask the
fellows and act out the gentlemen's parts
all evening; and We have promised each
other to do everything just as the boys do.
1 don't mind telling you, Sue, because you
are not here and can tell the other girls. but
| am going to ask Will Hills or Harry Ray
mcnd to 80 with me. / would ask Harry
Raymond if he did not live so terribly far,
and You know Am 50 afraid to come home
alone. like him best. but have made up
my mind to ask Will Hills because he
lives on this street. Let me SEE. today is
Wednesday. and guess will write him .
note now and mail it when 70 after my
| new dress. Mamma says my dress Is just
iOvely.-NOw for my first invitation to .
| boy: have written 1t and mailed it. and
tried on my dress. which fits charmingly.
The sleeves are so tight and the drspery
hangs beautifully. All have to do now is
to go after Will Hills Thursday-Oh,
dear, was looking for letter from my
cousin this morning: and what were my
feelings TO receive . note from Will Hills,
saying that he had made an engagement to
20 with another girl Friday. and was very
sorry. He is just hOrrd. and l don't like
him one bit. What shall do?
just to think Of his refusing me; l can
can never look him in the face again. I'll
not give up this party anyway. and besides
l don't believe boys cry when girls refuse
them. will go and ask Harry Raymond
now. even il he should live ten miles, and
it is as dark as pitch. Ssturday-The agony
| is over. Sue. Harry Raymond did not re-
fuse. and thought OF getting . carriage;
but as the boys never treat us to carriages,
that would not be gentlemanly. and OF
course would never do. SO Il yielded to
m fate and walked out there after him.
The walk was . long one, but l at last
| reached the house after wishing that was
home three thousand three hundred and
thirty-three times. One Of Harry's grown
| up sisters came to the door and felt 80
shamefaced could hardly zee. l managed
to stammer out ''Is-Mr.-Raynond-in?"
She showed me into the parlOr saying. "Hsr-
~ is dressing and will be down in .
minute" II seemed as II he never would
come. and felt so funny waiting for him.
| Ii was Just half an hour when he came
hurrying in. so very sorry for keeping me
waiting. l blushed and could not think OF
a word to say while he was getting on his
overcoat 1t was slippery. and l never
knew whether to blame him or not, but he
nearly fell down two or three times; and
OF course had to help hun up. After l
had removed my wraps found that We
were the last arrivals. which was not . very
agreeable sensation at that time. Just as
entered the room, to Increase my happi-
ness, the first person my eyes fell on was
viii Hills. did wish then. II had not
before, that l was home, and that leap
years. asked John Lastly to dance with
me. because he was short and It would be
easy to play the gentleman's part; but he
1 Wv
other fellows, who was 80 hard to dance
with that felt like crying. When We went
to supper. Harry Raymond dropped his
handkerchief three times. l ripped my
sleeve picking it up. but then no one
seemed 10 notice my pretty dress.
noticed all the evening that the boys
acted queer, and l WAS not the only girl
who had q red face and looked tired. While
We were at supper one Of the boys 10
marked that II was raining hard. Ny heart
sank within me. and in spite of all my
manliness could not keep back the tears.
l always was afraid of the dark. and think
Ing of that long walk home In the rain after
IL O'Clock nearly killed me. On the
way home We could hardly see, 1t WAS 30
dark. and the rain was spelling my new
dress, as had no gossamer. Harry was so
much taller than l that il nearly broke my
arm to hold the umbrella up. and he seemed
to need more than half. felt as miserable
as thought possible, when just as we were
turning up a street, an old man stopped
and looked at US, and then walked on.
Harry trembled and acted afraid. and
was most frightened to death. Didn't he
look ghOstly? l am always afraid OF
strange men at night" was Harry's next
cOnsOling remark. He kept talking about
| that old man until l could stand II no
longer. and asked hin to change the sub
iect. Raymond's gate was met and could
hardly open it as my hands trembled 90. but
he never offered to help me, and acted Just
as IL everything was lovely. We said
good night. and was too proud to ask him
TO 90 home with me. although was never
more afraid in my life. started down the
street with my head full Of strange men at
night and ghosts. crying with all my might.
Before l reached the corner Harry came
running after me-. saying: Il think this
leap year party has been carried out In
every sense Of the word. will now see
you safely home"
didn't say a word. but you may be sure
did not refuse him. cried half the night
1t was all right. however, the next day
when Nell Fields told me that the boys had
II all made up to keep US waiting. drop
their handkarchiefs. and be tired at the
most convenient time. She also said they
were getting up sleigh-ride party for our
benefit. which helped to raise my spirits
wonderfully.