The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-08-03

1
| Martha would be so accommodating as to
let me try the experiment But she was
not inclined to be so accommodating.
Nevertheless 1 could not think of losing
my wager. THE courageous conquer the
hand, l said to myself, with all the OBJ
stinacy with which one sticks to pet
idea. And just at that very moment the
| whistle shrieked, and the train plunged
into tunnel. Now or never" l thought
to myself. Darkness, which In no man s
enemy, surrounded us, and not only tho
idea, but with 1t courage, came to me. /
saw Fraulein Martha's hand CLEAN in tho
darkness. seized 1t, and before its owner
had time to know what was doing
"What was thati" cried Herr Fenchel
"a kiss" replied his wifo.
Tho train left the tunnel and plunged
into the open daylight. The passengers
looked around rs II they had heard q shot
rather than kiss and expected to see q
suicide weltcrlng IN his blood. l initiated
them and looked about Inc with equal as
tonishmont and curiosity. From several
heard gigglng. On the whole the 81.
lence was really embarrassing. Fraulein
Martha was rummaging In her handbag,
and her head was bent over it SO that
could not see whether she was angry OF
not 1t may be that murmurcd, Il beg
your pardon;" it may be that / did not,
for 1T will readily be understood that my
lips We're fully employed In what have
Just described. At any rate, l was glad
that had found such pleasure in such
a short tunnel. Added to that, had won
my bot. Martha's hand had really dis.
appeared in mine, and l had had to open
my hand again In order to imprint kiss
between two pretty dimples. Frauleln
Ruschen and her admirer sat as If stupe-
fled and stared solcmnly at the floor. A
kiss which sounds like u real one fills
lovers with mixed sensations-envy and
appreciation. Opposite them sat Herr Fen
chel, who stared at them in astonishment
and shook his head warningly. His fore,
sight had deceived him, for he had not
known that Roschen would be kissed.
1t was, moreover, such kiss-so fla
grant SO resonant Had he dared
to spcak-which he did not out oi
consideration for his daughter-he would
have administered the strongest rebuse
that mortal ever received. So he con
tented himself with looking reproachfully
and warningly at the two culprits and oo.
casionally turning his eyes on his wife,
who was intent on q newspaper which she
was holding upside down.
covered from tho shock. At the next sta.
tion there was longer stop, and we got
out Of the train. In doing SO / heard one
passenger say to another, Good graciousl''
He was speaking of tho kiss. "Beauti
fullr' said lady to a gentleman who was
accompanying her, She, too, was speak
ing of it.
II know exactly what's to be done, "
said Herr Fenchel to his wife as they got
out on tho platform. "Of course you'll
understand, too Martha, that that kiss
In the tunnel''-
II know all about it, replied Martha.
"A man of your understanding cannot
fail to perceive the meaning of that kiss
and II you ignore 10 heavy responsibility
rests on your shoulders, " continued she
energetically. ut was perfect kiss, the
meaning Of which cannot be explained
away. There are kisses which are serious
deeds, and that In the tunnel was one OF
them. How could young and inexpe-
rlenced lips produce such q kiss' It's
ringing in my ears yet.
So you noticed it, did you, Martha, "
said Herr Fonchel, ''although you were Sc
far away' My wife didn't notice it, OF
course. How often have l warned her
that young Taube was a Don Juanl But
it's no use repeating that now. What is,
is, and what must be, must be-" Where.
upon Herr Fenchel took his wife's arm
and signed to his daughter and young
Taube to follow. The quartet went into
tho first class waiting room, which was
empty.
But, Fraulein," said to Martha,
who, having looked on smilingly while
the four disappeared came to my side.
Il made the best use OF the kiss, ;" said
Fraulein Martha. "A hand kiss means
nothing, but am trying to make some
thing good out of it. am encouraging
Herr Fcnchel in his concelted idea that he
foresees and understands everything, and
l am getting Roschen husband whom
she loves. Is that bad stroke of bust
nesSp"
But that kiss was my property"
said
Don't be nonsensical," she answered.
ut was simple act Of politeness. nc
cepted it as such, and you meant it as
nothing more. Do you know my father
used to call me 'Stupid-Little Stupid !
was often very wild, and SO he called me
Little Stupid for pet name. l am no
longer child but l often have fits OF
wildncss when / can carry an intrigue
through which hurts nobody and does
some good. One day my father ceased to
call me Little Stupid, and he never used
the name again. He was terribly strict,
and as he saw one OF my boy friends kiss
my hand he called him to account for 1t
SO roughly that the boy avoided the house
ever after. As he was no hero of ro-
nance, was left alone and remain alone
Now I've had my revenge on fate, for
through hand kiss two young folks have
been made happy Wasn't that noble
revengeS"
you are an angel Fraulein Martial"
cried as loudly as it is fitting on a rail-
way platform.
when a girl is hung onto an angel
she is pretty harmless, - said she laughing
ly. My father meant angel when he
called me stupid, but ho didn't make
love to me"
At this point the quartet reappeared
Herr Fcnchel came with his daughter,
and Frau Fenchel was conducted by
Taube.
Martha" said Herr Fenchel, didn't
always tell you that they would make a
fine coupler They've been engaged for
five minutes.
Fraulein Martha embraced Roschen,
but Herr Taube immediately appropriated
his fianoee and kissed her 1t WASH the
sort of thing to do ON the platform. That
must be acknowledged Herr Fenchel
said half jestingly, half sternly, you
don't need to wait till you come to tun,
mel now, do your"
Herr Taube seemed to wish to protest,
but Ii was OF no use When we were all
ensconced In the carriage, Frau Fcnchel
said to Fraulein Martha Believe me,
Martha, those children were quite limo.
cent Of that kiss. You should have seen
how they tried to exonerate themselves