Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-05-17
A LEAP YEAR PROPOSAL.

On 1eSgy, nave you uedIu zap
tain Neelys offer ?" was screeched by
a bevy of veranda beauties as Marga-
ret Randall joined them.
"Ofer of what ?"
ooh gracious, girls, tell her -
"WhY, the Captain has offered"
began one of the damsels.
"You mistake, my dear young lady"
interrupted the Captain, 81 offer
nothing. But I have signifed my
willingness to consider any or all offers
made me. You see, Miss Peggy"
said he, turning toward the late ar
rival, who, although far from being
beautiful, ruled them by right of her
brightness, her wit and her inexhaust-
ible resources as an entertainer. Il
am disgusted with the way you young
ladies are neglecting your leap-year
advantageseand will wager that not
one of you has made an offer Of mar
riage this year Have you, now ?"
Nothing but the awful dread of
being refused has deferred US, Cap
tain, answered Miss Randall. Think
of our feelings, when, after laying our
hearts and fortunes at your feet, you
refuse to listen"
That's just the contingency l have
been providing for The very point
we were discussing when you joined
US, and I said that to every girl l re-
fused this year | would give a Jersey
COW. I've fine drove Of them, you
know, and it's no more than right that
there should be some little consolation
prize offered "
That's not so bad but, great
heavens, Captain p exclaimed one of
the younger men, "have you the least
idea of what you are liable to get IN
to-"
"Oh l don't think Jim will be out
so many COWS, because he is sure to
snap up the first thing that offers,
said the handsomest man among the
summer idlers. "You don't expect
to have the refusal of all this magnif-
cent assortment, do you?' and bis
smile magnanimously swept over all
the girls collected on the veranda.'
ooh l don't know" the audacious
Captain made answer. q give these
young ladies credit for the possession
of good judgment, and I fancy there
will be great demand for me. I ad-
wise you to come early and avoid the
rush, Miss Peggy" And he brought
a turkey red cushion and placed it
for her.
Thank you, Captain Neely, but as
never drink milk, you see your con-
ISOLATION prize is no object to me, and
you surely cannot expect one to risk
a broken heart without some balm"
"Oh Peggy" " protested her near
est and dearest friend among the girls.
a think it too bad that you should
be left out Of the race. Captain, cant
you make a concession in her favor p
The Captain demurred They all
would want concessions, but as Peggy
insisted that she would not even con-
siGer the COW, he finally consented to
think the thing over, 'Just to please
the other girls" he said, for Miss
Randall was one of those rare women |
who are popular with their own sex
as well as with the other.
The group on the veranda broke
up, and Peggy, together with a half
dozen of the young people, went out
side to arrange for the theatrieal.'
leaving to the rest the discussion Of
the eccentric bachelors latest.
Captain Nicely, who was nearly so
years of age, was anything but con-
yentional ladies man, but no one
doubted his ability to keep things
alive for a party of summer idlers.
and his standing offer, which he an
nounced was good for 365 days only,
created great excitement among the
girls. They declared that the captain
was either impossible to suit, or that
he must be suffering from an unre-
Quilted affection, or was absolutely |
heartless, because he fatty refused all |