Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
uening Story
LEAP YEAR PROPOSALS.
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)
BY Louise oliver,

Copyright, 1916, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.) a.
Hope Landing shut the door of the
teachers room softly, but firmly, and
gave the key surreptitious turn. She
looked around cautiously, then started
to count noses We're all here!" she
exclaimed in excited albeit subdued
tones.
do myself no harm!" added Laura
Taylor, who taught number one and
prided herself on her wit.
Don't be sacrilegious, Laura. Girls,
I've got plan an it's just peach!"
Hope did little Jig.
The others glanced at one another
with understanding. Another of Hopes
departures from the proper path of dig
nifty laid out for pedagogues in public
schools! They were accustomed to
such flights and listened tolerantly
and with no particular interest.
Hope guled her ear to the door Of
an anteroom that led to the Office.
He's not here yet, but he couldn't
hear anyway" She nodded reassur-
ingly and giggled. Hopes sense of
humor was always at work like leav-
en- and running over. The upper-foor
teachers called it Stiffness
"Of whom are you speaking?" in
quired Charity Brown precisely.
Him of course! The professor!"
well, what about the professor?
HE has just inherited fortune,
girls-a fortune-think of it! They
say it's nearly million dollars, or it's
in pounds, l believe, for it's English
and they say there is title that goes
with It, But Pm not sure of that
The excitement caused by this re-
mark was obvious. Even the upper
floor teachers crowded around the cen
ter table to get all the wonderful news.
But how do you know all this is
true?' inquired Genevieve Travis, who
had been a society bud before family
difficulties had arisen to nip her social
aspirations.
81 can't tell that. I'm not permit
ted, but his lawyer and my cousin
oh, girls can't say any more. And, of
course, it may not be true. But 1t
could be true, couldn't 1t, for some
one to die and leave him a lot Of
money!? It's been done before, hasn't
it,"
"Yes-it's common enuogh, l be.
lieve,' contributed Miss Brown, re-
mark. that could be. ventured safely
without showing too much interest In
the remarkable news.
But, Hope, why the flutter? What's
back of it all?" asked Genevieve. You
still have something up your sleeve or
| miss my guess If you don't hurry
up and tell l believe you'll burst"
Hope giggled again. "Oh, don't you
see, girls? He's not married." she
whispered dramatically.
Well" in chorus.
And it's leap year"
A sudden silence fell upon the room.
Hope looked triumphantly from one to
another. The effect of her news
was gratifying beyond her expecta-
lions. Serena Hawkins was adjusting
a barette at the nape of her neck,
Involuntary, and Char.
ity Brown was looking sentimentally
out of the window.
Then a bell began to ring and they
heard a mans voice in the hall. I'VE
must go now" said Hope. tits up to
you girls to do the rest. But 1t seems
to me that fifteen young and attrac-
tive women who pride themselves on
having brains would be very foolish to
let million dollars and good-looking
man get out of this building single and
in leap year. Sh! Don't
let another soul know or 1t will spoil
our chances. Two months yet, and let
the best man win!" She opened the
door and went out followed by four
teen teachers, who smiled guiltily as
they passed man standing by his Of
flee door. John Aylmer looked after
them quizzically. The smiles had not
him and he watched them as
they disappeared up stairways and
into doorways to get ready for the
troops of young ideas new yelling in
the school yard .....
Hope Landing went into number
four and he caught a flash of her eyes
as the door closed. There was some
thing disturbing in that glance, and
he felt an uneasiness he could not ex-
plain.
81 suppose was bit hateful about
things this morning." he reflected.
Really, she's about the best teacher
in the building and I didn't need to
get nasty about the spelling. thought
she'd hit me when tore up those
papers! | wish didn't feel so devil