Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-14
chessboard and men, and drew her chair
up opposite Mr.. Fields.

bWCCh UAChls L LII SOlnS W oO bO IL L
possibly can, Mr.. Fields" with an arch
glance into his face.
Mr.. Fields happened to be admi1ing
her brown curls as she looked up, and
the fact that she detected him in the act
so disconnected him that he knocked
over the chessmen she had arranged,
and then he had to help her set them
again, and their hands came in contact
on the board. Somehow the touch of
the widows plump, white hand made
him thrill all over with a delightful SEN
sation, and he wondered, if the accidental
touch of her fingers affected him so de-
ightfully, what it must be to hold that
hand in his. Poor Mr.. Fields! He was
very deeply in love, but he didn't dare
to say so.
At length the board was arranged, and
they were ready to open the game.
"Ohr' cried the widow suddenly,
'wouldnt it be nice to have wager?
1t would make the game SO much more
interesting! Don't you think so, Mr.
Fields?
Mr.. Fields didn't know but it would.
"rn tell you what!'' said the widow,
blushing like gillyfower pink and
looking every bit as sweet, Mr.. Fields
thought. II read story not long ago
about two persons playing wager, and
the stake was kiss! Now, I'll agree to
kiss you if you beat, and if beat you
shall kiss me. Isn't that fair?'
eyes," stammered Mr.. Fields, "but-
but I'm afraid you'll beatv'
"Why, then you'll have to kiss me,
that's all" laughed the widow. ''If you
beat I'd just as soon kiss you as not. AS
likely as not you'll beat me-
"Well, I'M take the wager" an
swered Mr.. Fields in desperation.
And SO the game commenced. If ever
he played to win it was then. There
was something very fascinating about
the idea of kissing the widow, but he
didn't believe he could muster up cour-
age enough to do it if he won the game.
He much preferred that she should kiss
him. He could stand it with considera-
BILE fortitude to be kissed, but to kiss was
rather more than he could think of with
composure. He never had kissed wo-
man that he could remember, and he
was sure he should make some awful
mistake if he tried to.
But from the first the game went
against him. His pawns were captured
right and left, and then his bishops were
taken from him. Then his king got in
check, and he had to sacrifice his queen
to get him out, and then, by one master
ly move, the widow planted knight di-
rectly in front of the kings place, and
left him in check with her castle, and
cried out, "Checkmate!' her eyes spark
ling with mischief
Something that was almost a groan
broke from Mr. Fields lips. How was
he ever going to pay his wager? 1t made
him shiver to think of it.
II am waiting for you to pay your
debts" said the widow, smilin. bewitch-
ingly into the bachelors face.
'1-I wish I'd won the game" stam-
mered Mr. Fields, bursting into a cold
sweat.
"Why, then I'd have to kiss your said
the widow, coquettishly.
''I-I know that" cried Mr.. Fields.
''Thats why wish I'd got the gamer
"What selfish man!' laughed the
widow. 81 didn't suppose you were so
selfish, Mr.. Fields; upon my word,
didn't!'
"I-I amt selfish, cried the poor man,
driven to desperation; "but - but I
daren't!'
"What an excuser' cried the widow.
81 won't accept it! You don't want to
kiss me. That's the reason! But I'M
going to insist on your paying your
debts, MI. Fields. should like to know
why you're afraid of me! I know bet
ter! You'll have to get up some other
excuse before let you off. wouldn't
have been afraid to kiss you if you'd
won the game, I'm sure"
"I-1 wish you'd kiss me, and call it
quitsy' said Mr.. Fields, feeling that he
was being driven into corner.
81 would if it wasn't for encouraging
you in your selfshness," answered the
widow, with an arch smile into his face
which set the blood tingling clear to his
toes and made him feel almost bold
enough to pay his wager.
"I-Ill dare your cried the bachelor.
"If you'll kiss me, I'll kiss your
bOllC' CllCN CilO WloOW, blu hipoCo
Mr.. Fields plump on the mouth before
he could say Jack Robinson. "Now,
you can't back out!' cried she, as rosy
as the pinlzs in the garden again.
'I-I won'tw cried Mr.. Fields and
caught her and kissed her on her cherry
lips.
And then, suddenly growing bold and
courageous, he kissed her three or four
times-for interest, suppose, on the
debt he had contracted and, somehow,
every kiss seemed to give him additional
courage, for before he managed to let
her go he contrived to squeeze her hand
in decidedly lover like way, and the
widow didn't seem to object, but rather
returned the gentle pressure.
After that there was a little silence,
but for some reason Mr.. Fields wasn't SO
bashful as he had been. He began to
think it best to follow up the advantage
he had gained over his timidity; and SO
he by and by, after good deal of en-
couragement to do the deed, managed
to scare up bravery enough to kiss the
widow again, and she didn't seem to be
put out about it, he thought.
And then-Mr. Fields couldn't tell