Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1890-12-02

very deeply In love, but he didn't dar
| a. say Az
Al length the board was arranged. and
they were rcsdy 30 open the game.
"Ohr' criei the widow suddenly.
"woulint II bs nice to have q wageri
n would make the game ~ much moro
interr-,ingi Don, you think -. Mr.
fieldsy
Mr.. Fields didn't know but u would.
"T1l tell you whatl- aid the widow.
blushing like q gllyfower pink and
looking every bic a. sweet. Mr. Fields
thought II Rad story not long ago
about two persons plas ing y wager. and
the stake was ki--, Now. Ill agree 10
kis- you IL you brat. and N bea, you
.hall kis. me. lsn't that fair"
"yc-,- stammsred Mr.. Fields. ''but-
but I'm afraid you'll bcat.-
why. then You'll have to Kiss me.
that. all. laughed the widow. III you
bat Ia just n sou ki~ you A. not. As
likely ~ no, You'll beat me-
"well. I-rll take the wager" an.
swcr,,l Mr. fields In desperation.
And ~ the game commenced. fever
be PLAYED "a win II was then. There
wa. som~thing very fascinating about
the idea of kissing the widow. but he
didn't believe be- could muster up oour.
az. enough % 10 u n he won ih. game.
lie much preferred that she should Lis
him. lie could stand u with cousidrra-
ble fortiinde 90 b. kissei. bat 10 kis. was
rather morc than be could think - with
comI-~urr. Iie never hal hsssd q wo.
man that he oouh remember. AMI be
Wa. sure b. should make -ome awful
mistake N he triel tn
hut from the hrst the game went
, against him. IIi- Iawns were captured
right and left. aud then his bishops were
taken from him. Then his king ~, In
check, and be- hal 81 sacsihoe his QUEEN
% ~, him out. And then. by one master.
ly move. the widow planted q knight III.
rccily In front u the kings place. and
left him In check with her castle. Ani
cris,l out. "Checkmatei' her eye. spark.
ling with mischief
something that was almost groan
broke from Mr. Fields liz. How was
be- ever going to ray hi. wager II made
him shiyer % think a H.
II am waiting for you to pay your
debts aid the widow. smiling bcwiich'
ingly into the laichelor'. face.
"I-I wish III won tho game. STAN
msrci Mr. Fields. bursting into cold
sweat.
why. then III have to ks- your aid
the widow. ccluettishly.
Ill know that criei Mr. Fields
That. why wish IL got tho game'-
What a selhsh manl' laughed the
widow. Il didn't suppose you were -
sclhsh. Mr. f'clis; upon my word. !
lidntr'
"I-l Amt selhsh. . cried the poor man.
driven 20 desperation. but - but !
dArcut'"
what an eIcnscf' crisi the widow.
Il won't acc.pt itl You don't want %
kis. me That. the rrason' But Ia.
guing b. insist on your paying your
debts. Mr.. Fields. | should like 20 know
why you're afraid o. me, I know bet
teri You'll have o. ct up some other
cIru-. before | let YOU OF. ! wouldn't
have bocn afraid 10 lis you N you'd
won the game. I'm SURE
Ill wish you'd kis- me, and call u
quits.- aid Mr.. Fields. feeling that he
wa being driven into cornsr
II wuuli N II wasn't for encouraging
you In your --lhshnos..- answered the
widow. with an arch smile into his face
which - the hlooi tingling clear b his
toos anil made him fc.l almost bold
enough to pay his wager.
I-Ill dArr YOU criei thu bachelor.
III you'll kis. me. I-ril kiss your'
"Done!- cried the widow. anil kis-cd
Mr. Fields plump on th. mouth befors
h. could say Jack Robinson Now,
you can't hack ouiI- crei she. a. rosy
A. the pinks In the garden again.
eli wontr cred Mr. Fields and
caught her AMI kiss.i her on her cherry
lit=.
And then. suddenly growing bold and
courageous. b. ki--s~l her thrve OF four
timos-for interest. suppose. on the
debt he hal contracted aud, somehow,
every ki~ sccmsi 20 give him additional
courage. for before be- managed 10 Vt
her ~ hc contrisci 10 squeeze her hand
Ia decide,lly lover like way, and the
widow didn't sem 10 object, but rather
returned the gentle pr,~sure.
After that there was . little silence.
but for -ouie rcason Mr.. Fields wasn't -
bashful a. he hal been. He bcgan 10
think IL bcst 10 follow up the advantage
be had gained over his timidiiy; and ~
b. by and by. after q goci deal Of en-.
couragefnent to do the des'd, managei
o. scare up bravery enough 10 kis- the
widow again. and she didn't secm 10 10
put out abOut 10. hs thought
And then-Mr. fislls oouldnt tell
how, for the life of him-he actually
asked the widow to bs Mrs. Fields. lie
felt great wonder. after the deed WA
done, how be- ever got bold enough TO
AJAX woman to marry him; bot he did.
and shs did not answer "no.--Sew
/ a.