The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1912-03-22
Leap Year
by Proxy
Copyright 1911. by Associated Literary Press)

ways OTeSSeu III sweeping Dldch
gowns, looked at Kitty severely
through her gold lorgnette.
"And you are 20?" she asked.
Men aren't worth bothering
over" said Kitty. NOW, there's Rod
ney Hodge. He's the only man who
will be at the dance tonight who is
really worth while, yet 1 wouldn't be
afraid to say that. he'll never pro-
pose"
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. Well, you
see, l could be in love with him." she
said sagely, if he were not such
clam. He's $3.50 fine, Aunt Kath-
erine."
Eyes, he is fine," said the older
woman
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
for her, as she took the little hand
in her firm clasp, land so, my little
Kitty, If you were man and Rodney
Hodge were girl, you would ask
Rodney to marry your
yes" Kitty whispered.
"Then-why not ask him - any
how?" said Aunt Katherine
Kitty gave her a startled glance.
'Why-Aunt Katherine she STAN
mered, you don't mean"
Its leap year."
ooh, l knew you were Joking"
Kitty's voice had a note of relief
in it.
She changed the subject after that,
and Kitty went Off to her leap year
dance happily.
Miss Severance sat long by the fire,
then she picked up the receiver Of
the telephone and gave a number.
When the answer came, she said: "Is
that you, Bronson? This is Rather.
inc Severance. 1 want to ask you to
come and see me. Yes, tonight.
Yes-it's important. You will? It's
very good of you. At nine, then?"
She paced the room restlessly, as
she waited, and when her caller came,
gray-haired, stately man, she well
coined him with a laugh that was
slightly nervous.
Its about Kitty" she said. She
was seated in high-backed chair
which gave her queenly dignity. Il
Il want to make sort Of leap year
proposal by proxy, Bronson"
He looked at her keenly. "You
mean Rodney" he asked.
Yes. Kitty likes him and 1 think
he loves her. He did years ago. But
but he hasn't asked her to marry
him"
And he will mott" sternly.
why not?"
"He shall not suffer as I have suf-
fered," was the quiet answer. "You
know how staked all my happiness,
Katherine, on your answer years ago.
and you know, too, that l lost. l will
not have my boy hurt in a like
fashion,
Miss Severance, land 1 think she
cares"
mo one could be sweeter than you
were," the old man turned on her
fierceIy, until you learned to break
mems hearts"
"And to break my own" said
Katherine Severance.
Out of a deep silence he asked:
Then you, too, have suffered?"
Eyes. Do you remember a leap
year dance and girl all in white,
with silver slippers and rose in her
hair?"
YOU" he breathed.
and she made up her mind that
she would tell the man whom once she
had spurned that she had changed
and-and-that he was the only man
in the wOrld-for her. But she was
proud-and-she could not, for he
gave her no opening after all,
she was a WOmdu-duQ d woman Cdu-
not WOO"
Katherine" he said, and his voice
broke; dear girl, if you had spoken,
how much of happiness life would
have held for u.s.
And tonight when Kitty went to
her leap year dance. all the past
rolled back on me and I wanted her
to be happy with man like you.
1t is too late now for us-but surely
they"
He laughed like a boy. "Too late?
Why, how old are you, Katherine?"
Forty"
"And 1 am fifty-two. And we're
young, dearest. And the world is be-
fore us. Do you think Kitty and
Rodney are the only ones in the
world who can live and lover"
He took her hands masterfully in
his. Look at me, Kate" he said,
"and tell me if you want to leave
all the happiness to Kitty?"
nj WIZ