Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-04-14
A LEAP YEAR PARTY

"well, Nell, hear you were belle
rather than beau at the leap year dance"
sob, yes; came out victorious and had
glorious time"
"Make any proposals."
"Certainly did"
"How did you get up the courage?"
sit wasn't courage l had to get, but
bloomers."
"Bloomers?"
Eyes boomers. went as the coming
woman to Kate's dance. 1t was fancy
dress affair, you know. So arrayed my
self as the new woman in bloomers,
jaunty jacket and stunning tie. Then
with my large boutonniere I felt that
should conquer timid man.
II escorted Mr.. Leland, who is visitor
here. And l had the pleasure of seeing
Frank look unhappy as we walked in.
devoted myself to Mr.. Leland and flirted
with several others, while kept an out
look for Frank.
Finally strolled off with him and
guided him to quiet nook, where we had
the opportunity to talk unobserved. The
music fioated dreamily to our ears, and
Frank looked sentimental
II felt wicked
"He had danced but little; still famed
him as though he were on the verge Of
fainting. (Been treated that way myself
by thoughtful man,
''Then he tries to be chatty, thinking II
he is agreeable that he will be belle,
suppose
Lovely floor for dancing, isn't its
eyes, answer, sitting yawn.
"'Quite q crowd too. like the waltz,
believe, better than any of the dances. l
prefer 1t to any of the new dances.
"'Yes, so do L. (Still show no in
cltnation to enjoy one now.)
He keeps up the small talk, while
look as though planning my escape. Il
have sometimes seen men look that way
Mr.. 4. looks we'll tonight, say. (Ho
hates Mr.. E.)
"'And Mr.. G. is graceful dancer,
but the young man escorted this evening
Is the prettiest dancer on the floor go
on now, growing animated. All, there's
the two step, and have that promised me
: by him now, so will take you to the gay
crowd again, rs must ask you to excuse
me-
mo; you needn't take me anywhere, ;
well, must play my role, you know, and
be polite to the gentlemen as they are to
the ladies. But there's one thing l want
to say before 60, and here look stern.
"'You have been with that Bell Bore all
the evening. Now, If you think anything
of ME, wish you not to dance with her
again. have my reason for asking this, ;
I add. (My reason is to be revenged for
some former thoughtless conduct on his
part.) Poor fellow, he is miserable and
says in an aggrievod voice:
"'She asks me, you know, and what am
I to do9 can't insult lady
every WE'LL retort, if you think
moro Of her opinion than you do Of mine,
it's oil right, and since l am to leave you
| here, will you excuse me, please?' I bow
| very low and walk off with naughty and
| injured air.
"Outside I meet Bell looking for him,
| and I feel mean to think how lonely Frank
must feel, and how like Enoch Ardon ho
must be for the rest of the evening. He
| will hide out from Bell, know, and she
was his escort, so she will be angry with
him for disappearing, and the other girls
having noted his preference for me before
leap year, are indifferent, leaving him to
| my tender mercies
II dance and look happy and smile SO
| sweetly on Mr.. Leland that all think he Is
winning my heart, or that am winning
his. So keep it up, which shows that Il
woman as well as man may smilo and
smile and be villain still.
II am unusually gay as l see Frank
| glaring at me, having emerged from his
| solitude. He has decided to plead illness
and leave the scene where he. has played
| the wall flower. But I ask him to waltz
to detain him. No, thanks, he mutters.
| Il am not dancing
".Let's sit and talk then, go on very
sweetly.
| 1850 How can you leave the lovely Mr.. l., p
he asks.
"'Why could leave anybody for you,
I say.
| "'Indeed.' And he looks incredulous.
"'Well, how could you call attention to
the fact that had danced often with a
! certain lady when all who run may read OF
| your infatuation for a stranger
| "'No; visitor, l say, and SO untitled
! to the oourtesies bestowed OH him.
$50 visitors make you forget friendsY
's'Oh, no, never, but, Frank, ho has
serious Intentions. You and shall always
be the best of friends, you know, but you
are not able to marry (ho has often told
mo SOY, so thought as Mr.. L.
"Mr. J.. be blanked, he says excitedly.
''Tis true until recently my salary would
not justify me in asking tho girl love to
be mine. But now
"' But now, don't interrupt me, break
in. i only asked you not to dance with
| Bell to bother you and to see II you would
obey mo. So having found you willing to
love and obey, wish to tell you that
care for no one but you; that while dancing
with Mr.. IL, have been thinking Of you.
''We drift to the quiet nook again, and
proceed: Il care only to DO with you,
Frank. ! would die for you, but this be-
ing leap year may not live for your, He
,murmured, Yes. '"-Washington Post.
| Uncle Paid.
At the close Of that season in which
Shutter, the Toole of 80 years ago, first be.
came SO universally and deseryedly cele-
brated he was engaged for a few nights
in principal city in the north of Eng
land. !. 1t was in the coaching days, and 1t
| happened that the stage In which he went
down, and in which there was only an old
gentleman and himself, was stopped by a
single highwayman.
i The old gentleman pretended to be
! asleep, but Shutter resolved to DO oven
/ with him. accordingly, when the high
1 wayman presented his pistol and COM
| manded Shutter to deliver his money in
| ckr 4 Acc III