The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-17
IA LEAP-YEAR PROPOSAL,
1T Was Accepted, But He Got the
Wrong Girl

"Whew-ew-clc!"
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
q handful of mail.
Firm letters-papcrs-a circular-a
bill of my own" he ran over, sorting
them out. Hello. here's fine lady.
lied epistle to come to young law
ycr's office on business = though the
writing is considerably off. For you
only, too" He tossed it to barrow
across his desk. IF you weren't such
asteady-going fellow, should certain
ly suspect you of a billet-doux"
'1mpossible." exclaimed barrow: his
eyes fixed on the few lines traced on
the satiny cream-white sheet he had
hastened to unfold.
YES, l should most decidedly say so,
to judge by your excitement" was the
sarcastic rctort The dickens! don't
believe the man hears me, or was talk
ing to me at all. l say, are YOU going
TO drop all the papers in Miner VS.
Miner, and go flying oil at this time of
day?"
MIR. barrow was already putting on
his overcoat.
II must-its to keep an appointment
some most important business" he
dropped fragmcntarily, as he hurried
out, with Marie Taines 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
great deal of attention, unlike most of
the young men who seemed to find so
much entertainment i'll her Aunt Mari
on's society? And his attentions were
80 respectful, too; he had never ruffled
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
MIR. Rogers had once done. She had
felt almost as much insulted by Mr..
Rogers attempt to make his peace
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.. barrow 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 sister of his who
died; and he had taken her out walk
ing, and to the chrysanthemum show,
and even slcighing 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 al!
the servants say that Mr.. Blair was
going to marry Aunt Marion? And if
he did rather discourage her when she
wanted to talk about her favoritc
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 inn
prove her mind, even the best of men
could not be expected to understand
one completely.
Marie was we'll verscd in the woes
of souls misunderstood. She was
great devourer of books, especially
sentimental novels, of which an I'M