The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-09-05
IA KISS IN THE DARK.


Mile Mason sat by the low, open
window, looking down into the quiet,
deserted street below.
Mile was one, of those sweet, loving
home-girls, with the bluest of eyes, th(
reddest of lips and saucy dimple in
either cheek; but the eyes were solemn
and fearful now, and the dimples were
folded away behind troubled, grieved
expression which Swallowed the young
face with an uhtimely [sorrow.l DU
"Oh, why don't he Gomez" she muir
INJURED, leaning far out of-the window,
and gazing anxiously down the dim,
star-lit street. A
A stredt lamp fickcred on a distant
corner, but the one nearest Miles
home had, for some reason, gone out,
and the shadows lay dark and deep in
that part of the street. II g.FF or
II do believe-yes, there he comes"
she added, q moment later, as tho tall,
square-built figure of young man
came hastily down the street. and ran
briskly up the front steps.
Applying his latch-key to the door.
he entered tho hail. - Y -.
The next instant something white
came fluttering down the stairs, with a
breezy rustic to its garments, and q
pathetic voice addressed him.
1T is almost twelve o'clock.
waited up SO that you wouldn't dis
turb-"
"Never mind. Sis" said merry
voice, which didn't sound one bit like
brother Franks.
But Mile decided, with sigh and a
heavy pain at her heart, that it was be-
cause he had been drinking.
q She must get him up to his room
without disturbing Uncle Paul, she
thought, anxiously, for Uncle Paul had
said that very day that Frank Mason
must ''change his ways" or find some
other home, and Frank had promised,
so earnestly, to reform, for Mile
sake.
If Uncle Paul should learn of this
mistake, he would never forgive him.
If she could only smuggle him into his
room without the "sharpened" old
mans knowledge. maybe he'd be more
careful in tho future. 81.
"You shouldn't have waited up for
me, SIS" said the young man, putting
his arms about her in q very brotherly
manner. NO" he added, as she turned
to ascend the stairs. ..you shouldn't
have come down them; you are not
strong enough yet. But since You did,
I'll carry you up"
He took her in his strong arms rs he
spoke, lifting her as lightly as if she
had been child of eight, instead of a
plump young lady of eighteen.
1t was such an unusual thing for
Frank to do. He was not very demon
strative in his affection for her, and
had never seemed especially careful or
tender of her. 49,. g-rf
Millio was actually frightened Mt his
unusual kindness and thoughtfulness;
but she did not dare demonstrate, for
fear of arousing Uncle Paul.
TO think that he should consider her
scarcely strong enough to come down
the stairs 10 meet him-she, who had
spent the greater part of her sweet, I'M
selfish life in waiting upon her lazy,
big brother!
OF course this unusual tenderness on
Franks part was wholly due to his
Northumberland condition.
But, as the strong arms carried her
safely to the top of the long stairs, q
delicious little thrill ran through her,
and she could not help wishing that
Frank would alw avs be like this in his
care for her.
''There you are, puss!" he said, put
ting her down at the top. ''Now for
my pay"
He lifted the girls face to his own
and kissed it, in the gloomy shadow of
the unlit passage.
Z Mile felt q crimson wave sweep over
it. Frank had never kissed her, except
after long separations, and then it was
more as an imperative duty than real
token of affection.
''You are the heaviest sick girl ever
carried upstairs, he said merrily, as
though it was common thing for him
to carry girls upstairs, and Mile knew
that the bashful fellow would have cut
his hand off sooner than have done 1t
when in his right mind.
AS for her being sick-the mere
thought brought smile to her lips, but
this was no place to dispute with her
brother in his present condition.
go to bed. SIS" he said, with q
tender solicitude in his tones, land
don't wait up for me again. You can't
afford to have your nights rest broken.
Only few moro weeks and this night
work will be over. L am doing tho
company good turn now, and they
are not the kind of men to forget it
either" " ~ NM N
He turned rs he spoke, and bidding
her goodnight, opened the door and
walked directly into the guest chamber.
Mile stood quite still in the dark,
and looked at the place where he had
disappeared from view. She could hear
him moving about the room, getting
ready for bed.
I'll have to manage to make the bed,
and straighten the room, before aunt
finds it out" she soliloquized. "She'd
know that Frank wasn't right, or he