, 1881-12-23
4 straight. FlnNh.

diallV shook my hand. hat my
friend Wrayburn." he said, ''and-are
Won engaged? No? Walk with me out
side. and I'll tell you little true story.
So we walked outside, and he began
without ceremony.
at was a good number of years ago
that John Wrayburn and took Il moon
light walk through the sleepy, foliage
choked streets of little town IN Maine.
1t was about nine o'clock; We were on
our wav home from college, and had an
honr before the arrival of our train.
Hold onr said John. suddenly pull
ing me within tie shadow of great tree;
lets see what they'll do He pointed
to two figures that had just appeared on
the vine covered porch of a house We
were about to pass.
.''Want 10 see what they'll do p said l,
under my breath.
Yes; they re lovers, said John, in a
whisper.
"'How do you know?'
Instinct-O ye gods! look at thatr
exclaimed John.
"Well, it was picture 1t was Romeo
and Juliet, you know, in the powerfully
clear. white moonshine 1t was a pretty
embrace, some indistinct talking, little
laughter, and half a dozen kisses, per-
haps. And 'Jove! Jover / could hear
John say.
"'Sagr I said at length, come onr'
my friend stared at the porch and did
not hear me.
"'Cnme onr whispered guiltily.
"'Wait wait minutep begged John.
$50 we waited. We waited till Romeo
actually sprang down the steps and
pushed the gate open. before we pre-
pared to be off Then Romeo gave a
peculiar little whistle, the lady shook
kiss from her fingers, and John uttered
fond kind of groan. Next We knew,
We had fingered too long. Romeo bore
down upon us with such velocity, we
were forced TO stay under our tree. A
trying moment was passed in safety, the
mans footsteps soon died away, the
maiden went in out of sight, and We
tarried under the tree.
"'Sayp said John, desperately, that
fellow looks like me- John was wicked.
That fellow has on a dark suit and a
straw hat, continued John. His face is
smooth, tool saw it under the moon
II waited obviously.
"'He's my height. too declared
John, straighteuing-'and my build
''And still / listened.
"'Why don't you say something?'
asked John
'''You say something, said l.
''Well, / will; in less than ten min
utes L m going to kiss the lady in that
house.
".You dare notr declared I.
doosY
mo answered I.
"'You dare notP breathed John, his
eyes swapping.
81 expect that did the work; it is the
only way can explain it. The very next
moment found us sneaking up to that
porch. What Johns plans were I had
not the slightest idea. l did not know
as he had any plans. 1 only knew we
had confused sort of desire to see John.
somehow, put through We found it an
enclosed and decidedly roomy porch,
with corner as dark as Egypt.
I'm at your service I mumbled.
groping after John in this corner.
Very well, he whispered solemnly.
tumbllng over an old settee. viii Won
hide yourself here, please?'
Without even word of inquiry I
-crouehed down behind it. John stepped
to the door, and boldly gave a perfect
imitation of the whistle we had heard
from Romeo. Quickly and fondIy came
the fairy footsteps, and 1 saw John step
further into the dark The door few
open, lamp-light mixed with the moon.
and-'1 see your cried melting roguish
voice, and her waist was encircled by
Johns arm.
For the first time in my life I was as
sailed with chills and fever. Nv heart
was trying to jump ont of my mouth. I
looked at my surroundings, took in nv
position. and humbly prayed to die.
melting voice.
Ieonld see Johns outline as stiff as n
statue; perhaps. like me, he was slowly
turning to stone.
Mhat doyou want?' she asked.
1ohn bent his head, and heard his
TWO S words IN a whisper: a kiss
Inc melting voice rang right out in
iaugnter. %, you old sentimental. out
mere IN the dark! Married the whole of
a year, and whlstling ont here for a kissl
hA' ma, haI and she reached her arms mn
around John and gave him a distinctly
square KISS. The moment she did il.
Tlnd, the instant she did it, I saw a
ehlld IN the house broke out SCREAMING
%, babyr cried the melting voice as
she nuttered away from John. In the
'"lnKlng OF an eye she was gone.
1on see how it was. That was her
iaWiul child-Romeo was her husband
Sono down toWn-perhaps for his even
ing paper. Twas an awfnI state ng
affairs. 1ui s'a'e Oh
we'll presume it was full twenty
minutes before Wrayburn and fonnd
time to speak to each other T Son't
tL nno~ as We would have spoken then, ,onIy
that John fell down. we seemed - ~
IN vegetable garden, and INV friend lav s
on his back. -ii0n" 4@y
he asked, feebly. ''' AouSe'
told hlm thought seven miles.
re We lslalu a..L-I - -.