Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-12-17
OLD SERIES, VOL. 25, NO. l3.

Il VIII make III SNORT DY choosing ROSe
Lawton for my judge" he replied, laughing
and gancing up into the smiling eyes of the
! little beauty.
"Your chastsement shall ne to confess
! whom YOU kissed last" said she gaily
THAT is not fair" he said.
"Why p" she demanded quickly.
Because" said he, "the lady is present
and the punishment would rather fall upon
her than me-" Whorcupon they all burst
into merry laugh.
"Well, then, you can tel whom you in
| tend to kiss next" said Rose.
THAT will not do eithcrn said he. 81
should never be able to put my intentions
| into effect"
"Do you keep an accoun. of your kisses
as you do your expenses, Chcston ~ called
out Maynard.
Yes" replied Cheston, quietly.
Now | have it !" cried. Rose LGwton.
"You shall tell us how many ladies you
! have kissed during the last five years.
81 will do so on condition that my word
shall not be doubted" he said, gravely.
I'VE will believe you, certainly said
Rose "Now listen, good folks"
Not one," said Mr. Cheston, quietly :;
upon which everybody looked astonished.
"Oh, MIR. CheSton, you amaze us u cried
Rose
"llugh is probably faithful to some fair
lady who favored him BEFORE" said Mr..
Anslie, who had been listening quietly for
few moments.
Exactly" said Mr.. Cheston, rising with
a bow and turning away to some one who
called him impaticntly.
oh, the significant glances and exclama-
tions of wonder that were circulated through
the group after his departure!
"And what are you thinking of, little
mouse" said Mrs. Wilson, bending toward
me. Your cheeks are as led as roses"
She would have been overwhelmed with
astonishment if had told her.
Three weeks passed, and Mr. Cheston and
[ were on no more intimate terms than we
had been on that first evening. We rarely
met except at the table or in the drawing
| room of an evening, and he seldom address
ed me when we did meet. BY degrees
overcame my shyness and sensativencss re-
garding him. He had forgotten, l thought,
the romantic incident of my childhood,
! which had always had such charm for me-
! and | wondered at myself for ever supposing
! that he mad remembered it beyond the mo-
nent. 1t made me a little sad to know
that all my pleasant thoughts concerning it
were castless in the air, and slightly humilia-
| ting, taken in connection with his polite in
! difference to me, to know that those
| thoughts were so many.
y Mr.. Cheston was great lion among the
| party at "1he Naples" The ladies liked
| him; the gentlemen were jealous of him
! while they strove to immitate him. Every
body talked of him; everybody admired
him, either secretly or openly.
The summar wore gradully away. Sever
! a n ON hn1 rptn pI
clear September morning Mr Cheston in
| formed Mr.. Anslie ut the breakfast table
that he should be obliged to return to town
! the next morning. 1t frightened me to
/ know how shocked and panied | was, and
at the first opportunity rose and left the
| room.
That evening, when the drawing room
was deserted by the few that remained of
the gay company, and / could hear their
voices far down the moonlit park, stro!led
into the dark, silent room, and sank upon a
cushioned seat Instantly some one started
up in the dusky light, and coming forward
sat beside me. 1t was Mr.. Cheston.
Matte" said he, II intend going away
before six O'Clock tomorrow morning, and
shall probably not see you again" l did
not reply, and he continued-"ITaven's a
right to ask for goodbye kiss r.
The light was not so dim but that
could see a laughing light in his eyes.
"You have the right which the promise
Of a child gives you, suppose" | replied
somewhat annoyed by his light manner. Il
was so little for him to say goodbye to me
/, 1t was so much for me to say goodbye Il
him.
"a child in years you certainly were
Matte, but more of a woman at heart thar
I thousands twice Vour aucn said he "D(
you know that you made conquest Of me
| little one, when you kissed me upon til,
terrace in the darkness that night Z"
"A conquest 7" l said, startled.
II carried that kiss away with me-" h
, replied II love the remembrance of it rs
dld my life. would not have parted will
it for all the wealth in the world, for it wa
a sweet hope on which hung all my Light o
the future. The lips of no other woman
have pressed to mine since then. | said t.
myself that, until kissed another, your kis
remained. Do you understand" 2"
5 My eyes were full Of tears, bat tried t
y smile.
you were 4 sweet clild, Matte" he con
C tinued, "and have grown into a sweet woma
0 such woman that have been waiting t
D find that might marry. Now ask for tha
promised kiss, and ityou give it to Inc sha
n take it for granted that you give me yourse
0 with it,"
c Mr.. Cheston was sure ofwhat had ncyC
: acknowledged to myself-my love for him
t felt in the confident clasp of his arm sa
: it in the confident glances of his eye; an
4 content that he should read The heart
Z which he was SO certainly the master, acte
+ my simple selfaud gave him THE Promise
G Kiss"