The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-16
A LBAP-YBAR EPISODE.

She said it, too. exactly as II she meant it,
with REDEEMED cheeks, eyes full Of hazel
FIRE. and two small, dimpled fists, clenched
tightly.
my dear" said Penelope Paxton, one Of
those iovial old maids who are privileged to
say anything, you remind me OF famous
historical character"
ZIP" said Ayice. momentarily of her
guard.
Yes" said Penelope "AIiss Betty Bax-
Ter. who refused Captain Jones before he
axed her"
ION. il isn't tlat?' protested Avice, roster
than ever "Of course. Mr.. Marryatt mas
no idea If asking r,e; why should he havef
And Il he did / shouldn't accept him.
"lHss Betty Baxter" monOtonOusly chant
cd Penelope. "Wh0 refused
Penny, do be quiet, said Avice, stamp
ing her foot in genuine annoyance. y on
kuow what ] mean"
No, ! don't" said Penny, "and don't
believe You know yourself"
lie SAID it was leap year. pleaded in
dgnaGt Ayice
so it is. " said Penn. Get the almanac
and look for yourself -Four into eighteen
hundred aud eighty-four goes"
Penelope" cried Ayice, ''can you not
talk common seuse?'
TO be sure / can, II yen will set me the
example. grayelv responded Miss Paxton.
And he tod DIT Darien he wasn't COM
ing 10 our party tomorrow night because
he didn't want to be married against his
will"
"Wel. after all, there's something in
that" said Penelope Te1ectYely. 81 never
/ -,r ira rrFrf al
under such circumstances a cold shiYeT
would 60 all through me-"
Penny" said Ayice, solemnly, do you
really, seriously think that one Of US girls
ever thought Of marrying John MarTyatt?
THAT is q question l am not prepared to
answer" said Miss Paxton.
Avice ran out Of the room, and was sur
prised 10 ind herself crying over the Glove
scented blossoms Of her fayorite carnations
in the bathroom window.
Pm sure don't know why," sobbed she.
II hate John Marryatt, and I think 1t was
horrld Of Doctor Darien 10 &c and repeat
what was said TO him IN confidence. ana II
John MsTryatt really believed that-that-
there. ! won't think Of il any more. Leap
year indeed Why do people talk such
string IF nonsense because the month Of
February happens to have Twenty-Five days
10 10 instead of twentY-elght?
IN the meantime Nj. MarTyatI had packed
his va.ise and gone off to visit an old uncle
R9so svas al the point Of death.
ut wont be a very cheerful visit" said he
10 hmself, but il will be better than state
Of siege-f0T / have teen told, on good au-
thority, that every one Of those girls mean
TO get engaged at the leap-year party, tue
saucy coQuet,es! It VIII be the ola story Of
the Sabines over again, with the sexes re-
YeTsed And when / maTry-lI marTy-l
intend TO have at least tie privilege Of
choice. So III just 60 up to Uncle OH
gems,
Uncle Origen's farmhouse was on the top
If bleak hill, where a few dWaTled cherry
trees shook and shuddcTed in the WiDtry
blasts and the COWS huddled 10 the shelter
or tie hay-Ticks TO keep from being blown
away.
Il mink we're going to have storm"
said MI MaTTyatt 4 IN quite certain mat
smell snow in the air. And there are
more cheerful places during q northeast
wind than Uncle ORIGINS house"
IN fact he was almost disposed TO be 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 a crooked old man, with his
garments fastened with tOW-stTings instead
u buttons, came shuftt ne % the door, and
peeped susDiCi9usly around It.
poor old purple ear Pears to me / heard
somebody knocking, ddn'tI?'
Yes, It's me-" said our hero. John
Marryatt. don't you know"
Married." squeaked the old man, ITO
whom"
"John--Mar-ry-att distinctly repeated
the visitor How is my [ nce Odgen 2"
The crooked old man sheltered his candle
fame with one hand and stared as il he
were gradually being transformed into one
Land sakes allyeP saidhe. Didn't you
know He was buried yesterday"
Here was cheerful welcome for city
visitor
But what can I do ?" said Marryatt, with
helpless gaze down the darkening hillside.
Il came to visit him. | had not heard"
Walk in, walk H." said the old man,
holding the faring candle high above his
mead, and hattenIng himself against the
wbilewashed wall
It's pretty lonesome here: but there's
the deceased's chamber you can sleep in,
and / trapped a rabbit this morning in the
pine wood that Isabella's just steWing up,
and"
"Isabella?" repeated John Marryatt.
shes the old woman 10 charge-my sis
ter" explained the ancient waTder Of the
castle. Amt much to look at, but she's a
proper good cook"
But" said Mr.. Marryatt, 81 don't think
] care about sleeping in the room where
The old man stared at him with dull,
ZIP" said be. "Why not9 You don't
believe 81 sperito0alism, do you?"
'Nousense.' cried Marryatt.
Then why sint one room as good as an
other?' asked the old man, stOlidly.
"Ss7sEtle.-ss, l would much rather 20
e re 1ss.es. hotel" impatien!ly uttered
gos1-
"A---1-rs short @ seven mile" said the
80 Gs-. And that's only summer ma
e1--s- I-eE don't I'm sTter the waterfalls
AZ t-.Z - BIT heres freight train with
, DzsssLzer cz5osss hitchsd On that stops al
CEts.lz Corners a. midnight"
~ -e-s Is Getting COrueTs2"
glt nile as the crow flies"
"HoW tie dickens do you suppose l am &c
ct eight ni.es from here when it is pitch
dzrE already Z" cried Marrygtt GROSSLY.
There's jenkins one boss wagon -
mildly suggested the old man. Ppm goin'
20 his place Directly aTter box o. stove
blsCking, paound o taller dips and quar-
ter O paound O green tea for Isabella l
can tell jenkins to come raound and cart ye
70 the station, ef ye don't begrudge a
crown"
by all means; and while you are gone
Isabella can give me some supper"
MaTryatt sat down in the old, low-ceiied
room, where the rig carpet seemed neither
DIikuttI luz uimutI LDau IL mad been
twenty years ago, and warmed his chilled
feet before blaze Of swapping logs; while
old Isabella, who might have appeared
ereditably at any tableau as the Witch of
Endor, creDt around an iron pot which
swung from a prodigious crane and got
supper after slow, clumsy manner
Pretty gay IN town this winter" said
the old woman. brandshing her spoon over
him as be ate rabbit stew.
u suppose So"
I'm Eh.nkin' o gon' there myself" said
she.
ITO take a situation ?" asked the young
man, iuwardly thinking he could not rec
ommend her as cook.
BLESS your heart mop said Isabella. 81
know sea captain there as amt married
and they tell me the gals is all pickin' and
T ckoYsln' for themselves now as leap year
has come around. Anyhow I'm tired O
IL L. -