The Portland daily press., 1894-07-24

| to myself. Darkness, which is no mans
enemy, surrounded us, and not only the
| idea, but with it courage, came to me.
saw Fraulein Martha's hand CLEAN in the
darkness. seized it, and before its owner
| had timeto know what I was doing
What was that?" cried Herr Fenchel.
"a kiss, F" replied his wife.
The train left the tunnel and plunged
| into the open daylight. The passengers
| looked around as if they had heard shot
rather than a kiss and expected to see a,
| suicide weltering in his blood | initiated
! them and looked about me with equal as
constituent and curiosity. From several
/ heard giggling. On the whole the ST.
| 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 or
not. 1t may be that l murmured, Il beg
| your PARDON it may be that I did not,
for it will readily be understood that my
lips were fully employed in what I have
just described. AT any rate, was glad
that I had found such pleasure in such
short tunnel. Added to that, had won
my bet Martha's hand had really dis
appeared in mine, and / had had to open
my hand again in order to imprint kiss
Roschen and her admirer sat as if stupe-
fed and stared solemnly at the floor A
kiss which sounds like real one fills
lovers with mixed sensations-envy and
appreciation. Opposite them sat Herr Fen
chel, who stared at them in establishment
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 speak-which he did not out Of
consideration for his daughter-he would
have administered the strongest rebuke
that mortal ever received So he con-
tented himself with looking reproachfully
and warningly at the two culprits and &C.
casionally turning his eyes on his wife,
who was intent on a newspaper which she
was holding upside down
The rest of the passengers gradually re-
covered from the shock. At the next sta
ton there was longer stop, and we got
out of the train. In doing so 1 heard one
passenger say to another, Good graciousp'
He was speaking of the kiss. ''Beauti-
fulli' said a lady to gentleman who was
accompanying her. She, too, was speak
ing of it.
II know exactly what's to be done"
said Herr Fenohel to his wife as they got
out on the platform. "Of course you'll
understand, too Martha, that that kiss
In the tunnel''--
II know all about it, replied Martha
ga man of your understanding cannot
fail to perceive the meaning of that kiss
and if you ignore it heavy responsibility
rests on your shoulders, - continued she
energetically. 1T was a perfect kiss, the
mo of ic1, I,o
away. There are kisses which are serious
deeds, and that in the tunnel was one of
them. How could young and inexpe-
rienced lips produce such kissa It's
ringing in my ears yet"
so you noticed it, did you, Martha"
sail Herr Fenchel, although you were SO
far awayS My wife didn't notice it, of
course. How often have I 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
the first class waiting room, which was
empty.
But, Fraulein," I said to Martha.
who, having looked on smiiingly while
the four disappeared, came to my side
II made the best use of the kiss, said
Fraulein Martha "A hand kiss means
nothing, but I am trying to make some
thing good out of it. I am encouraging
Herr Fenchel in his conceited idea that he
foresees and understands everything, and
am getting Roschen husband whom
she loves. Is that a bad stroke of bust
ness?'
.sBut that kiss was my property"
said.
Don't be nonsensical,' she answered.
:" 1t was simple act of politeness. I &C
cepted it as such and you meant it as
nothing more. Do you know, my father
used to call me 'Stupid-Little Stupid. I
was often very wild, and so he called me
Little Stupid for pet name I am no
longer child, but often. have fits of
wildness when I 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 it
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
been made happy. Wasn't that noble
revenge2"
''You are an angel, Fraulein Martial"
I cried as loudly as it is fitting on 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 he didn't make
love to me"
At this point the quartet reappeared.
Herr Fenchel came with his daughter,
and Frau Fenchel was conducted by
Taube
Martha" said Herr Fenchel didn't
! always tell you that they would make
fine couple? They've been engaged for
five minutes
Fraulein Martha embraced Roscnen,
but Herr Taube Immediately appropriated
his fiancee and kissed her. 1t WASH IT 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-
r,.O1 j