The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-19
THE EVENING STORY
Leap Year Proxy.


ways dressed in sweeping black
gowns. looked at Kitty severely
through her gold lorgnette.
And you are twenty?" she asked.
Men aren't worth bothering over"
said Kitty. with her fair curls bob
bing, and with a shrug of white
shoulders under pink chiffon. Now
there's Rodney Hodge. He's the only
man who will be at the dance tonight
who is really worth while, yet 1 would
not be afraid to say that he'll never
propose
Aunt Katherine lighted the candles
over the fireplace. 1t was one of her
fads to spend the evening by candle
light. Electricity was for the mob,
she said.
Why should you care?" she asked,
what Rodney Hodge does? You are
not in love with him, are your"
Kitty composed herself We'll, you
see, could be in love with him. she
said, sagely. IF he were not such a
clam He's $3.50 fine. Aunt Kath-
lerine."
Yes, he is fine said the older
woman.
But he just lives in that old house
with his uncle, and everybody says
that they are women haters. But 1
remember Rodney when he was a boy
and, oh, Aunt Katherine, tit
seems to me that there never was
such a boy
Kitty's little face was very grave
now, and her little hand was laid in
earnestness on Miss SeVerance's knee.
And So, Aunt Katherine finished
Tor her, as she took the little hand in
her firm clasp. and So my little
Kitty, If you were a man and Rodney
6odge We're girl you would ask
Rodney to marry you?"
Yes, Kitty whispered
Then-why not ask him-any-
now" said Aunt Katherine.
kltty gave startled glance.
.Why-Aunt catherine" she STAN
It's leap year.
Oh, | knew you were joking" Kit
ty voice had note of relief in it.
was perfectly sure you were; 20
woman would ever proT ose to a man,
Aunt Katherine
No; no woman could ever propose
to a man"
Then for long time there was 81
fence: At last Kitty said. timidly, do
you know why Rodney's uncle has
brought him up to hate women"
How should know?' haughtiIy.
We'll some one said Kitty was
half afraid to go on-"rhat it was You
who broke his heart, Aunt Kate"
Out of another long silence Miss
did
- Was he Kitty hesitated. was
''Then-why?"
For a moment the fine composure
of Miss Severance's face was broken |
u2-
Il was-a fool" she said. bitterly.
Size changed the subject after that. |
and Kitty went off to her leap year |
darce happily.
Miss Severance sat lone By the ere |
then she picked up the receiver Of the |
telephone and gave Il number. When |
the answer came, she said, rs that |
you Bronson? This is Katherine Sc
Nerance. I want to ask you TO come |
and see me. Yes, tonight Yes it's |
important. You will? It's very good |
Of you. At 9, then?
She paced the room restlessly, as she |
waited, and when her caller came a |
gray haired. stately man, she welcom-
ed him with a laugh that was slightly
nervous.
It's about Kitty" she said. She
want to make a sort of leap year
by proxy, Bronson"
He looked at her keenly. You mean
Rcdney?' he asked.
Yes. Kitty likes him, and I think
he loves her. He did years ago. But
but he hasn't asked her to marry
him.
And he Will not!" sternly.
Why not?'
He shall not suffer as have suf-
fered,'' was the quiet answer You
know how 1 staked all my happiness,
Katherine. on your answer years ago.
and you know, too. that 1 lost. 1 will
not have my boy hurt in like ,
=ashion.''
kitty is sweeter than l." said
Miss Severance, land I think she
,ares."
mo one could be sweeter than you
we're" the old man turned on her
1ercely, until you learned to break :
mems hearts :
And to break my own" said
katherine Severance
Out of deep silence he asked,
Then you, too, have suffered p
Yes. Do you remember a leap year I
lance and a girl all in white, with sill
7er slippers and a rose in her hair?"
YOU he breathed.
land she made up her mind that
he would tell the man whom once she
lad spurned that she had changed
-and-that he was the only man
could not, for he
rave her no opening-and, after all. /
he was a woman-and a woman can
lot WOO" 5
Katherine" he said. and his voice t
lroke; dear girl. If you had spoken.
lave held for us"
And tonight when Kitty went to
Ter leap year dance, all the past :
oiled back on me and I wanted her Q
o be happy with a man like you
t is too late now-for us-but surely Z
hey"
He laughed like a boy. TOO late?
Why. how old are you, Katherine?" i
And I'm hfty-two. And we're
Dung. dearest. And the world is be- d
ore us Do you think Kitty and
rodney are the only ones in the world
He took her hands masterfully in
is. Look at me- Kate" he said, Il