The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1916-05-25
A LEAP YEAR
PROPOSAL
BY ElNOR MARSH

1
years old, and by the terms of the vii,
was TO have possession Of nv estate
When l was eighteen. This left il in
Nathans hands two years after her
| death.
Now the truth is, from the time |
was fourteen ! had decided fancy for
Nathan. l looked upon him as \ big
orother and in my day dreams of the
future thought OF him as something
nearer. l early passed beyond boys NJ
my own age, which suppose came
partly from the fact that, nv father
having died when | was q babv and
my mother being early accustomed n
rely upon ME for many things that are
not usually left TO children. became
oder In experience than | was I'm wears
BE this as ii may, by the time I no
came of age and my property was IN
oe turned over 10 me | had made up
my mind that ! wanted Nathan too
AS to taking care of my estate myself
had sense enough to know that
was entirely incompetent.
L also had sufficient feminine instinct
to discern that Nathan had a decided
fancy for me. But the main reason
why mother had made him nv guard
ian and one of the reasons why |
wanted him-hiS integrity-stood in tho
way OF my having him. 1t was evident
TO me that he considered me a tiductary
trust. lie was 50 sensitive to his hon
or That | believed he would consider il
a crime for him to become possessed
or my fortune even by marrying me.
What was | to do? | couldn't very
well offer myself TO him. Possibly if
l had been nearer his age / might have
found a way to propose to him with.
out sacrificing too much Of my maid.
emily mOdeSty. but when | was eighteen
he was thirty-one 1t might have been
easier had | been sure that he wanted
me. But how can Il girl know that a
man wants her till he asks her?
One day In looking over mothers
papers l came upon a letter she had
written to my aunt her sister, that
had been returned to me after moth.
ers death. In it she said: II have
made will In Luella's favor and have
made Nathan Griggs executor and
guardian. | have done this hoping
that he will continue managing her es.
tate as her husband. / have said moth
ing Of this, however, 10 either Of them,
for In such cases the sureSt way to
defeat design is to try to bring 1t
about. l rather rely OH my observa-
ton that they fancy each other"
1 spent long while thinking out a |
plan by which to use this letter to |
overcome Nathan's scruples. Gather. |
ing some business letters that found |
to and from mother and placing this |
letter l have mentioned among them,
| sent them to Nathan with q note in |
which l suggested that they might be
of importance to the estate and that |
1t might be well for him to look them
over carefully.
What did he do but return them TO
me, saying that he had read them all
and they were of no impor-
lance in business wayi
l was no nearer my object than be.
fore.
Well, the day arrived when l was
eighteen. and Nathan came to turn
over my property to me- 1t lad be-
come evident to me that if | wished
TO break down his scruples l must
throw argument to the winds and use
feminine methods. He spread a lot
If papers on table, and we sat down
tide by side that he might Instruct me.
was not thinking of the papers or
he instructions; l was thinking of
far nearer my heart.
The more lie explained the less un.
lerstOOd / kept hitching my chair
learer to his till we could be no near
IT. Then. pretending that the figures
we're so minute | had difficulty in see
ng them, | leaned sidewise till my
hOulder touched Nathan'S. In this
way crowded him to the outer edge
# his chair. and he could not move
arther. My hair was done in a tumul-
uous fashion, and loose strand
RACED his cheek
He went on explaining, but 1t did
OF take ME long to see that his mind
raS no more on the papers than was
nine. At last | succeeded in grazing
is check with mine.
He broke down at this and went all
} pieces. Putting his arms around
lie. he kissed me and said:
"Luella, when you sent me those let
ars of your mothers you unintentiOn-
lily included one that expressed a de-
ire on her part that should continue
he care of your estate as your hus-
and. | have loved you ever since
OH were a little girl and might have a,
I'D you so before this had not your
other turned you and your fortune {.
FER to me in trust. 1t has not seemed q
Dnorable TO me to- I
"Yes. know all that" interrupted, /
Inpatient at having TO draw him out. G
iou have been very unjust and very [
upid. You have wished to turn this c
tate over to me. knowing that l can't
anage it. You should be ashamed of d
,urSelf." Y
well, sweetheart, ] didn't intend
at. But wasn't it fortunate that you e