Arizona republican., 1892-10-13

IactS. Girls 10 not report that they
have just popped the question"
whether the suit be successful or unsuc-
cessful, and so we have no tabulsted
statements for reference. Our vital sta.
tistics include births, marriages and
deaths, but the important step toward
matrimony, the proposal, finds no place
in those columns.
OF course in discussing this theme il
is expected that attention will be paid
to the abnormal advantages which the
season gives to women and the possibili-
ties that they will avail themselves of
them. If we We're to consider the offers
of marriage made by men to women
during leap year we should be over
whelmed, since despite the opportunities
open TO women the greater number OF
proposals are no doubt masculine in this
twelyemonth as in all others.
This fact offsets what would otherwise
be an unfair advantage on the part OF
the men in giving Us only one year in
four-a quarter of the time.
As for actual, honest leap year pro-
posals, few pretty stories have come to
me from the experience Of others.
The first happened in 1872 a leap year
Of the past. In the summer of that
year came the decisive moment to two
young people whom we will call Julin
and Tom. They had known each otner
all their lives, had grown up together,
their families had been intimate, and
they had long been devoted friends, and
yet Tom had never said a really decisive
word to the pretty young woman whom
he in reality deeply loved.
OF late his attentions had grown so
marked that all other suitors had been
driven away, and still he said naugnt
Now Julia did not mind being monopo-
lized, for she adOred Tom, but she be-
gan to grow uneasy and even alarmed
She knew all about Toms affairs. ana
she was aware that he was we'll estab
lished in business and quite able TO sup.
port q wife, and he had recently an
nounced that he was about to go to
Europe for an absence of some months.
Thus matters stood when one afternoon
Tom drove to the door and asked her If
she would go out for drive. She would
be only too happy, and as he helped her
into the buggy he put the usual ques.
ton.
(which way shall we go?'
Let us drive around the circle" re-
piled Julia.
THAT is rather short, isn't it?" asked
Tom.
"Well perhaps so, but would like to
60"
OF course Tom acquiesced He had a
good horse and it did not take them long
TO traverse the four miles of wood ROAD
locally known as "the. circle" But
still, although the way was secluded
and Julia was careful not to enter into
any absorbing topics of conversation,
never word said Tom-that is, of tbs
important matter.
When they reached their starting
point it was still early. There" said
Tom in a tone Of vexatiOn; "you see we
are back already, and it is too soon to go
home"
Certainly it is" replied Julia; "let
us drive around the circle again"
A little surprised, Tom agreed, and
once more they passed over the road,
under the soft shade of the trees; once
more Julia avoided being drawn into
any conversation on general subjects,
and once more Tom did not avail him.
self of the opportunity.
The starting point reached again,
Tom, now beginning to be curious and
little excited, said:
"What shall we do next?'
"Drive around the circle" replied
Julia.
Tom stared, but obeyed in silence, and
two very quiet people moved slowly I'M
der the shadows Of the woods, where twi-
light was already beginning to gather,
But still with everything propitious Tom
said naught. The moments were pass.
ing, the afternoon was fading; when
they reached the house again it would
be too late for another start. So Julia
took her fate into her own hands. She
remembered that it was leap year, AMI
with wildly beating heart she turned to
her companion.
"Tom," she faltered, "you are going
so far away so soon. Haven't you got
something to say TO me?'
Then Tom got heart of grace and said
it, aud twenty years of happy married
life have rewarded him for his courage.
One Of the prettiest leap year stories l
ever heard was that of pair of lovers
whom we will call Maud and Morris.
For year they had been much to-
gether, and Morris had paid many at.
tentions to the pretty girl, but although
they were accepted most graciously his
courtship Jagged, There was appar-
emily no reason for delay. Morris was
well of, his people were friends of hers
and approved the match; in fact, there
was really no cause for the hesitation
except an unconquerable bashfulness ON
the part of the wooer.
when | think about asking her 70
marry me- he said TO confidential
friend, I'm so scared that | don't seem
to have any sense; | don't know how /
can ever go through the job "
you might take chloroform,' sug-
gcsted his friend.
But this did not seem to help matters.
ana SO Time went On Unul Maud and
Morris We're invited to join party of
young people to see the old year out and
the new year in. This was in the last
days of 1889.
The evening was gay one, and, as
usual, Morris hung about Maud, dancing
with her as often as possible, devouring
her with his eyes and evidently jealous
when any one else was with her. Still
he had said no word when after supper
- ii