Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-04-18

kissing Among the Young people was in
EaStpOrt a regular business At their par
ties all the plays had kissing their grand
aim and end. Indeed. the play seemed
merely as a prptence for the kissing | had
never looked with much favor upon these
indis,rimmate OSrulatory meleeS, ard when
forced bv circumstances, | had taken part IN
them il was always with feeling OF indif
ference-a almost disgust Still. | supposed
that it WAS the thing to do, since il Was a
part of che life around me-. | had noticed
that Blanche Seton never participated in
these plays Blanche was not Il klSSahle
girl
shsu not attempt by any Of the numerous
hackne yed phrases to describe my sensations
at that moment They would GO astray Of
nv meaning. The time, the place. the cir
CumstanceS. the withdrawal from the imme-
diate range Of Eastport's petty gosSipping
meddlesome sphere, seemed to place ME in
another world, whose standard of life, action.
motive and impulse were entirely different
from this In that kiss | seemed 10 feel
Blanches purity Of soul and depth Of
affection-a nature luXuriant in every
department of being. capable of a tenn
peStuous abandonment, vet capable also of
r..rfect control at any moment of e,Stacv
Externally it was but the pressure Of a rich
Iair of hips but if there be within us other
and finer SENSES than our material ones,
these seemed in that momentary contact TO
absorb and retain portion of the intel
lertual and spiritual richness and nobility
of that girls being. Nor did her act make
m,. bold or presuming. On the contrary it
seemed to bring me a realization of respect
almost amounting 10 reverence for Blanche
I b..A f.lr 1T. Ts
seemed TO me as an inspiration to become
more manly more courageous more ener-
getic; not the inspiration OF a moment, but
one to remain by me many year after. Her
cares, too. had in it something Of mother
hooi. something | lOnged for but found not
at home, something which every man needs
a. a protection against degrada-
ton.
Perhaps You think I'm very bold" said
she
Il think understand YOU replied.
Il believe YOU do Otherwise. | could not
do a. have done You must feel Yourself
very much complimented, too, she added, in
a lighter tone, for you are the first Of your
s'x | ever kissed in my life"
Here | wanted much to say something very
polite and gallant But all the words coming
into my mind for such expression seemed to
say"r - much of the mawkish novel that
felt it proclamation | said quite without
pr"nedtati"n: Il thank you" On the whole,
/ think I said about the best thing could.
Nv tongue was not 50 tied afterward
Hand in hand We walked to and fro on a
level grassy space living along the edge Of
the bluff overlooking the Cove'S waters. We
talked we'll, Of things belonging to our own
world-as if We were navigating together
rivers. creeks and mlets, barred to the ma
jnritv know now She led the conversation
on theSe subjects to divert my attention and
ease nv mind of the strain to which 1t had
bstn recently subjected
The village clock struck two These are
unSeemly hours for Eastport," said Blanche
We must "a home"
We walked again to the half-Opanei gate,
and again Parted, not without another kiss
this one mutual
Between Us IaSSed neither pledge nor bond,
spoken or inferred. We parted a. If but for
a day Blanches last words were, Remen-
Ler, now, your promise