Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-12-12
A KISS IN THE DARK.
evil you be at hone light,

"Will you be at hone ton light,
Annie?"
The person who asked this ques-
ton, a tall, muscular, good looking
Young farmer, was leaning npon
Squire Moore's front gate talking
to the 'Sguire's pretty daughter,
who stood inside of it. As the sim
pie words passed his lips he red
dened suddenly to the very roots OF
his fair hair, as if he had been
guilty of some great impropriety.-
He was bashful-eXtremely bash
full was David Wintlrop-at least
in the presence Of young ladies',
most of all in the presence Of the
girl he loved. No young manln all
Wilkes county owneda better kept
farm, or talked with more conf
dence among his cr0nies of stock
and crops ami such like. But the
sight of IL m city foot or face coming
his way affected him queerly. On
such occasions he knew not what
to do with his hands or eyes. and
seemed always TO feel like screwing
himself into the nearest mouse. hoIe
until the danger-that is to say,
the young lady-waS past.
This state ottllings being consld.
cred. no one ever understood how
he contrived to muster up courage
enough to enlighten Annie Moore
on the subject of his preference for
herself. The matter probably re-
mains to this day as much Il inys-
terry to him as to others.
Miss Annie, however, had a fair
share of tact and womanly clever
ness slowed away safely somewhere
in the recesses Of her pretty little
head, although it was carried jaunt-
lily upon the inexperienced and
rounded shoulders offresh eighteen.
She did not need to be reminded
that David was worth, in worldly
way, much more than amy of her
other snitors, and that he was
good looking, good hearted and IN
telligent enough to sat tIsfSE;;;' but E
class. He was uuexceptionable, !
short rriEg his unconquerabl
and excessive bashfulness, which
indeed, was never failing sourc
of nlerriment to the young peopl
of their little circle.
And so when David in his awk
ward, laundering, half frightene
manner began slyly TO exhibit hi
preference for her in various littl
ways, such as waiting on her t
and from singing school, constitu
ting himself her escort when yh
went Sundays on horseback TO th
lonely little church i'll the woods
and singing her out AS the rscip-
lent OF whatever attentions b,
could find the nerve to pay, at fire.
qnent quilting parties in the neigh
horhood, Annie did not Fighter
him out of his budding passion by
any show, either of surprise or OF
marked preference, but took it al
i'll the easiest, pleasantest, mostun
conscious manner possible. The
girls Uttered and nudged each
others elbows, and the young mer
cracked turtive jokes at the ex-
pense of Der tlmid suitor, but she
stood up for him royalty like real
kind hearted, independent West
ern lass, as she was, and tried to
encourage him out of his shyness
as far as she consistently could.
She never seemed to notice any
Of his unfortunate blunders, and
very likely helped him along Con-
siderably when his feelings re ached
the eliminating point, one moon
lighted autumn evening. as they
we're walking home together from
a corn husFing.
That being just one week ago.
Annie had said "yes" and had also
agreed to take the responsibility of
bringing father and mother ''ronndp
OH the subject. David had not been
to the house since. Probably he
felt very much like dog who fears
to venture upon the premises of a
man whose sheep field he had just
plnndered. Thus it happened that
as yet the powers knew nothing OF
the monstrous secret which they
kept between themselves, fearing
to diyulge. And row Annie, who
wished to put off Tie ordeal of
avowal as long as posSlble-at any
rate to gain time for more conf
Dental talk with David on tile sub
ject-said hastily IN reply to that
Stammered qnery Of his with which
We lave plefaced this narration:
Mother is going over to Aunt
Ruth's with father to spend the
evening, and she wants me to go,
but ] guess [ won't. I've been
working on fathers new shirts all
day, besides doing the dairy work
Yesterday, andIm about tired out"
Then she added before he could
reply:
"Don.'t come Until s O'Clock. I
shall lie about through putting all
.hings 10 rights by that time"
OF course David was too obtuse
% understand that he was specially
avored By this arrangement, aud
le has so far forgot his bashfulness
is to petition awkwardly for a part
ng kiss, which was at cnce re-
used in the most inexorable man
lcr possible.
tlArf xo,, .l,oott n,f,,,o ,ori H.