Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-31
A KISS In THE DARK.


The person who asked this question. tall,
muscular, good looking young farmer, was
leaning upon Squire Moores front gate
talking to the Squire's 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 if he had Just
been guilty of some great Improperly
He was bashfui-extremely bashftA was
David Winthrop-at least in the presence
of young ladies, most Of all in the presence
Wilkes county owned better farm, or
talked with more confidence among his
cronies of stock and crops and such like.
But the sight of pretty foot or face coming
his way affected him oueerlv. On such
occasions he never knew what to do with
his hands and eyes, and seemed always to
feel like screwing himself into the nearest
mouse hole until the danger-that is to say,
the young lady-was past.
This state OF things being considered, no
one ever understood how he contrived to
muster up courage enough to enlighten
Annie Moore on the subject of his prefer
ence for herself. The matter probably re-
mains 10 this day as much a mystery to
him as it is to others.
Miss Annie, however, had fair share of
tact and womanly cleyerness slowed away
safely somewhere in the recesses of her
pretty little head, although it was carried
iauntily upon the inexperienced and
rounded shoulders OF fresh eighteen.
She did not need to be reminded that
David was worth in a worldly way, much
more than any of her other suitors, and
that he was good-looking, good-hearted,
and intelligent enough to satisfy any but
an over fastidious person of her class. He
was unexceptionable, in short, barring his
unconquerable and excessive bashfulness,
which indeed was never-sailing source OF
melriment to the young people OF their
little circle.
And so, when David in his awkward,
laundering, half-frightened manner began
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
parties in the neighborhood. Annie did
not frighten him out of his budding pas
sion by any show either of surprise or
marked preference, but took it all in the
easiest, pleasantest, most unconscious man
ner possible. The girls Uttered and nudged
each others elbows. and the young men
cracked furtive jokes at the-expense of her
timid suitor, but she stood up for him like
real kind-hearted, independent Western
lass. az she was, and tried to encourage
him out of his shyness as far as she con-
Sistently could.
She never seemed to notice any of his
unfortunate blunders, and very likely
helped him along considerably when his
feelings reached the eliminating point, one
moon-Gghted autumn evening. as they
were walking home together from a corn
husking.
That being JUST one week ago. Annie
had said yes" and had agreed to take the
responsibility of bringing father and
mother round on the subject. David
had not been 10 the house since. Proba-
bly, he felt very much like dog who fears
10 venture upon the premises of man
whose sheep fold he had just plundered
Thus it happened that as yet the powers
that were knew nothing of the :nomentous
secret which they kept between themselves,
fearing to divulge. And now Annie, who
wished to put off the ordeal of avowal as
long as possible-at any rate to gain time
for one more confidential talk with David
on the subject-said hastily in reply to that
stammered query of his with which We
nave preiaceO TINS narration
Mother is going over to Aunt Ruth's
with father to spend the evening, and she
wants me to go, but l guess l won't. I've
been working on fathers new shirts all
day, besides doing the dairy work yester-
day and I'm about tired out"
Then she added before he could reply:
Don't come until o'clock. | shall be
about through putting things 10 rights by
that time"
OF course David was not TOO obtuse to
understand that he was specially favored
by this arrangement, and he so far forgot
his bashfulness as to petition awkwsrdly
for parting kiss which was at once re-
fused in the most memorable manner pos
sible.
No, you shan't! There now Do take
yourself off will you? Dye think didn't
see you tidgeting around Emma Smith at
Deacon Anderson's sociable last night {?
I've not forgotten that, sir"
Oh, now, Annie just one!
But further appeal was broken off by q
tantilizing little ugh, and when, rendered
desperate by this, he tried to revenge him
self, at the very moment when he thought
ne was secure of the coveted bliss, and
stopped his head triumphantly over his
struggling prisoner, the rosy, laughing face
vanished suddenly from under his arm and
was off and away upon the garden path
could realize what had happened.
For one moment David, who stood gaz-
ing ruefully after her, thought of pursuit
and recapture. But before he had time 10
put his plan into execution, his torment
ress, after stopping TO give one mocking
farewell wave of her hand from the front
porch, vanished inside the hall door. So
there was nothing to be done but to turn
reluctantly from the gate and take the road
homeward.
If you could have looked into the family
sittingroom at Squire Moore's shortly be-
fore 8 o'clock on the same evening you
would have had CHEEKY picture before
you. The atter-supper clearing away was
over, for the sitting room was also the room
where the daily meals of the family were
eaten. The leaves of the old fashioned
dinner table had been let down. and the
tableitse!f, covered with bright oiled cloth,
set back against the wall. The crumbs had
been carefully brushed with turkey wing,
from the neat homemade carpet, and An
MES work stand was drawn up in front of
the ample and blazing fire of hickory logs
which cracked cheerily in the old-fashioned
fireplace.
A beautifully piled tray of red-cheeked
apples and plate full of cracked walnuts
were on it. in close proximity to Armies
coquettish work-basket made of pine cones
by her own def little hands, and da intily
lined with blue silk
On one side of the e-place sat Mrs
Moore, fat, fair, more than forty, and at
peace with all the world. She sat swaying
backwards and forwards at intervals in her
low rocking chair, knitting as she rocked.
and refreshing herself now and then with
mouthful from . hslfeaten apple which
lay within easy reach, just upon one cor
ner of the table; or touching in q caressing
manner with the tip of her foot. sleek,
lazy-looking gray cat that lay purring and
blinking on the hearth rug before her.
Annie sat on the other side of the table
deity drawing her needle in and out a
long piece of white cambria, and with her
head as busy as her hands with trying to
contrive some clever way of incidentally