Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1887 — A Leap-Year Episode. [ARTICLE]

A Leap-Year Episode.

They were seated in the parlor, and the clock had struck the hour of ten. They were an economical young couple, never utilizing but one chair for both to sit upon, and he always clasped his arms about her waist to prevent her from falling off. The young lady was handsome, and she was exceedingly clever, as the sequel will show, while her male companion was as stupid as a goose. She Mias rather tall and slenjler, had bright blue eyes, rosy cheeks, blonde hair, and invariably wore a mauve-colored silk dress. They had discussed the weather probabilities, her papa’s rheumatic paralysis, her mamma’s neuralgia, and all other stereotyped topics, interspersed now and then with a long-drawn sigh, or a kiss, and the conversation began to drag wearily on. At last a bright idea entered her little head, whereby she could infuse interest into the evening’s entertainment, and, besides, bring a very important point before the court. She said: — “Did you every study palmistry?” “Well, Nellie, I’ve studied mostly all of the classics,” he replied, “but I can’t Say I devoted any time to that branch. Of what does it treat?” “Why,” murmured Nellie, “it is an art whereby yon can tell a person’s future by examining the palm of the hand. Would you like to know your future ?”

“I haven’t the slightest objection.” She took his hand gently in hers and, after making a careful diagnosis of the creases in it, said:— “You come of a long-lived family; your grandfather lived to be 82 years of age and your grandmother 75; your father and mother are still living—” “Why, Nellie,” interrupted--George, “I told you all of that the other night.” “Well, that does not make the slightest bit of difference. I could inform you of the fact by this art, supposing you had never told me anything about it. But pardon the digression. You will probably live to be 71 years of age,* or thereabouts; you are desperately in love with a sweet young girl, but too bashful to pop the momentous question; there are two or three suitors for /her hand, but she is yours, and your* only (sighing); she loves you, dear George, with* that maddening flame which can only be the luscious fruit of a trusting young heart; she would make you a good -wife (pressing his hand softly); in sickness she would be ever found at your bedside caring for you, and you could not do better than marry her; she is tall and slender, has bright blue eyes, rosy cheeks, blonde hair, dresses in mauve-colored silk ” “Stop!” shrieked George, “I can stand it no longer. Will you be mine?” And she be-mind.