Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-03-26
A LEAP YEAR EPISODE.

not for $50, ,O0O!" said Avice Mere.
She said it. too, exactly as if she meant
it. with redeemed cheeks, eyes full OF
hazel fire, and two small, dimpled fists
clenched tightly.
My dear" said Penelope Paxton, ono
of those jovial old maids who are prlvi-
legged to say anything, you remind me
Of a famous historical character.
"I?" said Avicc, momentarily 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,
roster than ever. "Of course Mr.. Mar.
ryatt has no idea of asking me; why
should he have? And if he did, l
shouldn't accept him "
Miss Betty Baxter" monotonously
chanted Penelope "who refused"
Penny, do be quiet!" said Avice,
stamping her foot in genuine annoyance.
You know what mean"
No, l don't, said Penny, land don't
believe you know yourself.
"He said it was leap year, pleaded in
dignant Avice.
so it is, said Penn "Get the alma
nae and look for yourself. Four into
eighteen hundred and eighty-four
goes-"
Penelope, cried Avice, "can you not
talk common sense!"
TO be sure l can, if you will set me
the cxample!" 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.
"Wcll. after all, there's something in
that" said Penelope, retlectivelv, Il
never was a man myself, but | can
imagine that, under such circumstances,
II cold shiver would go all through me.
Penny" said Avice. solemnly. 'd0
You really, seriously think that one Of H.
Iris ever thought of marrying John
IHrryatt:"
THAT is a question am not prepared
to answer" SAID Miss Paxton.
Avice ran ont of the room. ana wa
surprised to find herself crying over the
cIbNt-+ct'l!tel DI'iSSthlS bl lltI liN liib
carnations in the bathroom window.
I'm sure don't know why" sobbeG
hc. Il hate John Marryatt. and
think it was horrid of Doctor Dari"n tu
- and repeat what was said to him III
r,oli !enc.. And if John Narrvatt rrHl,
l,'i,.vrd at-that-ther,' wont think
ur it any more. Leap wear. indeed. Why
ln people talk such a string of nonsense
lnr.,,t,e the month of February happens
10 have % days i'll it instead of 2S:
In the meantime Mr.. Marryatt had
packed his valise and gone off to visit an
p!l uncle who was at the point of death
1T won't be very cheerful visit,
aid he to himself, "but it will be better
than state of sege-for | have been
told on good authority, that every ono
of those girls mean to get engaged at the
leap-year party, the saucy coquettes! 1t
will be the old story of the Sabines over
again, with the sexes reversed. And
when l marry-if l marry-I intend to
have at least the privilege of choice. So
I'll just go up to Uncle Origen's.
Uncle Origen's farmhouse was on the
top OF bleak hill, where 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 storm,
said Mr. Marryatt. "Fm quite certain
that I smell snow in the air. And there
are more cheerful places during a north
~. l. .,
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 tho
shrunken panels of the front door.
Pretty soon crooked old man, with
his garments fastened with tow strings
instead of buttons, came shuflling to the
door, and peeped suspiciously around it.
"Eh ?" said he, with one hand back of his
poor old purple ear. "'Pears to me
heard somebody knocking, didn't II"
"Yes, it's me, " said our hero, "Johp
Marryatt, don't you know"
"Married?" squeaked the old man. "Tc
whom?"
John-Mar-ry-att!" distinctly re,
peated the visitor. How is my Uncle
Origen?"
The crooked old man sheltered his can
lie flame with one hand and stared as if
We were gradually being transformed
into one huge eye.
Land sakes alive!" said he "Didnt
you know? He was buried yesterday"
Here was a cheerful welcome for
city visitor.
"But what can do?" said Maryatt,
with helpless gaze down the darkenine
hillside II came to visit him. had not
heard"
walk in, walk in, said the old man,
holding the tiaring candle high above his
head and tiattening himself against the
Whitrwashed wall Its pretty lone.
snme here: but there's the deceased's
chamber you can sleep in, and | trapped
Il rabbit this morning in the pine wood
that IsahclIa's just stewing up, and
"lSahella?" repeated John Marryatt.
"She'S the old woman in charst-iny
lister, explained the ancient warder ot
t,t castle. "Ain't much to look at. but
she's q proper good cook. "
But" said Mr. Marryatt, Il don't
think care about sleeping in the room
where Unclr OrSen died.
The old man stared at him with dull,
slaSsy eyes
"El;" said he. why not: You
Cont h'Ii, VI III sprritOoalism, do YOU
"Nonsense." cried Marryatt
Inv niItft ,,,,,I