The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-10-23
A LEAP YEAR STORY.

.you ask my real opinion of your
story. Dexter, honor bright?'
"Honest lnjun; yes.
..Then. in a nutshell, excellent-ex-
.ent for your heroine. She's atrocious.
A wooden doll on stits-dry as the leaf
that fell last year. Have you no sweet
benrt, man? Cannot you evolve any
thing at all from inner CONSCIOUSNESS!
..Would you have her like old Sal
lust's Fulyia, one who can crack joke,
sing and dance beyond what is ex-
pectcd of good woman 2
NO, Dexter, / would have hssh ana
blood article you would be proud to
own 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
never taken me in"
"Dexter. pity you! But it's not too
late. You are not over 40, are YOU?
Forty, indeed. am barely turned
80. What are you thinking Of? Forty
indeed"
mo offense. / assure you. Who is that
rosebud Of girl see with your people
SO much? | was thinking of her. Dip
your pen into her.
"Nyhy. that is Daisy: my sister-'n-
laws sister Daisy, fresh from convent
Inever thought of Daisy
Eut after his friend left, Dexter
straightway began thinking it not halt
had n scheme to substitute something
Young and girlish for his lady on stills.
Daisy was an unknown quantity to
him. as with his mind upon other af-
fairs he had never yet looked her square
in the face. He had seen her Tying
flowers around the neck of n pet lam
md feeding some chickens and he could
have seen her with ten-year-old Freddie
wading in a creek; only he turned his
head and would not look. He had con-
cluded her to be utterly childish and ir-
responsible.
However. with self-interest as the
governing motive, he proceeded TO put
ON Hesh necktie; took careful
scrutiny of his middle-aged face an'
brushed the hair over the bald spot oil
his head, before presenting himself u
his sister-in-laws drawing-room.
Enthroned in a wicker chair knotte'
with blue ribbons, sat the freshest
womanlicst, busiest little person he ha'
ever seen.
Daisy. in ablue dress and ruflied apro
with pockets, hemming white rune
When Dexter walked straight towar
her and seated himself by her side sh
cave such surprised start that tn
spools went spinning over the fo"l
She blushcd rosy red blush OF ev
dent pleasure. Dexter didn't know the
could really blush in these days Ink
that
"Oh, have you come at lastf' she a
most whispered.
"Come? Why, I've been in the nous
week." he replied.
"Ah, but you've never seen me petor
Imean to notice mc--and was so afra
YOU never would"
Dexter almost bushed himself at thi
lie said: IL mean TO see great deal
you now, if you'll let me-
"Oh, I'm perfectly delighted sa
Daisy, holding out the prettiest viii
hand in the world. Dexter shook
tbimble and all. snow we are to
great friends, aren't we? You kno"
couldn't make the first advances, cou
~"
"The very best" said Dexter. smilir
'and want you to begin by telling
your IDEAS of this wicked world and I
inhabitants thereof"
Daisy laughed and lifted Der eyes
his; blue they were, and bright. In
she changed color, slowly, and gra
fully pinked up to the temples and
swered:
"The world What do know Of
world? The sisters teach us that II
are deceivers ever, and that there i
terrible thing called love, which we IN
not dare to think of. But what q
know? We are no more than little
nocent babies in the convent. Fat
Laurent and Brother Ned are all
men have seen until with radi
smile-"now. know you Mr. Dex
and you are no deceiver, are your,
Dcxtcr's conscience gave twinge.
he also was delighted to be so NOTE
and his eyes laughed shyly as he d
her on.
'IIow could yen know me so quickl
he asked.
My sister Hctty has told me all ah
you. That you are clever and fine
chivalrc, and she says you can teach
all want to know"
And what may that be?'
Daisy blushed again. She looked