The Lincoln County herald., 1872-04-11
9HE PROMISED KISS.
by LETTICE THORPE.

have lost anything else in the world"
"Notexcepting your hearth" inquired a
gentleman standing near her.
"No, not even that; for, in such case,
[ should be sure Of finding an equivalent,
you know" she replied, with q saucy
glance.
"Well, now. Miss Harris, what will
you give me if agree to find the miss
ing ornament2"
"A kiss" she said, laughingly II can
not think of any richer recompcnse TO
bsstow upon you"
II will end that brooch, then, if have
to search on my knees from one end of
Brantford to the other"
"Well, sir, when you bring my precious
pin you shall receive tho promised re-.
ward"
"Better put it down in writing, Mr..
Markham" suggested another young lady
present, "or Minute will manage to slip
out of the bargain some way or other ="
II have perfect confidence in Miss
Harris" he replied. with very low bow,
as he left tho room.
"He will never 6nd it!' exclaimed
Minnie. II lost it coming along the
turnpiks road, which, you know, is al.
ways dusty"
He wiV find it," rejoined her com
panion. ~ never knew Henry Mark
ham to give up anything that he had
once undertaken, and he will bring it to
you just as sure as your name is Minnie
Harris, and then, young lady, you will
have to kiss him. Oh before [ would
offer to kiss gentleman would lose all
the brooshes in the world"
81 shall not kis. him, Miss Percy; so
you may spare all your injurious iusiuua
tious."
"Not kiss him7 Why it was a regu-
lar bargain ?"
l shall fulfil my bargain to the letter,
but l shall not kiss him or any other
man"
"You do not know Henry Markham if
you imagine any subtertuges will 20 down
with him. Heis not of tho spooney kind,
can tell you"
"Spooney or not spoonoy, shall not
kiss him, you may be very sure of that T.
The next day Minnie was summoned
to the parlor to see the same gentleman,
and, accompanied by her young lady
friend, she obeyed the summons.
"Herc," said he, "Miss Harris, is the
brooch, and now l claim my promised
reward u
"Certainly," she replied, with saucy,
defiant look coming into her face, "you
shall have it, but" waving him back as
he was approaching her-"I did not say
,ohen the reward would b. given There
was no particular time mentioned. you
know. y, | am ever and ever SO much
obliged to you for finding this dear little
pin again." end she pressed it in the
most aggravating way to her pouting
lips.
"Miss Harris" he asked, very gravely,
"do you really mean to say that i, is no.
your intention to ratify your part Of the
agreement2'
Certainly not" she replied, drawing
down her taco with an air of solemnity
that made him laugh in spite of his
annoyance, IL said nothing Of the kind
always ratify my agreements, aud there
fore shall do so in this case. | promised
to give you kiss, but did not say ,ohen. u
II told you, Mr.. Markham, !" inter
rupted Minnie's friend, Miss Percy, "tha,
you had better draw up an agreement in
writing, but you would not take my ad-
vice."
IL had such an unlimited faith in Miss
Harris word, you know" he said, giving
her a removing plancs
"Well, have not broken my promise
yet, have ~ she asked, poutiug her
red lips so tempting!y that the gentleman
felt strongly inclined to take his reward,
whether or no. But he did not like to
offend the capricious beauty, so he turned
the conversation aud said nothing more
about the promised kiss. They did not
meet again for several days, and then i,
was at an evening party, where, bending
toward her, he whispered softly fare
you ready now to give me my reward p
"Not here in this crowded room, hope
You certainly would not think of such q
thing"
20, no." he said, "wo con step out on
the balcony there"
"But it is SO cold" she objected, pro-
tending to shiver, land there is Mr.. Dal,
ton coming to claim me for the waltz |
promised him" and maxi mockng
reverence, she danced away.
This happened again and again. Every
time they met he asked the same ques.
ton, and received some mocking reply,
until his patience vas fast becoming OK
haused. But it kept them thinking con.
stantly Of each other. and when that is
the ease with two young persons, both
unusually attractive. the result may be
readily anticipated. Finally, be called
70 see her one evening. aud being 10.
formed Of his presence in the drawing.
room, she went to receive him with .
bright Gush on her cheeks. and ~ hes
band plate containing a pretty, tempt
log specimen of sugar confectionery.
"Thsrs IS your kiss. Mr.. Markham"
che ssid, feeling little frightened as she
mok tho otopoo ~ h,a oroot dork auea