Smyrna times., 1883-09-05
Kissing in the Twilight.

$50 you think Mr.. Claiborne fine
looking, Minnie?" said one of group
of girls in Summer boarding house to
a friend who had arrived but the day
before. 81 thought he would be likely |
to suit your tastes"
Fine looking! That does not half |
express it. think him just splendid!" |
exclaimed Minnie Moore, with genuine |
enthusiasm. "But only to think of |
his having a daughter as old as | am!
Upon my word, can't believe it,"
You'll believe it, perhaps, when
you see her." laughed another one,
Sallie Ross. "She is spending the sea-
son at Long Branch, but runs down
here every Saturday night and spends
Sunday with her father. They are
wonderfully fond of each other, and
kiss and go on like two lovers"
GOOD graciOus!" said Minnie, draw
ing a long breath. "How I should
like to- mean-girls, don't you some
times envy his daughter"
"YOu meant" corrected sharp-wit-
ted Kittie Hurst, chow you should
like to kiss him yourself. Doit, Min !"
"Yes, do it, Minnie, do it, | dare
you !' cried half-a-dozen merry girls in
breath.
"You know l never take q dare,
girls" cried Minnie, her roguish, hand
some face turning crimson: "but in
this case l fear | shall have to show
the white feather"
"Hear! hear!" cried all the girls in
chorus. "Minnie Moore doesn't dare
to play practical joker'
"Yes, would dare" cried the little
witch, defiantly, "but how could man
age it?"
Nothing easier" said Katie Hurst.
"You have only to sit in the dusky
parlOr few minutes before the arrival
twilight. Then, when the gentleman
enters, he will go straight to your
corner, of course, supposing you to be
his darling daughter. Then, at the
same instant, you will rush toward
him, pretending to think he is your
father, whom you are expecting. And
then-yOu get the kiss"
"Oh," cried Minnie, putting her
hands up to hide her blushing face at
the last suggestion, "my conscience
won't allow me. | am not expecting
any father"
The girls all laughed derisively.
"pve known your conscience to
!, stretch further than that on more than
one occasion, Min," said Rachel War
den. Come, will you dare do it, OF
will you not?"
81 will dare anything, and you know
! it; but you must solemmly vow never
to betray me-"
They all sOlemnly vowed and the
plans were laid forthwith.
\
1t was just dusk on a lovely Summer
evening. The country boarding-housC
where our scene is laid was overhuns
by the dropping branches of some fine
old elms, whose thick foliage deepeneC
the gathering shadows in the unlighteC
parlor. A tall, handsome man of mid
die age, whom Minnie had well de
scribed as splendid looking" walked
quickly up the path leading from tn
gate. q happy light in his dark eye
and IL smile of glad expectancy curvin;
the rare, beautiful lips, shaded, but no
hidden, by a heavy, dark mustache.
Il think the train must be in" h
was saying to himself, "or else my i'm
patience makes me think it late.
hope she won't disappoint me thi
> evening-my little darlingw
Another moment and he was With
:. the flOwer-Scented, dusky parlol
where curled up in the depths of
large arm chair in the furtherest corn
er, and half hidden by the windo,
drapery, sat girlish form whose hear
&c was beating like a trip-hammer. II
ly lS advanced at once, with outstretche
" arms, close to the darkened recess.
III "My dearest childw
a a ooh, papar'
And the next instant the little figuI
= was clasped close to his heart, and M
! only one kiss, but perfect shower
them, fell eagerly upon her brow al
~ cheek and dewy, blushing lips.
Butsuddenly there was little shriel
a startled we'll feigned look of horrt
- in the girls uplifted face, and breakir
lSt away from his restraining arms, 81
hid her crimson cheeks in both viii
hands and faltered out:
"Oh, let me go, sir, this instant o
what shall 1 do? Ill thought
was papaW
, So she did, the little fraud, but 81
knew perfectly we'll that it was anoth
JIG girls papa" whom she meant.
at is 1 who should beg pardon, n
dear young lady," said the gentlema
who had stepped back, and was 81
veying the lovely, shrinking lit
creature with a queer admixture
amusement, embarrassment and pit
ing admiration in his beautiful eyes.
But ere the words had fairly left
lips Minnie was gone, and throwi
ves herself down upon the bed in her ON
'rk- little room she buried her hot chez
to among the cool, white pillows, a
gave way to passionate burst
tears.
re- 81 never will do such wild, lido
Q trick again-never! l don't care h,
much the girls will laugh at me
backing out. Oh, could just die
modification shall never, neN
led. have the courage to look him In I
face againW
We 1t was, indeed, several days befC
iy Minnie was herself again. In
- meantime Miss Claiborne had co
and gone, and Minnie, watching fir
the window, had seen the pretty, st
ish young lady promenading in
e0 grounds on the arm of her handso
u father, and she had no doubt that
was even then laughing at the story
her own foolish escapade,
When at last the unavoidable me
6. ing between Mr.. Claiborne and her;
took place Minnie's saucy eyes W
timidly downcast, and q guilty co
dyed her face from forehead to CT
dis. To save her life she could not M
those eyes, which she felt were read
her very soul and laughing at her C
fusion.
But, on the contrary, Mr.. Claibo
tried so kindly to.make her forge
and led the conversation so skillft
in his own easy way from one SUBJ
to another of deep interest to Min
that before the evening was half G
she could look up into his face
smile almost as naturally as tho
My that miserable, madcap adventure
- never been; and in week or two {
=. were the best of friends,
-- uMiss Minnie" said he one even
,..u the very last before the breaking &
aHh eummer boarders, do you remen
our singular introduction 70 each Q
=, III this very roomYH
,u~ Did she remember? Minnie gIa'
|T8. around, and the parlor, In its d.
ryra solitude, with the breath Of late !