Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-06-27
DAILY SHORT STORY
A LEAP YEAR PRIVILEGE.

OF thirty-seven without having been
spoken for.
Cynthia Ann Jones, it's got TO come
about" she finally said to herself
aloud This is leap year, and there's
| privilege goes with 1T
Having got that far, her thoughts
naturally turned TO possible candidates.
There was Deacon Hungerford, but he
was past fifty and had three children,
and he had once asked her to look the
other way while he drove a hog past
her gate. There was Joel Marsh. own
CT of the sawmill, but he had a stiff
neck and a stiff knee and had been an
old bachelor SO long that he would
probably object TO gray patches on a
black groundwork. There was Squire
Cummings, whose wife had died three
years before, but he had a bossy way
wife down to one-third of a bar OF soap
TO washing
The three men mentioned exhaust
ed the list as far as Cynthia could
place them. but hope did not die out of
her heart. There was such a thing as
Providence, and If Providence had
saved the two churches in the village
from being struck by lightning for the
last fifteen years why couldn't and
shouldn't it provide her with hus-
band?
Not week had gone by after she
had made up her mind, and she had
not yet decided whether she wanted a
man with milk white eyes or red hair
when there came timid knock on the
front door. The hour was O'Clock in
the afternoon, and Cynthia was just
finishing the last of the carpet rags.
She opened the door to find short,
timid looking. rolly poly man on the
steps and to be told that he was can
wasting for subscribers for new mag
azine
Cynthia's first idea of him was that
he was too short TO reach up TO the
ceiling with a whltewash brush and
too timid to accompany her to prayer
meeting without a lantern, but she re
membered that she was depending up
on Providence and that Providence had
probably sent along the best 1t had in
the shop that day. She therefore sim
pered a little and giggled little and
invited Mr.. Totten In.
Mr.. Totten evinced desire to retreat
instead, but probably reflected that 1t
was as dangerous to run as to enter.
At any rate he took n seat in the par
lor and began to talk up his ma gazine.
Cynthia replied yes" and mo half
dozen times, and then lost all interest
In literary matters and gave Mr.. Tot
ten a sizing up. He wasn't bad to look
- In ouhn Oh Of
him at donation parties and camp meet
ings. He didn't look to be a man OF
opinions, and he therefore would sub
NIT to being bossed. He had weak,
piping voice, but that was also all
right. In case OF any family dispute
the neiRhbOrs couldn't hear his side of
the case. At the end of quarter of
an hour the spinster had made up her
mind about things, and she said
Mr.. TOtten, are you aware OF the
fact that this is leap yearP'
Bless me, but I'd forgotten it," he
replied, with a start that betrayed
guilt
1t is leap year, Mr. TOtten, and may
| ask if you recall that leap year car
ries with 1t "a privilege for my seX?''
Dul 81 IL uOGS -SO II uOCS.
Il do not know that this privilege is
generally taken advantage of, but yet
cannot see why not. If have fallen
in love with you. Mr.. Totem
Don't! Oh, dOn'tr'
IF | have fallen in love with you
and desire TO ask for your heart and
hand. why should it not be perfectly
proper for me To do SOP
Yes. but-but''- he stammered as
he wiggled around on his chair and
blushed like u schoolgirl.
MIR. Totem continued Cynthia as
she laid her hand on her heart, II fell
in love with you the minute l opened
the door. Providence sent you here.
Providence has planned to unite u.s.
''Oh, gracious meT'
And / therefore ask you, Mr. Tot
ten-I therefore take advantage OF the
special privilege accorded my sex once
In four years four long and dreary
years-tO ask you II you will be mine"
Dear me, Dear met gasped Mr..
Totten as he rubbed the palms OF his
hands together and bobbed about.
1t may seem to you a little sudden,
Mr.. Totten-indeed il is a little sudden
but who can withstand the voice OF
love? Say that you Will be mine and
make me happy ! am not rich. and /
am not worthy OF you. but L Will do my
best 10 make you happy"
''I-I-cOuldn't do it, announced Mr..
TOtten. as he arose and looked for his
hat
rs 1t possible that you are a mar
ried man and have come here to toy
with my maidenly hearth II SO, sir
No. no, no! It's just that l don't
DON'T
'-Totten. are you engaged to anoth
err"
NO. no.
Then you sit right down and stay
TO dinner. Providence sent you here.
and IL you think l am going to let you
get away you are mistaken"
But he lodged her and reached the