The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-21
| cap Year
BY Proxy
60. IaI1. y - - -

tan and beautiful, and who was al
ways dressed in sweeping black
gowns looked at Kitty severely
through her gold Iorgnette
And you are 203' she asked
"Men aren't worth botherina
over" said kitty. Nov, there's Rod
ney Hodge. He's the only man who
will be at the dance tonight who il
really worth while, vet | wouldn't be
afraid to say that he'll never pro
pose"
Aunt Katherine lighted the candles
over the fireplace. It was one Of her
fads to spend the evening by candle.
light. Electricity was for the mob,
she said
why should you carer" she asked.
"what Rodney Hodge does? You are
not in love with him, are your
Kitty composed herself. Well, you
see, / could be in love with him, she
said sagely, if he were not such q
clam. Hes $3.50 fine, Aunt Kath-
erine.9
Eyes, he is fne," 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, "and SO. my little
Kitty, If you were man and Rodney
Hodge were a girl, you would ask
Rodney to marry your
Eyes," 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"
TITS leap year"
"Oh, knew you were joking"
Kitty's voice had note Of relief
In it.
she changed the subject after that,
and Kitty went OF to her leap year
dance happily.
Miss Severance sat long By the IRE,
then she picked up the recetver Of
the telephone and gave q number
When the answer came, she said: Is
that you, Bronson2 This Il Rather
Inc Severance. want to ask you to
come and sec me. Yes, tonight.
Yes-it's important. you VIII It's
very good Of you. At nine. then3'
/ She paced the room restlessly. IS
she waited, and when her caller came,
gray-halred, stately man. she vel
coined him with 9 laugh that was
slightly nervous.
TITS about Kitty she said. She
was seated III hign-backed chair
which gave her Queenly dignity. 7
II want to make q sort Of leap year
proposal BY proxy. Bronson"
He looked at her keenly. 'You
mean Rodney9' he asked
Eyes. 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 win mott" sternIy.
why mott"
''He shall not suffer as have suf-
fered," was the quiet answer. you
know how ! staked all my happiness,
Katherine. on -pur answer years ago
and you kEH %. that / lost. I win
not have my COY hurt in q like
fashion"
"Kitty-is sweeter than T." said
Miss Severance, "and think she
cares"
NO one could be sweeter than you
were" the old man turned on her
aercely, until you learned to break
mems hearts"
"And to break my own" said
Katherine Severance
Out Of deep silence he asked:
'aThen you, too, have suffered?'
YES, Do you remember a lear
year dance and girl all in white
with silver slippers and rose in heI
hair?"
'You," he breathed.
And she made up her mind thai
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 hs
gave her no opening land, after an
she was a womanand woman can
not WOO
Katherine" he said, and bis voice
broke; dear girl, # you had spoken
how much Of happiness life would
have held for us,
And tonight when Kitty went {.
81 leap ysss sssssssss nc Pes
rolled back on me and / wanted hei
to BE- happy with a man like you
It Is too late now for us-but surel,
they
He laughed like boy. TOO late
Why. how Old are you. Katherlne?
Forty"
"And / am 6fty-two. And we'rl
young, dearest. And the world is he
fore us. DO you think Kitty ans
Rodney are the only ones ii til
world who can live and lover
He took her hands masterfully d
his. Look at ms, kate" he said
sand ten me II y0u want to ieayl
aIi the happiness to Kitty3s
That night when kitty came hom
/