Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-01-06

| to see Who was there, SDo maoaSec u opet
the door herself, and there stood her prime
| favorite among the gentlemen who yisieo
th 9 house, MIR. Halstead, or "a she had call
ed him since her babyhood, Uucle heroeTt.
He had been her fathers chum and dearest
| friend, and loved the child for Franks ssse
| HLadies home, Nell?'
Pm homc," said Nell, ''and | des'
mamma III be in soou."
Every we'll Let's go in the parlof arc
have a chat"
| Nellie sat in his lap, discussing the merits
| of cocoanut cakes and sugar almonds ht
| tie while; but, suddenly dropping her eau
dies 10 her lap, she asked, 'What's leap
leap-Ieap, forget. Do ycl know what
it?"
.'LsspG leap froe2 leap yeai? Is that i'?'
"Yes. What is it?"
| nWby. it's year when you ladies Cal
ask the gentlemen to marry you. bn, yo'
sac, Nellie, you're too young-or "onidn'
you ask tne?'
"Oh, nel wouldn't, ash you. Nam
rl4's going to ash you"
The Young man nearly dropped the chlid
| and then folded her close to him again, lest
perhaps, he should forget her again. "Wha
do you mean, darling?" he asked. "Now
think, Nellie, but don't tell Uncle Herbert
anything of your own makeup"
s'Oh, no! really, truly. bless me, she's
alive-isn't that what you say when you are
true? Well?"-the little tot gave long
sigh and paused, Herbert not daring to
interrupt her lest she should see his aax-
iety, 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
,o,o;oo .ba1 lroI m NINA cry O-mOr-
row (she would call yesterday Tomorrow
they scolded her because she wouldn't sing,
and ther they said she was fordard. What's
fordard?n
"Forward, il deed!' calculated Herbert,
under his breath. "If it had been some
others, now. But Nellie, how about leap
yeaI?'
"Oh, yes! I mos fordot! didn't I? Well,
you see, mamma said-but, oh, Uncle Her
bert, I never showed you nv two vicente
new kittens! 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
go they went out and inspected the kittens.
Then he tried to coax Nellie back to the
subject
"Oh, I fordotr' she said. "Only they
made mamma say"
"What did they say, darling. I'll give
you big doll"
"With real hail?"
"Yes, yesl Real hair and eyes, and Oh.
nothing. But did they say wanted to
marry"
"They say mamma wasn't 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 tbe child, and
that was the speech heard. felt ready
to sink with modification.
Skate, darling, can l hope you'll let me
ask? You must know that l hoped when
these (souehing my veil and black dresa)
were put aside, that could ask yon to let
me care for you, and at once. Come dar-
ling, sYou've asked me to marry you and
must name the day; and l say now, at
once. Let's give them good, thorough
surprise can guess how they have treat
ed you. Come, and, get ready this fairy,
this blessed little darling that has brought
me my happiness, and we will 60 to your
own minister"
I tried to refuse, but was Sd weary of
living with mother-in- law that at last we
three slipped out of the house, aid dear Dr.
s., who had baptized me, married me to
Frank, and knew Herbert we'll, msrried US.
We drove back and reached the front
door as the family were returIi e, Julia,
who would appropriate Herbert, stepped
forward.
"Good evening, Mr.. Halstead. 81 you
met Kate Oh the steps? Ssrange!' with a
glance at me as if l had planned 10 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 half SO
comical as the one those three made. l
really felt fer Julia, for I knew she cared
for Herbert. She gained self-possession
quickly and congratulated me, whispering
as she kissed me: $50 you asked him?"
My husband heard and answered.:
"No, Miss Julia, she did not ask me.
Through other means, thank God, learn
ed the one l loved was unhappy; and, as
hoped, for more than year pact, to soon
ask her to be my wife, persuaded her to
marry me at once, Leap year privileges are
still open to those who choose them"
We are quite an old married couple low,
fer three years have passed. but Herbert
and l still often laugh over Nellie's leap
year proposal.