The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-02-21
A LEAP-YEAR PROPOSAL.
It Was Accepted, But He Got the
Wrong Girl
''Whew-ew-esOi"

wv n6W-eW-6tpl
The postman was going his rounds
through the many-storied Office build
ing, and at the sound of his whistle
Alex Darrow's partner went to bring in
handful of mail.
Firm letters-papers--ac ircular--a
bill of my own" he ran over, sorting
them out. "Hellol here's fine lady
fed epistle to come to a young law
yer's Office on business = though the
writing is considerably of. For you
only, too" He tossed it to barrow
across his desk. If you weren't such
a steady-going fellow. should certain
" suspect you of billet-doux."
''Impossiblei'' exclaimed barrow, his
eyes fixed on the few lines traced on
the satiny cream-white sheet he had
fastened to unfold
Eyes, should most decidedly say so,
to Judge by your excitement" was the
sarcastic retort 1.-THE dickensl don't
believe the man hears me, or was talk
ing to me at all. say, are you going
to drop all the papers in Miner VS..
Miner, and go flying off at this time Of
day?''
Mr.. barrow was already putting on
his overcoat.
81 must-it's to keep an appointment
some most important business" he
dropped fragmentarily, as he hurried
out, with Marie Taine's letter in an
inner pocket very close to his heart
Marie had meditated much before
she sent it. She was well aware that
it was quite out of the usual course
for the lady to propose to the gentle
man, but then she was so very sure
that Alex barrow was in love with
her. Had he not always paid her q
great deal of attention, unlike most of
the young men who seemed to find so
much entertainment in her Aunt Mari
on's society? And his attentions were
SO respectful, too; he had never ruffied
her dignity by tossing her up in his
arms like mere baby, and trying to
make her kiss him against her will, and
only laughing when she cried with an
ger and humiliation and told him he in
suited her, as that altogether horrid
Mr.. Rogers had once done. She had
felt almost as much insu1ted by Mr.
nQXGTH dbOClAPb W AA0hS AAAS R~0~c
with big Paris doll; for she thought
herself quite too old for dolls, and had
solemnly given away her whole family
of them the day before her eighth
birthday.
But Mr.. Darrow was very different.
he brought her flowers and bonbons.
just as men brought them to Aunt
Marion; and Marie knew that these
were considered attentions, for Aunt
Marion laughed and said they were,
when she asked He had told her she
reminded him Of a sister of his who
died; and he had taken her out walk
ing, and to the chrysanthemum show,
and even sleighing on the lake shore
drive, when she had felt so badly be-
cause she couldn't go with Aunt
Marion and Mr.. Blair. He had taken
her to see Elsie Leslie in Little Lord
Fauntleroy," and Mr.. Blair took Aunt
Marion to the theater, and did not all
the servants say that Mr.. Blair was
going to marry Aunt Marion? And II
be did rather discourage her when she
wanted to talk about her favorite
books. and seemed to think it was bet
ter for her to play with the pug he had
given her than than to read and i'm
prove her mind. even the best of men
could not be expected to understand
one completely.
Marie was well versed In the woes
of souls misunderstood She was
great devourer of books, especially
sentimental novels. of which an un-
limited supply was constantly coming
into the house for her pretty, pale,
mamma, who lay among the rose
pillows and down cushions OF her
lounge reading all day long, except
when Aunt Marion coaxed her out for
a little drive in the brougham, or the
doctor came, or few choice intimates
called, to whom she could lament the
state of her nerves and the dreadful
responsibility of being left with child
to bring up
When the child came into the room
on her daily duty call, Mrs. Tame in
variably looked to see if her hands
were well kept and her hair brushed
becomingly, and.then usually told her
to run away and be good, quiet girl;
and it was a matter Of perfect indiffer-
ence.to her what books Marie took with
her, so long as she was not reading
them herself. Marjie's nurse had early
found out that book could generally
keep her quiet. and leave herself free
to fiirt with the men servants, and
though Aunt Marion had insisted ON
her being provided with governess,
Mile. Duval had soon discovered the
same unfailing recipe to keep her
charge out of active mischief and herself
in ample leisure. There were certainly
many things In these books that Marie
could not understand, but this mystery
only made them the more fascinating
SO mamma continued to Nurse her
nerves, and Aunt Marion went on in
her bright, busy life of society belle,
thinking her small, white-faced, deep
eyed niece In good hands, while Marie
watched her with profound admira-
ton. and made her the heroine of
hundred romances borrowed from her
books, until now that she had ro-
nance OF her own.
II Is true that even she was com
PEELED to recognize decided difference