Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-11-17
A LEAP YEAR PROPOSAL.
THE STORY OF A LITTLE GIRL WHO
BROUGHT ABOUT A WEDDING.


Really, Catharine, don't wonder at
Mary's surprise at your behavior. You
forget that you are Franks widow. You
are too forward.
hesitated a moment, really anxious
% keep my temper; for was Franks
widow, and the speaker was his mother.
Forward" cried Mary. Indeed, you
would have been shocked last night,
mother. There was Mr.. Vance urging
her to sing, and acting as il Herbert Hal.
Itead was her only friend, when it was
only married woman"
YES" interrupted Julia. II think,
mother, If you can't make Kate realize
that she is married, with daughter
nearly years of age, you had better
n
"Send me away" broke in, unable
longer to control myself; it's not the
first time that that hint has been thrown
out, and If il were not for little Nellie,
poor child, ] would go away to earn my
living at once. You drive me desperate.
declare will marry again and get rid
Of all this, and then burst into tears.
marry again! How will you do 1T
Oh, yesl good jokei" cried Julia, with
A shrug at my tears. "Dont you see,
Mary, it's leap yearl" and she laughed
aerisively.
"Who'll you ask2" sneered Mary.
Herbert Halstead? Julia, you'd better
look outl"
you may sneer," cried, checking
my tears. was not thoroughly angry.
But tell you, If no one should ask me
to marry him, believe should ask MIR.
Halstead, and--he'd have mel"
had fairly taken up their own weapons
Of personalities which l had scorned.
The moment after, ashamed of myself,
ran TO my room to put on my bonnet
and get out of the house. looked in the
glass as put on the Grape bonnet, with
it's widows cap and veil, on my head
and saw face to which black was very
becoming, though it was not a remark.
ably pretty face. 1t looked not more
than 25, some said not more than 20; but
| was really over "a. Married at Is to
Frank Stevens, had been petted wife
for four years, and now a widow for
two.
The thought Of the happiness of the
four and the loneliness of the two, as !
looked at the face surrounded by Grape,
made the tears come again; but ]
brushed them away resolutely and went
out, knowing that brisk walk would do
me more good than anything else. ]
went out without my darling, my insep-
arabic companion, my little baby girl.
Nellie. This alone showed how troubled
/ was. Truth to tell, l was too angry to
trust myself with the little one, who
might have asked to have conversation
explained, for she had been in the room
at the time. could only hope that at
five years old child did not understand
me.
Soon after left, my mother in law
and her daughters went out for a drive.
They invited Nellie to 60, but she feeling,
perhaps. that they had not treated
mamma well, refused. Soon the front
door bell rang, and, like all children,
Nellie must run to see who was there.
She managed to open the door herself,
and there stood her prime favorite among
the gentlemen who visited the house, MIR.
Halstead, OF as she had called him since
her babyhood. Uncle Herbert. He had
been her fathers chum and dearest
friend, and loved the child for FIank's
sake.
Ladies home, Nell?"
"rm home" said Nell, "and ! dess
mamma II be in soon.
Very well. Let's goin the parlor and
have chat
Nellie sat in his lap, d. ssing the
merits OF cocoanut cakes ami sugar al
monds little while; but. suddenly drop
ping her candies in her lap, she asked
whats leap-leap-leap, fordet Dc
you know what's itf"
Leap leap frogf leap year, Is thai
it?"
yes What is it9"
why, it's a year when you ladies car
ask the gentlemen TO marry you. But
you see. Nellie, you're too young--ol
wouldn't you ask me ?"
-Oh. no! Iwouldn't ask you. Nam
mas going to ask you.
The young man nearly dropped the
child, and then folded her close to hin
again, lest, perhaps, he should forget be-
again. ~What do you mean, darling
he asked. Now, think, Nellie, but don
tell Uncle Herbert anything Of your owl
makeup.