Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-05-27


laughed Dora. 81 think youmight
kiss Helen as well as me. She Is
my sister; have adopted her, and
you ought to kiss her."
81 fear she might object to that
Ralph answered, laughing, his dam
gerous eyes bringing the blood to
Helen's cheeks. Nothing more
was said on the subject, and the
evening passed pleasantly.
At ten Helen said she must go;
so Ralph had the carriage brought
around and drove her home. Just
before he reached the gate he found
the carriage wrap had slipped down,
and put his arm around Helen to
adjust it. Put his arm around her
and did not take it away. She
glanced up, and met bis dark eyes.
"Kiss me-" he whispered, his head
bent down until she could feel his
breath upon her cheek. She hesi-
tated, but remembering his wife's
words, lifted her lips till they met
his in long, long lingering kiss.
Yes, his wife had told him to kiss
her, and yet neither would have
liked that wife to witness the kiss
he gave her. GA kiss of friend
Ship" Helen said but both knew
that no mere friend ever gave an
other a kiss like that. A kiss
which sent every drop of blood in
her body leaping through her veins
and burning in her checks kiss
which kept her awake half the
night, and when she did sleep haunt
ed her dreams with its burning fer
vor Oh, yes! it was kiss Of
friendship. Kisses of friendship
are often exchanged between fas-
cinating married men and hand
some young ladies.
The kiss was repeated at their
next meeting, which was in Ralph's
home, but somehow both chose o
time when Dora was out of the room.
People were beginning to talk by
this time. One was saying to an
other that at didn't look well for
that young teacher to be flirting
with married man." Another
wondered what Mrs. Hinman
thought about it and Helen's
cousin heard these things and told
Holen of them. So Helen went to
Mrs. Hinman and asked her if she
objected to her riding with Ralph.
"People are beginning to trouble
themselves about it, she explained,
sand thought you were the one to
object, if any,"
"Object Why bless you," cried
the simple Dora, 81 like to have
you and Ralph sociable. Ishall
object if you are not, and it is no
body's business but mine"
Helen concluded that people
were talking about what did not
concern them, and out of spirit of
independence flirted more than ever
with Ralph Hinman. And now
whenever they were alone, the kiss
or the kisses, instead Of being the
exception, were the rule: They
grew longer and sweeter, and the
clasp of the arm which accompani-
ed them was not he cares of
friend. 1t was passionate, lover
like embrace. Helen Traver's very
soul was becoming bound up in
Ralph Hinman. She was restless
and unhappy out of his presence
flushed, animated, glowing, when
with him. And yet she told her
self it was only friendship. The
weeks went by. People talked
more and more, and at last the af-
fair was in everybody's mouth.
One evening they were riding to-
gether. 1t was almost a year since
their first meeting. They met a
woman who stared rudely at them.
"One Of the gossips,' Helen
said, "Who has all she can do to
take care Of us, Mr.. Hinman."
Eyes, ] hear people are becoming
worried about us" Ralph laughed.
They. were nearing wood road.
He slipped his arm about her and
looked down upon her with pas
sionate eyes. "Do you know what
| wish 2" he said. "I wish their
words were true. / wish you did
love me rs / love you. Hush do
not try to stop me. love you as L
never loved woman before, with
all my heart and soul and strength.
Darling, go with me-be mine, give
yourself to me, body and soul
He pressed her to his heart and
kissed her passionately on her
mouth. She clung to him, sobb-
ing and shivering. 1t was de-
light to listen to his words of love,
yet they frightened her. She would
not consent to his proposal then.
But ere a week had flown she did
consent. She could not give him
up, and ne told her it must either
be final separation or she must go
with him. So she went. 1t caused
n great scandal. People said, al
told you So" and Mrs. Hinnan was
nearly crazed. She went back to
her parents with her children, and
Ralph and Helen werc seen no
more in Chiffon. But two years
later Ralph returned to his wife.
He begged to be restored to her
favor again, and she--remember
how simple she always .was--took
him back. Helen, he said, was