Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-12

kr4y year 0B0 - Con-
fronted az once BY the
great difficulty Of obtaining the exact
facts. Girls Do not report that they
have Just popped the question.
whether the suit DC Successful or unsuc-
eezsfaI, and 50 We have no tabalaEed
statements for reference. Our vital sta
tistIcs include births. marriages and
deaths, but tas Important step toward
natrlmony. the proposal. finds no place
N those columns.
OF course Ia discussing this theme IL
Ii expected that attention will be paid
o. the abnormal advantages which the
season gives 70 women and the possibili-
ties THAI they viii avail themselves OF
them. II We were "a consider the offers
Of marriage made by men 20 women
during leap year We should be over
whsined, since despite the opportunities
open 20 women the greater number o.
proposals are no doubt masculine IN this
twelvsmonth 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, a few pretty stories have come 10
me from the experience OF others.
The first happened in 1872, leap year
OF the past. In the summer OF that
year came the decisive moment 20 two
young people whom We viii call Julis
and Tom. They had known each otner
all their lives, had grown mp together,
their families had been intimate, and
they hal long been devoted friends. and
yet Tom had never said a really decisive
word 10 the pretty young woman whom
be in reality deeply loved
OF late his attentions had grown so
marked that all other suitors had been
driven away, and still no said nausht
Now Julia did not mind being monopo-
hzed. FOR she adored Tom, bat she be-
gan % grow uneasy and even alarmed
She knew all about Toms affairs, and
she was aware that he was well estab-
sished In business and quite able 10 sup
port wife. and he had recently an
nounced that no was about 10 90 10
Europe for an absence of some months
Thus matters stood when one afternoon
Tom drove 70 the door and asked her If
she would go out for drive. She would
be only too happy. and as be helped her
into the buggy he put the usual CUES
tien.
(Which way shall we gog"
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 scquiesced. He had y
good horse and 10 did not take them long
20 traverse tho four miles Of wood road
locally known as Tho 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 the
important matter.
When they reached their starting
point IL was still early. There" said
Tom in a tone of vexa,ion; lyon see we
are back already. and it is too soon to go
home"
Certainly 10 is" replied Julia; "let
rs 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, nosv beginning To be- curious and
q little excited, said:
a. - tua 40
"Driys around the circle" replied
Julia
Tom stared. but obeyed in silence, and
two very quiet people moved slowly IN
der the shadows OF the woods, where twi-
light wac already beginning 10 gather.
But still with everything propitious Tom
said naught. The moments were pass
ing. the afternoon was fading; when
thsy reached the house again 1t would
be- too iste for another start. So Julia
took her fate into her own hands. She
remembered that it was leap year. an 7
with wildly beating heart she turned to
her companion.
"Tom.~ she fsltered. ''you are going
50 far away so soon. Haven't you got
something % say to mef'
Then Tom gos heart Of grace and said
It. aud twenty years ~ happy married
life have rewarded him Tor his courage
One Of the prsttiest leap year stories |
ever heard was that 81 a pair Of lovers
whom We viii call Maud and Morris
For year they had been much to
gether. and Morris bad paid many at
tentsous 70 the pretty girl, but although
they were accepted most graciously his
courtship lagge,i There was appar-
entity 10 reasou Tor 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 Al unconquerahle bsshfulness on
the part Of tha wcoer.
When I think about asking her to
marry me" be said 20 q confidential
friend. I'm So scared that | don't seem
% have any sense; don's know how |
can ever 20 through the JOB.
'sYoa might tsse chloroform." sug-
gsste.i his friend.
Bat this iid not seem 70 help matters,
and ~ time went on until Maud and
Norris were invited 70 JOIN party Of
Young people - see the old year cut and
the new gear IN. This was IN the last