The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-08
THE EVENING STORY
A Leap Year PRIVILEGE.

Cynthia Ann Jones sat trotting her
IooI ana sewing rag carpets at the age
OF 81 without having been spoken for.
Cynth1a Ann Jones, it's got to come
aoout! she finally said to herself aloud.
This is leap year, and there's. a privil-
eye goes with it,
Having got that far. her thoughts
naturally turned to possible candidates.
There was Deacon Hungerford, but he
was past 80 and had three children, and
ne mad once asked her to look the other
way while he drove a hog past her
gate. There was Joel Marsh, owner of
Inc saWmil, but he had stiff neck and
stiff knee and had been an old bache-
Tor so long that he would probably OBJ
Ject to gray patches on black ground
work There was Squire Cummings,
whose wife had died three years before,
but he had bossy way about him and
mad always held his wife down to one
third OF bar of soap to washing.
The three men mentioned exhausted
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 if Providence had
saved the two churches in the village
from being struck by lightning for the
last Is years why couldn't and shouldn't
it provide her with husband?
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
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 a short,
steps and to be told that he was can
wasting 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 whitewash brush and too
tinid to accompany her to prayer meet
ing without a lantern, but she remem-
bered that she was depending upon
Providence and that Providence had
probably sent along the best it had IN
the shop that day. She therefore sim
pered a little and giggled little ana
invited Mr.. Totten in.
Mr. Totten evinced desire to retreat
instead, but probably reflected that it
was as dangerous to run as to enter.
At any rate, he took a seat in the par
Ior and began to talk up his magazine.
Cynthia replied yes" and no half
dozen times. and then lost all interest
in literary matters and gave MIR. Tot
ten a sizing 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 man OF
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," 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 it a privilege for my sex?"
"Gracious, but so it does-so 1T doeS!'
ST 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.. Totten"-
Don't! Oh. don't!"
off have fallen in love with you and
desire to ask for your heart and hand,
for me to do SOP"
Eyes. but-but''- he stammered as
he wiggled around on his chair and
blushed like a schoolgirl.
Mr. Totten," continued Cynthia as
she laid her hand on her heart, IT fell
in love with you the minute ] opened
the door. Providence sent you here.
Providence has planned to unite u.s."
s'Oh, gracious mel"
"And I 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 if you will be mine"
Dear me! Dear met" gasped MI
rotten as ne TuDOS0 Tic po1AhS u AA@o
hands together and bobbed about.
cit may seem to you little sudden,
Mr. Totten-indeed, it is a little sudden
but who can Withstand the voice OF
love? Say that you will be mine and
make me happy. I am not rich, and i
am not worthy of you, but will do my
best to make you happy"
sI-I-couldn't do iti'' announced Mr..
Totten, as he arose and looked for his
hat.
rs it possible that you are a mar
ried man and have come here to toy
with my maidenly heart? If so, sir
mo, no, no, It's just that 1 don't
"Totten, are you engaged to anoth-
err"
mo, not"
..Then you sit right down and stay
to dinner. Providence sent you here,
and if you think / am going to let you
get away you are mistaken"
But he lodged her and reached the
door and few out and down the path
and up the street, and an hour later, as
she stood at her gate and wondered
how Providence had come to skip a
cog. the old man Taylor came along to
say:
.sWhy. a short, fat little man, whom
nobody knows, come runnin' up the
street awhile ago and dropped dead in
front of the tavern. The doctors say
he was skeered to DEATH
- NJ. QUAD.