The Owosso times., 1916-04-28
How She
Proposed
A Story For Leap Year
Dy ELINOR MARSH

kgn excited considerable attention
Ef2le dwelling upon the suttee, the
glfss showing great indignation ut the
Annzolation OF a widow on her hus.
AAszgs funeral pyre. A hundred pens
snssiGE down the lecture scratched
ss-GeIy on as many notebooks. From
Gsie sslrsee he passed to the products of
afe eSnntry. and the pen scratching fell
@T so perceptibly that the professor
wus admonished that he was losing
Ais hold on the interest of his class.
RE Kept a number of slips. on each of
which was written some bit of infor-
RriBOn calculated TO attract the atten.
&sU Of young women. and, taking up
Ixse, ne iHterpolated it into his lecture
Among the singular marriage GUS
zsxrs of different people there is one
Es India which is very delicate"
EVsFy pen Of the hundred young
EEies began to send forth a sympa-
thecke sound.
a father will hold his daughter for
q yGice to be paid by the suitor before
2ayriage. Al parent having a very
aex9tisul daughter or being able to
sHssIs ON, her q large dOwry will some
rsnes put so high price on her that
sws young men as desire her cannot
,1fsssa to pay it. This makes a market
shr narriageable women. Widows may
ne aRs2 at very low price"
& hum Of expressions Of amusement,
Uqyobation or dissatisfaction inter
wgeesf the lecturer.
When a father finds that he has
5esa holding his daughter too high and
WITCHES. so to speak, to put her on the
Bargain counter [laughterl he docs not
eaak card to her OIL which is written
Special as would be done in America
a We had any such marriage custom.
Nc adopts II much more poetic method.
Ee marries her to bouquet Of flowers
1uti throws her husband into Il well.
Since he must be drowned the bride
asctancs q widow. This is a notifica
5fSs to the young men that she may
Se had cheap
Professor Poland, who was young
S.san OF twenty-seven, paused and show
saR 81 white set of teeth under his dark
xHRstache in a smile which was mean.
IN re 4 partial unbending from his pro-
NssSiOnal dignity. \ ripple Of amuse-
zaeent passed over his auditors. and he
xssS about to return to finish Of the
sGSsiucts of India when Belle Halliday.
aRe Of those girls who go TO college to
"a eT surplus stock of mischief.
'Ecsse 10 ask question. Professor Po-
And paused and looked at her inquir-
ihgfy.
This being leap year." she said. 1T
scSurs to me that this wedding to the
tewers might be used by girl as q
2etdate way of proposing to the man
s& her choice. 1t would he equivalent
40 saying. L may be had for song:
asxy n-e.'"
The class Uttered. The professor
aso8ed at the ceiling. then made the
FNalowing reply:
Your method, Miss Halliday. would
aroiye n knowledge on the part Of the
1x1xn proposed to of the Indian custom
IN question, which he would not be
lzkesy to possess.
A0h. didn't think OF thatv' And
Kiss Halliday sat down in pretended
eS0fusion. But If there was any con-
EEsion in the matter it was with the
3rofsssor, who was at the disadvan-
EMge ef being one man among many
wSmen. He made an attempt to smile.
6fD went on with his lecture. but did
Et again strike anything as interest
Es, SO mis- class as the matter of q girl
'afIlg. welded to bunch Of flowers and
str husband being thrown into q we'll.
Professor Poland's lecture was deliv-
yrea in February, and Miss Belle Hal
taiy was graduated in the following
Ebne at the foot of her class. AS has
zceR said, she did not go to college to
4;9dy, but TO have a good time She
." xs philosophlc about it. "Why should
~ make grind of myself when all the
rsrss of the class are grinds? If spent
M time studying. who would do the
ae iAry2 If I were destined to make
nay living as a teacher would need to
apply myself. But I'm not to teach;
Tm to be married"
Got him picked out. Belle?" asked a
'seRm.
Yes
HAS he proposed?"
No. and | don't expect him to pro-
x'se. This Is leap year, and intend
~ do The proposing myself"
Going to be married to q bunch of
xewers and throw your husband In a
raN!-
Maybe"
The chief reason underlying Miss
RxIliday's indisposition to make a
syiad of herself she did not mention.
Ess father was a rich man, and she
IVES nm only child. Besides what prop
ssy she might expect from him. she
possessed a fortune in her own right.
aSsrited from grandmother. Indeed.
n would be difficult to find q reason
Why she should. like the busy bee, i'm
y>gwe each shining hour over dead Ian
sssRges, mathematics or philosophy for
x65ch she would have little or no use,
xinrc the probability of her coming to
xszt was very remote.
Eai Miss Halliday was bright enough
- cet what she wanted, and in one re-
z~est she knew very well what she