The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-21
The Euening Story
Leap Year Proposals.


Hope Landing shut the door Of the
teachers room softly, but firmly, and
gave the key surreptitious turn. She
looked around cautiously, then started
OF count noses. Were all herei" 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 a plan an it's just a peach!
Hope did a little jig.
The others glanced at one another
with understanding. Another of Hopes
departures from the proper path of
dignity laid out for pedagogues in pub
lie schools, They were accustomed to
such flights and listened tolerantly
and with no particular interest.
Hope glued her ear to the door of an
anteroom that led to the office. He's
not here yet, but he couldn't hear any
way She nodded reassuringly and
giggled. Hopes sense of humor was al
ways at work like a leaven and run
ming over. The upper-floor teachers
called it Stiffness.
"Of whom are you speaking?" in
quired Charity Brown precisely.
Him, of counsel The professor
We'll what about the professor?
.-He has just inherited a fortune.
girIs-a fortune-think of it! They
say it's nearly million dollars, or IT s
in pounds, 1 believe, for it's English,
| and they say there is a title that goes
with it But I'm not sure of that
The excitement caused by this re-
mark was obvious. Even the upper
| floor teachers crowded around the
center table to get all the wonderful
news.
sRut how do you know all this is
! (xanaVi6V0 Ira wis. who
had been a society bud before family
difficulties had arisen to nip her social
aspirations.
II can't tell that I'm not permitted,
but his lawyer and my cousin-oh:
| girls I can't say any more. And, OF
| course it may not be true But 1t
could be true, couldn't it, for some one
| to die and leave him lot of money
It's been done before, hasn't it 2"
'FYes-it's common enough, 1 be-
lieve." contributed Miss Brown a 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 Geneyieve. OF
still have something up your sleeve oil
1 miss my guess. If you don't hurry
| up and tell I believe you'll burst"
Hope giggeld again. ''Oh, don't yor
see, girls? He's not married." she
whispered dramatically.
"Wen!'' in chorus.
land it's leap year"
sudden silence fell upon the room
Hope looked triumphantly from one
to another. The effect of her new
was gratifying beyond her expecta
TONS Serena Hawkins was adjusting
a barette at the nape of her neck
Strengthened involuntarily, and Chart,
Brown was looking sentimentally gu
of the window.
Then bell began to ring and the.
heard a mans voice in the hall. 'W
must go now" said Hope. Its up t.
you girls to do the rest. But it seem
to me that fifteen young and attrac
tive women who pride themselves OF
having brains would be very foolish +
let a. million dollars and a cookbook
ing man get out of this building singh
and unpromised in leap year. Sh
Don't let another soul know or it will
spoil our chances. Two months yet
and let the best man wini" She open
ed the door and went out followed b
fourteen teachers who smiled guiltil
as they passed a man standing by hi
office door. John Aylmer locke,
after them quizzically The smiles ha,
not escaped him and he watched then
as they disappeared up stairways an
into doorways to get ready for tn
troops of young ideas now yelling il
the school yard.
Hope Landing went into numbe
four and he caught a flash of her eve
as the door closed. There was some
thing disturbing in that glance, am
he felt an uneasiness he could no
explain.
| Il suppose was bit hateful abou
things this morning. he reflected
Really, she's about the best teache
in the building and I didn't need to &c
nasty about the spelling. 1 though
| Sh6'0 hit when 7 fore those
pers. I wish L didn't feel so devIish ii
the morning when I've been out to ;
party the night before. Besides,
wish Judith would hurry up ant
! and make up her mind whether She
going to marry me or not. She keep
me dangling like a fish on a hook
, Darned if I'll stand it much longer