The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-12

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 q delightful sen-
sation, and he wondered. il the accidental
touch of her fingers affected him so de-
lightfully. what it must DO to hold that
hand in his. Poor MI. Ficldsl 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 tho game.
"Ohi~ cried the widow suddenly,
wouldn't il De nice to hl wagerf
1t would make the game 80 much more
Interestingly Don't you think so, Mr..
Fieldsf
Mr.. Fields didn't know but it would.
"rl tell you whati- said the widow.
blushing like a gillyfiower pink and
looking every bit a. sweet. Mr.. Fields
thought. II read q story not long q
about two persons playing a wager, and
the stake was a kiss. Now, I'll agree to
kiss you if you beat, and il I beat you
shall kiss me. Isn't that fair.'
yes stam1nered Mr.. Fields, "but-
but I'm afraid you'll bcat!'
"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 be 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 a 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 a knight d.
rectly in front of the kings place, and
left him in check with her castle, and
cried cut, "Checkmater' 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? It made
him shiver TO think of il.
~ am waiting for You to pay your
debts" said the widow, smiling bewitch-
ingly into the bachelors face.
I'll 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.
IL know that cried Mr.. Fields.
That's why I wish I'd got the camel"
"What a selfish mani" laughed the
widow. II didn't suppose you were so
selfish. Mr.. Fields; upon my word, l
didn'tfr
81 amt selfish" cried the poor man,
driven to desperation; ''but - but I
daren'ti"
What an ezGqss~ cried ~ DIV IL
II won't accept i'll You don't want {
kiss me. That's the reasonl But In
going to insist on your paying you
) debts, MI. Fields. i should like to know
J why you're afraid of mel ! know bet
teri You'll have to get up some othe
excuse before I let You off. / wouldn'
have been afraid to kiss you if YOU
won the game. I'm sure"
Ell wish you'd kiss me, and call !
quitsF" said Mr.. Fields, feeling that b
was being driven into a corner.
II would If it wasn't for encouraging
you IL your selishness," answered tn
widow, with an arch smile into his fac
which set the blood tingling clear { hi
toes and made him feel almost box
enough to pay his wager.
"I-In dare you" cried the bachelor
"If you'll kiss me, I'm kiss you."
'Done!!" cried the widow, and kisset
Mr.. Fields plump on the mouth befor1
he could say Jack Robinson. "Now
you can't back outi" cried she, as ros,
as the pinks in the garden again.
81 wont~ cried Mr.. Fields AMI
caught her and kissed her on her cherr,
lips.
And then, suddenly growing bold ant
courageous, he kissed her three or foul
times-for interest. I suppose, on thu
debt he had contracted and, somehow
every kiss seemed to give him additions
courage. for before he managed to lie
her go he contyiyed to squeeze her hant
in a decidedly lover like way, and thu
widow didn't seem to object, but rather
returned the gentle pressure.
After that there was 4 little silence
but for some reason Mr.. Fields wasn't 81
bashful as he had been. He began Il
think it best to Nllow up the advantag.
he had gained over his timidity; and 81
he by and by, after a good deal Of en-
couragernent to do the deed, managed
to scare up bravery enough to mss tht
widow again, and she didn't seem 10 be
put out about it, he thought
And then-Mr. Fields couldn't tel
how, for the life Of him-he actually
asked the widow to be Mrs. Fields. He
felt great wonder, after the deed was
done, how he ever got bold enough tc
ask a roman to marry him; Int he did,
md she did not answer
AnvIcE TO MorHERs-NRs. wNsrows SooTH
49, G@Hw-A k@NN4 -a--.a - n~A~N - ArI-.