The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-10-31
A KISS IN THE DARK.
BY HOWARD GLYNDON.

BY HOWARD GLYNDON.
'sWiIl YOU be at home to night, An
nie?" The person who asked this
question, tall, muscular, good look
ing young farmer, was leaning upon
Squire MOore's front gate talking to the
sources pretty daughter, who stood
inside OF it. As the simple words
passed his lips he Redeemed suddenly
to the very roots Of his fair hair, as il
ne had been guilty OF some great I'M
prOprlety.
He was bashful-extremeiy bashful
was David WinthIo p-at least in the
presence OF young ladies, most of all in
the presence Of the girl he loved. No
young man in all Wilkes County owned
a better farm, or talked with more
confidence among his cronies of stock
and crops and such like But the sight
Of q pretty loot Orface coming his way
affected him queerIy. On such Occa-
siOnS he never knew what to do with
his hands and eyes. and seemed al
ways to feel ike screwIng himself into
the nearest mouse hole until the dan
ger-that is to say, the young lady
was past.
This state0 things being considered,
no one ever understood how he con
triyed TO muster upcourage enough to
enlighten Annie Moore on the subject
al his preference for herself The mat
ter probably remains to this day as
much mystery to him as it is to
others
Miss Aauie, however, had fair share
Of tact ana Womanly cleverness slowed
away safely somewhere in the recesses
OF her pretty little head, although it
was carried lluntily upon the mex
perienctd and rounded shoulders OF
fresh eighteen.
She did rot need to bereminded that
David was worth, in a worldly way,
much more than any OF her other
suitors, and that ne was good looking,
good hearted. and intelligent enough
to satisfy any but an over fastidious
person OF her class. He was unexcep-
tionable, in short. barring his uncon-
querable and excessive bashfulness.
which indeed was a never failing source
of merriment to the young people OF
their little circle.
And 50, when David in his awkward
gan shyly to exhibit his preference for
her in various little ways, such as
waiting ON her to and from singing
school, constituting himself her escort
when she went Sundays on horseback
to the lonely little church in the woods.
and singing her out as the recipient OF
whatever attentions he could find the
nerve TO pay at frequent quilting par
ties in the neighbOrhood,A Annie did not
frighten him out of his buddingpassion
by any show either OF surprise OF
marked preference, but took it all in
the easiest, pleasantest, most uncon
scious manner possible The girls
Uttered and nudged each others ell
bows, and the young men cracked fur
tive Jokes at the expense OF her timiC
suitor, but She stood up for him like &
real kind hearted, independent West
ern lass. as she was, and tried to en-
courage him ont OF his shyness as fal
as she consistently could.
She never seemed to notice any of hi
unfortunate bIunders, aud very likely
helped him along considerably wheI
his feelings reached the culminatin.
point, one moou-lghted autumn even
er from corn huskiug.
That being lust one week ago. Ami,
had said yes, and had agreed to tax,
the responsibility OF bringing fathe
and mother round" on the subject
David had not been to the house since
Probably ne felt very much like a do
who fears to venture upon the prem
ises OF a man whose sheepfOld he ha,
Just plundered. Thus it happene,
that as yet the powers that were kney
nothing of themOmentOuSs secret which
they kept between themselves. fearin
to diyulge And now Annie. VIII,
wished to put of the ordeal of avowa
as long as possible-at any rate t,
gain time for one more confidential
talk with David on the subieat-sai,
hastily in reply to that stammere,
query OF his with which We have pref
aced this narration:
Mother Is going over to Aunt Ruth
with father To spend the evening, al,
she wants me to 20, but guess won't
I've been working on fathers new
shirts all day, besides doing the dair,
work yesterday, and I'm about tirec
out.
Then she added before he could re
ply;
Don't come until O'Clock. Ishal
be about through putting things t.
rights 10y that time
OF course David was not too obtus
to understand that he was specially
favored by this arrangement. and h,
so lar forgot his bashfulness as to DE
luton awkwardly for parting kiss
which was at once refused in the mos
meXOrable manner possible.
No, you shan'tL There now Dc
take yourseltotf will you? Dye thinl
didn't see you tidgeting around
Emma Smith at Deacon Anderson.
soeiahle last night I've not forgot
ten that, sir =
cob, now Annie, lust onel"
but further appeal was broken of
by a tantal.zlng little ugh. and when
rendered desperate by this. he tried &c
revenge himself, at the very moment
when he thought he was secure of the
coveted bliss. and stopped his head
trlumphantly over his struggling pris.
oner, the rosy, laughing face vanished
suddenly from under his arm and was
on and away upon the garden path
leading 10 the house. almost before h.
could realize what had happened.
For one moment David, who stood
gazing ruefully after her. thought Of
pursuit and recapture. But before he
mad tlmetoput his plan into execution.