Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-04-19
A STOLEN KISS.

1t was gi cen, basky dell, in the leafy
woods, where the ardent splendors Of the
sun never penetrated, where the brook
tinkled over the pebbles musically, and
the birds warbled happily until nightfall.
1t was the last day of Eugene Marshall's
two weeks vacation from the city, and he
had spent it until now, , o'clock, out OF
doors, feeling the aroma of the fresh green
world rising round him like grateful in
cense, and heaving more than one sigh rs
he thought of what tomorrow would
bring.
He paused suddenly in his headlong
progress down the declivity. a little to
the right, seated on the moss-covered
roots of 4 towering oak, sat girl, her
head reclining against the trunk of tree,
asleep. it seemed, by her motiohless atti-
tude.
lie held his breath and drew little
nearer, charmed by the oval face that
looked so fair and delicate in repose, with
dark, straight brows and soft brown hair
clinging in damp rings about her brow.
Evidently she had rambied about until she
was thoroughly tired. One cmbrowned
but shapcly hand lay lightly upon the
brim of her daisy-wreathed glpsy hat,
which was looking rather the worse for
country wear. The other rested in her
lap.
'She is one of the guests at tho
Squire's," lie thought, noting the city
fashion of her dress, and the high-heeled
Kid boots, likewise defaced by hard usage.
He had not cared to come in contact with
them. "Foolish, frivolous butterflies"
he had told himself when he had seen
them riding past the quiet farmhouse
where he had taken board.
But this unconscious face drew him ir-
rcsistibly towards 1t, 4 wistful, hungry
look in his thoughtful gray eyes, an un-
confessed yearning in the region OF the
heart. Just such n sweet womanly face
he had sometimes pictured in wakcful
midnight hours rs nesting to his breast,
lust such round arms as these closing low
ingly about his neck.
The recollection of what might not be
for him who chose duty rather than pleas
ure, causes little wave OF sadness to
sweep oyer his spirit as lie looked. GLOW
Iwish could kiss her check, y he thought,
feeling at the same time sort of boyish
shame, for though he was man of thr-
ty-fiye lie had never kissed any woman
except his mother and sister, both Of
them dead years ago.
He drew nearer 70 her, the yielding
moss deadening his footsteps. The for
bidden fruit seemed more than tempting.
"Just one kiss" he thought, 'to carry
away with me"
81 should remember this messy dell,
and sleeping beauty, and the stolen kiss
for weeks and weeks after 1 have gone
back to my hot, dingy office, my hard,
stern post of duty. She sleeps 80 soundly
it will not waken her."
The brook babbled loudly. "Do and
dare, for one sweet kiss" A mellowed
sunbeam played around her head like an
aureola rs he bent forward and touched
her cheek lightly with his lips.
A robin who had watched the audacious
proceeding, alighted upon bush close By
and sounded i musical note OF warning.
Quick as thought Marshall had withdraw
behind a cluster of bushes, whence he
could see her eyes open in startled sur
prise, her timij glances all around, her
hand passed over her check doubtfully.
Then she put on her hat, and moved qui-
etly down the dell towards an opening in
the meadow. And Marshall stole away
in the opposite direction under the cool
woodland shadows to dream Of the face, to
remember the stolen kiss, with strange,
unreasoning gladness.
The next day he was back to his home
in the suburbs Of the city, where lac had
left his crippled, half imbecile brother,
who was the victim Of terrible accident
seven years ago, in care OF their middle
aged plain-faced but faithful housckeeper.
And he took up the burden Of life again,