Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-11-17

alive-isn't that what you say when you
are true? Well ?"-the little tot gave q
long sigh and paused. Herbert not daring
to interrupt her lest she should see his
anxiety, and, miniature woman that she
was, should refuse to satisfy him.
@Well, she repeated, "you see, they
does scold mamma, so they does. To-
day morning they naked mamma cry,
tomorrow (she would call yesterday to-
morrow they scolded her because she
wouldn't sing, and then they said she was
fordard. What's fordardl"
Forward, indeedi" calculated Her
bert, under his breath. If it had been
some Others. now. But Nellie, how about
leap year,"
"Oh, yes! | most fordotl didn't II
Well, You see, mamma said-but, oh,
Uncle Herbert. never showed you my
two vicente new kittensl They's only
little sings, wivout eyes. Come out on
the piazza and I'll show you.
1t was no use to be impatient. The
young man knew the child too well for
that, and so they went out aud inspected
the kittens. Then he tried to coax Nellie
back to the subject.
"Oh, fordotl" she said. "only they
made mamma say"
what did they say, darling. I'll give
you big doll"
"With real hairG"
"Yes, yesI Real hair and eyes, and
oh, nothing. But did they say wanted
10 marry"
They say mamma wasn't a girl, and
she was old; and mamma said-oh,
there's mamma. Mamma, didn't you
ask Uncle Herbert to marry you? He
wants to know"
had come in looking for the child, aud
that was the speech heard. Ifeltready
to sink with modification.
Kate, darling, can hope you'll let
me ask? You must know that hoped
when these touching my veil and black
dress) were put aside, that / could ask
you TO let me care for you, and at once.
Come darling, as hid my face in my
hands, You've asked me to marry you
and / must name the day and / say
now, at once. Let's give them a good.
thorough surprise i can guess how they
have treated you. Come, now, get ready
this fairy, this blessed little darling that
has brought me my happiness, and wo
will 90 to your own minister.
tried to refuse, but was so weary of
living with mother in law that at last we
three slipped out of the house; and dear
DIR. S., who had baptized me, married
me to Frank, and knew Herbert well,
married US.
We drove back and reached the front
door as the family were returning Julia,
who would appropriate Herbert, stepped
forward.
"Good evening, Mr. HaIstead So you
met Kate on the steps2 Strangel" with
a glance at me as il / had planned tc
meet him.
Not at all, Miss Julia, said Herbert
"My wife and just called in to receive
your congratulations and to leave little
Midget here for few days.
No tableau / have ever seen was hall
so comical as the one those three made.
/ really felt for Julia, for l knew she
cared for Herbert. She gained self pos.
session quickly and congratulated me,
whispering as she kissed me: so you
asked him?"
Ny husband heard and answered:
No. Miss Julia, she did not ask me.
Through other means, thank God,
learned the one l loved was unhappy
and, as hoped, for more than a year
past, to soon ask her to be my wife.
persuaded her to marry me at once. Leap
year privileges are still opento those who
/ choose them.
We are quite an old married couple
now, for three years have passed bat
Herbert and still often laugh over Nell
lies leap year proposal.