Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-03-23
A LEAP YEAR EPISODE.

She said it, too. exactly as if she meant
Il, with reddened cheeks, eyes full OF
hazel fire, and two small, dimpled fists
clenched tightly.
Ny dear, said Penelope Paxton. one
Of those lovial old maids who are privi-
legged to say anything, you remind me
of famous historical character.
@I?r said Avice, momentariiy off her
guard
"Yes, said Penelope Miss Betty
Baxter. who refused Captain Jones be-
fore he axed her.
"Oh, it isn't that" protested Avice,
rosier than ever. "Of course Mr.. Mar
ryatt has no idea of asking me; why
should he haveS Aud if he did, |
shouldn't accept him.
Miss Betty Baxter" monotonously
chanted Penelope, "who refused"
Penny, do be. quietl" said Avice,
stamping her foot in genuine annoyance.
you know what mean.
"No, don't, said Penny, "and don't
believe you know yourself. f"
He said it was leap year, pleaded in
dignant Ayice,
$50 it is, said Penn. SECT the alma
mac and look for yourself. Four into
eighteen hundred and eightyfour
goes"
Penelope. cried Avice, "can you not
talk common sensef"
ITO be sure can, IL you will set me
the examplelp gravely responded Miss
Paxton.
And he told Doctor Darien he wasn't
coming to our party tomorrow night be-
cause he didn't want to be married
against his will. "
well, after all, there's something in
that, said Penelope, refiectively. II
never was q man myself, but / can
imagine that, under such circumstances,
a cold shiver would 60 all through me.
Penny said Avice, solemnly, "do
you really, seriously think that one of us
girls ever thought Of marrying John
Marryatt?"
"That is question am not prepared
to answer, I" said Miss Paxton.
Avice ran out of the room, and was
surprised to find herself crying over the
clove-scented blossoms of her favorite
carnations in the bathroom window.
sim sure don't know why" sobbed
she. IT hate John Marryatt. and
think it was horrid of Doctor Darien 10
go and repeat what was said to him in
confidence. And If John Marryatt really
believed hat--that-there, won't think
of it any more. Leap year, indeedl Why
do people talk such string of nonsense
because the month of February happens
to have 20 days in it instead of 2Ss"
In the meantime Mr.. Marryatt had
packed his valise and gone off to visit an
old uncle who was at the point of death.
at won't be very cheerful visit,
said he to himself, "but it will be better
than state of siege--for have been
told, on good authority, that every one
of those girls mean to get engaged at the
leap-year party, the saucy coquettesl 1t
will be the old story of the Sabines over
again, with the sexes reversed. And
when marry--if marry-I intend to
have at least the privilege of choice. So
I'll just go up to Uncle Origen's.
Uncle Origens farmhouse was on the
top of bleak hill, where a few dwarfed
cherry trees shook and shuddered in the
wintry blasts, and the cows huddled in
the shelter of the hayricks to keep from
being blown away.
II think we are going TO have astorm," !"
said Mr. Marryatt. "Pm quite certain
that smell snow in the air. And there
are more cheerful places during north
east wind than Uncle Orgien's house"
In fact he was almost disposed to bo
sorry that he had come, when he stood
there, knocking and humping with
the handle of his umbrella at the
shrunken panels of the front door.
Pretty soon crooked old man, with
his garments fastened with tow strings
instead of buttons, came shuffiing to the
door. and peeped suspiciousIy around it.
~Eh ?" said he, with one hand back Of his
poor old purple ear. Pears to me I
heard somebody knocking, didn't II"
"Yes, it's me, said our hero, "John
Marryatt, don't you know2"
Married." squeaked the old man. ITO
whom?"
@John-Mar-ry-attin distinctly re-
peated the visitor. How is my Uncle
Origen?"
The crooked old man sheltered his can
dle-hame with one hand and stared as if
he were gradually being transformed
into one huge eye.
"Land sakes alivel" said he. didn't
you know? He was buried yesterday. ="
Here was a cheerful welcome for a
city visitor.
"But what can do ?" said Marryatt,
with helpless gaze down the darkening
hillside. Il came to visit him. had not
heard"
walk in, walk in, said the old man,
holding the fiaring candle high above his
head, and fiattening himself against the
whitewashed wall. Its pretty lone
some here; but there's the deceased's
chamber you can sleep in. and l trapped
a rabbit this morning in the pine wood
that IsabelIa's just stewing up, and
"IsabeIla?r repeated John Marryatt.
@She's the old woman in charge-my
sister, explained the ancient warder of
the castle. @Ain't much to look at, but
she's proper good cook.
But, said Mr. Marryatt, II don't
think care about sleeping in the room
where Uncle Orgen died.
The old man stared at him with dull,
--g.~~.- nx,aa