The daily Alaskan., 1905-09-25
A LEAP YEAR
PRIVILEGE

spoken for.
Cynthia Ann Jones, it's got to come
aboutr' she finally said to herself
aloud. ''Thls is leap year. and there's
a privilege goes with it."
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
err of the sawmill, but he had stiff
neck and a stifr 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 bossy way
about him and had always held his
wife down to one-thlrd Of bar of soap
to a 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 thing as
Providence, and II 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 a hus-
bandf
Not a 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 2 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
vassing for subscribers for a new mag
aZine.
Cynthia's first Idea Of him was that
he was too short to reach up to the
ceiling with a whitewash brush and
too timld 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 It had In
the snop that day. She therefore sim
pered a little and giggled little and
invited Mr.. Totten in.
Mr.. Totten eyinced desire to retreat
instead, but probably reflected that 1t
was as dangerous to run as to enter.
At any rate, he took seat In the par
lor and began to talk up his magazine
Cynthia replied yes" and mo" half a
dozen times. and then lost all interest
In literary matters and gave Mr.. Tot
ten a skiing up. He wasn't bad to look
at, and she wouldn't be ashamed 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 a weak,
piping voice, but that was also all
right. In case Of any family dispute
the neighbors 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 YEAR,
Bless me, but I'd forgotten It." be
replied, with a start that betrayed
guilt.
"It is leap year, Mr.. Totten, and may
1 ask II you recall that leap year car
ries with It a privilege for my sexr
Gracious, but 80 It does-so 1t doesT
81 do not know that this privilege is
generally taken advantage Of, but yet
/ cannot see why not. II I have fallen
in love with you, Mr.. Totten"-
"Don'tl Oh, don'tF'
-"lf 1 have fallen In love with you
and desire to ask for your heart and
hand, why should II not be perfectly
proper for me to do SOP
"Yes, but-but''- he stammered as
he wiggled around on his chair and
blushed like schoolgirl.
Mr.. Totem" continued Cynthia as
she laid her hand on her heart, II fell
In love with you the minute I opened
the door. Providence sent you here.
Providence has planned to unite Us"
''Oh, gracious meF'
"And I therefore ask you, Mr.. Tot
ten-I therefore take advantage Of the
special privilege accorded my sex once
In four years-tour long and dreary
years-to ask you If you win be mine"
Dear mel Dear me!'' gasped Mr..
Totten as he rubbed the palms Of his
hands together and bodied about.
TT may seem to you a little sudden,
Mr.. Totten-indeed, it is little sudden
but who can withstand the voice Of
lover Say that you win be mine and
make me happy. I am not rich, and l
am not worthy Of you, but win do my
best to make you happy"
T-I-couldn't do itP' announced Mr..
Totten, as he arose and looked for his
hat.
'Ts it possible that you are a mar
ried man and have come here to toy
with my maidenly hearth If so, sir
mo, no, mol It's Just that i don't
DON'T
"Totten, are you engaged to anoth-
err
mo, nor
Then you sit right down and stay
to dinner. Providence sent you here,
- a. -, Aklnt, -. r-rlv,ry 80 1ok x-orr