ONE MORE LEAP YEAR EPISODE.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4898, 20 September 1884, Page 4

ONE MORE LEAP YEAR EPISODE.

were seated in the parlour, and the clock had struck the hour of ten (this clock never struck any more than ten on those evenings when court was in session). They were an economical young couple, never utilising hut one chair for both to sit upon, and she always clasped her arms about his fourteen and a half collar neck, to prevent her from falling off. To say that the young lady was hand some would not half express it, and she was exceedingly clever, as tbe sequel will lncidly show, while her male companion was' as stupid as a goose the day before Christmas. She was rather tall and slender, bad bright blue eyes, rosy cheeks, blonde hair, and invariably wore a mauyecloured silk dress. They had discussed the weather probabilities, her papa's rheumatic paralysis, her dear mamma's neuralgia, and all the other stereotyped topics, interspersed now and then with a long-drawn sigh, or a kiss, as she nestled closer to his manly bosom, 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 over study palmistry ?" " Well, .Nellie, I've studied mostly all of the classics," he replied. " but I can't say that I ever devoted any time to that branch. Of what does it treat?" " Shall I show you ?" "I haven't the slightest objp.ction." ■ She took his hand gently in hers, and after making a careful diagnosis of the creases in it said :

"You came of a long-lived family; your grandfather lived to be eighty-two years of age and your grandmother seven ty-five; your father and mother are still, living—■—" 1 " 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 seventy-one 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 band, but she is yours, and yours 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 bed side caring for you, and you could not do better than marry her; she ia tall and slender, h»s bright, blue eyes, rosy cheeks, blonde hair, dresses in mauvecoloured silk " "Stop.l" shrieked George, "I can stand it ho longer. Will you be mine ? And she be-rainded.