The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-01-16
CANNON'S KISS.
Unwritssn History ofths Z, ?. A.
CHAPTER. /.

and desolafc wilderness, q single Pc
dsstrian 10 seen vending his way
along one OF the principle thorough.
fares Of Henderson, Ky, Wrapped
in thought and n heavy overcoat,
he picks his way along the muddy
slrests,, until he reaches the steps
leading to the upper story OF q brick
building on Main street. Here he
pauses and gives a shivcring tramp q
two dollar and 4 half gold piece,
! thinking il a copper cent, and VIC
catch . glimpse Of his features By the
Fight OF the street lamp, as Ne turns
TO receive the thanks of the iiincrani
pedestrian. There IL a Wilde. hag.
gard look about his eyes,and a grave.
yard expression upon hIs counie
hanec, anahe has ever! appearance
of man IN the last stagcs Of hope
less case Of love. RE sppears to bc
laboring under soHv mental bur.
den, and the expression apon his face
makes him look like \ defested can
didate or q man who 10 contcmpla
ting suicide or matrimony. lie took
out his chrOnometer, vulgarly calle,
watch, and as he glanced at il ht
uttered, or rather muttered, the word,
with which this narrative begins
Slowly he asccndcd the steps lesdips
10 bis apartm ents, and attempted tt
unlock the door with shoe buttoncr
Failing TO do this he gave the door :
kick, and then after furnbling In hi
pocket for the key, entered and
stumbled oyera couple OF chairs, al
the time saying over In sweeI
Voice the golden text of his las, Sun,
day school lesson. As soon as be
couldlight a lamp he'sAt himself
down and svliliquized:
81 went there Tonight resolved tc
kiss that girl or die. Fool.like Ipu'
It of until the last moment, and then
my courage failed and let another
golden opportunity pass. verify
believe ! AIN as bashful as q Cincin.
natl drummer; the very thought Of
kissing girl makes my hair stand
on emil. But it must be DONE" said
-, rising and pacing the floor, iii
must be done. There can be no love
affair successfully conducted without
kissing, and | win take Fahrenheit
Young's advice and Kiss her the
next time I see her, 'peaceably II
can, forcibly If | must, as sure 90 my
name is Tom Cannon" Having made
this resolve, and read a chapter in
the Life ofthc James Boys, he sank
into a peaceful slumher, and did not
awake until the ringing Of the church
bells announced that another Sab
bath had como. Rising from his
couch he washed his eyes in pan OF
wet water, and then going to his desk
he laid Ills hand upon the open pages
of a South kcntuckian, and regis
tered an oath TO carry out the resolu-
ton made, before he closed his eyes
in sleep.
CHAPTER II.
"Sit still my heart, at still"
3 II was the close of cold and blus.
tertug Sabbath, In the IN onth of De-
ceml,er. The shades OF evening were
gather ing about the fast moving fly
ure of Thomas Lilac Cannon, as he
hurried slO Wy towards the mansien
.hat contained all that was dear to
Il n. There was look OF fixed de-
in his counienance and
nam Z Of ca ramols in his overcoat
rocket. JHe reached the door, and as
.e gaze the bell jerk he spoke the
words reco rdcd above. lie stood a
moment Ike one posing for picture,
md then abe door was opened and ho
vas ushers 4 into the parior OF h,s
lnleiaes. But moment elapsed and
. fair aud lovelv creature glided into
he.roo,n, and advancedto where he
was standing, placed Ter little white
,aad in his brawny fs., and with
he rornark, II avn SO glad to zee you,'
he pitched him on enraptnring
smile of the facial species-which
iHea him with elreryescing ecstacy.
As@h, for HOLLANDS nerve, Wood
,on's,cheek, or Young's audacity."|
Ihougas Cannon, as ne realized that
The ,iaie Ind come am! The ripened
fruit was waiting 10 be plucHed. The
girl held in her hand a lovely tube
rose which she had brought TO pin
upon the lapel of Lie coat before
they started to church. sAs she tip
toed to reach his shoulder, she looked
up into his face wiIh.a bewitcbing IL
to.kiss.me- now is-
yonr.time glance, and Cannon deter
mined to do or die With nigh.
ty effort, he closed his eyes, and
threw his arms about her slender fg-
ure, and imprinted vigorous kiss
upon her ruby lips. A moment
more and a wild cry of pain broke
the stilln. 50 of the parlor, and Can
non sank into a chair and bit his
bleeding lips VIII, anguish In the
blindness OF his im2otuesiiy he had
not noticed that she held In her