The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-11-28
ii LEAP YEAR STORY.

You ask my real opinion Of your
story. Dexter, honor bright?"
aHonest Injun; yes"
esThen, in a nutshell, excellent-x-
nept for your heroine. She's atrocious.
Awooden doll on stilts-dry as the leaf
that fell last year. Have you M sweet
heart, man? Cannot you evolve any
thing at aIl from inner consciousness"
would you have her like old Sal
1ustss Fulvia, 'one who can crack a joke,
Hing and dance beyond what is ex-
pected of a good woman?'"
"No, Dexter, I would have a flesh and
blood article you would be proud to
W as sister or sweetheart yourself.
Have you no personal experience into
which you might dip your penn"
That's what's the matter. Love has
taken me in"
~Dexter, I pity you'll But it's not too
late. You are not over 40, are your"
..Forty, indeed / am barely turned
80. What are you thinking of2 Forty,
indeed"
mo offense, Iassure you. Who is that
rosebud Of a girl I see with your people
- much2 / was thinking of her. Dip
your pen into her"
'Nhy, that is Daisy; my sister-;n-
laws sister Daisy, fresh from convent.
Lneyer thought of Daisy"
But after his friend left, Dexter
straigItway began thinking it not half
bad a scheme to substitute something
5Oung and girIish for his lady on Stills.
Daisy wa an unknown quantity to
him, as with his mind upon other af-
fairs be had never yet looked her square
ia the face. He had seen her tying
flowers around the neck of a pet lamb
and feeding some chickens and he could
have seen her with t~en-year-old Freddie
wading in aScreek; only he turned his
head and wouldenot look. He had con-
ciuded her to be utterly childish and ir-
responsible.
However, with s~elf-interest as the
governing motive, he proceeded to put
on a fresh necktie; took a careful
scrutiny of his middle-aged face and
brushed the hair over the bald spot on
his head, before presenting himself in
his sister-in-law's drawing-room.
Enthroned in a wicker chair knotted
with blue ribbons, sat the freshest,
womanliest, busiest little person he had
ever seen.
Daisy, in abluedress and ruffled apron
with pockets, hemming a white rufie.
When Dexter walked straight toward
her and seated himself by her side she
gave such a surprised start that the
Epools went spinning over the floor.
She blushed a rosy red blush of evil
dent pleasure. Dexter didn't know they
could really blush in these days like
that.
.sOh, have you come at last?" she al
most whispered.
Some? Why, I've been in the house
week he replied.
@Ah, but you've never seen me before.
Imean to notice me-and Twas so afraid
you never would"
Dexter almost blushed himself at this.
He said: 81 near to see a great deal of
you now, If you'll let me-"
-Oh, I'm perfectly delighted" said
Daisy, holding out the prettiest white
hand in the world. Dexter shook it.
thimble and all. Now we are to be
4 great fiends, aren'twe2 You know I
couldn't make the first advances, could
Ig
ssThe very best" said Dexter, smiling.
and I want you 70 begin by telling me
your ideas of this wicked world and the
xnhabitants thereof"
Daisy laughed and lifted her cyes to
his; blue they were, and bright Then
She changed color, slowly, and grace.
fully pinked up to the temples, and an
Ewered:
.The world! What do l know of the
world? The sisters teach us that men
are deceivers ever, and that there is a
terrible thing called love, which we mus
not dare to think of. But what do
know2 We are no more than little in
nocent babies in the convent. Father
Laurent and Brother Ned are all the
men / have seen until with a radiant
smile-anow. I know you Mr.. Dexter,
and you are no deceiver, areyouGGs
Dexter's conscience gave a twinge, but
rs also was delighted to be SO noticed
and his eyes laughed shyly as he drew
her on.
slow could you know me 50 quickly n
De asked.
eAry sister Hcfty has told me all about
sou. That You are clever and fine and
chivaIrie. and she says You can teach me
ali want to know"
@Ana what may that be?"
Dnisy blushed again. She looked into