The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-07
THE EVENING STORY
A Leap Year Wooing.
By Grace Grant JESSE

| (By Grace Grant JESSE
| The Honorable Violet felt unhappy
a novel experience for the Honorable
Violet. She gave way to the unusual
emotion freely, crouehing in a pic
turesque attitude on the khud-sdde, I'M
der the deodar trees. Her pretty little
straight nose was decidedly red at the
| tip from the tears which welled up into
| her blue eyes, and the vigor with which
| she scrubbed it from time to time with
two square inches Of lawn and as many
yards of lace. Something In the sight
| Of that damp rag worried me.
/ For goodness sake, use mfne,"I said
GROSSLY, thrusting it hastily into her lap,
where 1t looked like a tablecloth beside
| her ridiculous dolls scrap.
| The Honorable Violet held it In both
hands and applied it to her eyes just
| as two fresh tears threatened to over
| flow.
Thank you," she said meekly.
| had never seen the Honorable Violet
meek before and the sight disarmed
me.
Whatever made you do it?'' asked,
seating myself beside her among the
ferns and grass. you must have known
1t was mad thing to do
The Honorable Violet sobbed.
II did it for fun. Ethel Stare said
I daren't. So I did. But they all ac-
that? They took it quite seriously.
They are going to see Uncle Jack today.
What shall do? Oh, what shall do?"
Candidly. the horror of the situation
struck me.
Uncle Jack" is the general command
ing. The Honorable Violet came out to
India six months ago to spend year
with him and "see the world"
Perhaps I should explain that 1 am
Capt Sir Sidney Straight, the humblest
and most bullied of the generals aides
de-camp. My duties at present consist
chiefly in dancing attendance on the
Honorable Violet-and a pretty dance
she leads me. sf-,f
You have made a mess of it, COM
menced. weakly. It was cold comfort.
I know, but for.the life Of me I could
think of nothing else to say.
The Honorable Violet sprang to her
feet. swishfng her airy blue skirts and
f1inging my pocket handkerchief in my
face as she did SO.
THANK you for nothingf" she snap
ped, angerily. 81 might have known
you were not the least use. No man
ever is. I hate you all! Stupid
greedy things!"
The amount of venom in the last word
showed it held dark meaning for the
Honorable Violet, and having hurled 1t
vindictively at me she set off at q brisk
pace along the sandy path toward the
house.
But I couldn't let her go like that.
alone and in troub1e-she is SO pretty
when she gets angry. too. Besides,
wanted to hear the last of that story.
"Come back,"I said persuasively. Pm
awfully sorry, on my honor. ami We
are all stupid and greedy" did not
know why greedy, but make a point
Of agreeing with the Honorable Violet
when I want my own way. Come
~x~pyr u
some way ont Of it. swear we will.
Look here, we'l1-T1l-if you are afraid
- broke off and stammered while the
Honorable Violet looked me up and
down. 1T mean, if you Hke@f you
want me to''-I gulped down a lump In
my throat and felt myself grow pale
'1'll speak to the general for you my
self"
BY Jove! The words were out.
The Honorable Violet smiled scorn-
fully.
'"You darn" she said. You're afraid
of him. You know you are. But II
you did-rd-rd do anything for you.
Yes, would-anything- and she look |
ed straight into my eyes.
"Do you promise that?" asked
quickly.
Promise what7" she queried.
What you said just now-that you'd |
do anything for me If I'd face him for |
you
IT. she laughed with a tiny curl of |
her lip. eff, yes; IL you face him. +
promise
wen sit down again. said deter |
nafudly 'I want to hear about last
night and how you did it" I fioung my
self down on the bank. The Honorable
Violet sat beside me.
ut was yesterday afternoon at the
club she commenced. "At least 1t
began then. We were discussing our |
frocks for the Spinster's Leap Year ball
in the evening, Ethel Stare and I. She
showed me a para graph in the paper
about girls club in England. All the
members vowed to propose to one man
before the end Of the year I said I'd
propose to three at the ball in the even
ing and think nothing of it. Ethel said
I wouldn't dare. She wagered her gold
brooch with the pearl dove with ruby
heart In it's mouth I wouldn't do 1t.
do love that brooch. wanted 1t dread
fully. It seemed such fun then. and
now I'm miserable"
ventured to take one hand. I patted
it cautiously.
"Don't cry please" I looked at her
anxiously. but she sobbed on. I leaned
toward her Dear" whispered very
softly. and the Honorable Violet dried
her ewes and went on with her story.
swell. now you see how it was.
thought they'd all cay No. So we set
to work and chose three men. Capt.
Bell and Capt. Stone and Major Burn
ham, they seemed so safe"
Major Burnhami Good heavens!
groaned Major Durham, the gen.
erals own particular pail Could I face
it?
She nodded Eyes, isn't it awful?"
Then she grew scarlet to the roots OF
her curly hair. That's why I'm so
she whispered. looking up
s-<r, NV fo1a Than letting her eyes
tan. sbut they seemed 50 SAFE and