Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-10-24

came pretty near being with her all
the time-I asked her II she'd go to
the circus thought she'd faint
Her eyes opened wide, and SO did her
mouth, and establishment was en-.
graved on every line Of her counte-
nance. She was so overcome with joy
that she just sat down and cried.
sat down, tor and that was the first
time ever kissed her. Young man,
that kiss is sacred memory with me-
have experienced a good many sensa-
tions in my time, but the sensation Of
kissing handsome, buxom Southwest
Missouri girl right square on the soft
sweet lips, while the tears from her
heavenly eyes are running down and
making pearly drops on your budding
mustache, Is something better than all
Of them put together. And when. like
Melvina. she puts her brown, bare
arms around your neck and kisses
backbone Of those long, clinging
kisses that Ella Wheeler Wilcox writes
about-words are superauous. But !
have often wondered, since have be.
come calloused and cynical, where
Mclvina learned TO kiss She was
revelation to me.
Finally the glorious Fourth came
around and got ready for the circus.
! might explain here that had
brought d suit Of store clothes and .
pair Of shoes from the east with me,
but had never worn the clothes Oh
the farm and seldom wore the shoes
Every body down in that section went
barefooted, boys and men, and | did as
the Romans did. This Fourth OF July
morning | put on . billed shirt, my
store Clothes my shoes and socks,
and brushed and clcaped myself un-
til ! was positively uncomfortable.
After breakfast, followed by the good
natured but cutting 'joshing Of my
relatives, | started down the road to
meet Melvna. | had arranged with
her to walk to town, figuring on the
walk back in the moonlight, when we
could hold hands as we strolled along
the road and slobber over each other.
My uncle wanted US to 60 In the
wagon with him and his family, but !
was too wise.
ut was two miles to the Drake
cabin, and four miles to town. was
to meet Mclvina at the turn In the
road just below her athers house.
The sun was about two hours high
and cast long shadows on the ground
as ! trudged along to the trysting
place.
II remember took out my Barlow
and cut stout stick from hedge
along the roadside, in anticipation Of
possible brush with the lion, The
air was heavy with the sweet smell Of
orchards, ripening grain and new
mown hay, and was the happiest
youth in Missouri. Imade up my mind
! was going to spend every cent ! pos.
sessed on Melvina.
Directly ! came to where she was.
She had on dress that couldn't have
cost more than quarter, but she
looked like queen in it, although, !
must confess, 1t fit her like 1t was cut
out with pair Of skates. A wide
brimmed hat sat jauntily on her brown
curls, and her face looked like ripe
peach to hungry man. noticed she
had no shoes on, but that cut no ice
with me, for she had as pretty foot
and ankle as anybody would want 10
look at.
a had calculated on making q hit
with Melvina with my store clothes.
and | did paralyzed her. She just
stood and looked at me while wave
after wave of hot bushes chased up
her white neck and congregated in her
face. ! stood simpering like prize
idiot She began to cry, and wouldn't
tell me what was the matter with her,
and ], wise in the ignorance Of youth,
didn't know that like all women, she
was proud and ashamed to be seen
with me, because Of the splendor Of
my raiment ! jollied her along, told
her how nice and sweet she looked,
swore she would be the belle Of the
circus, and was generally SO lavish in
my praise Of her that she consented,
finally, to 60 with me il I'd let her 60
home and fix up bit. Still didn't
know what was the matter, but let
her GO.
n laid down in the shade Of o tree
on the grass to wait for her The sun
climbed higher and wagons loaded
with country people ratified by on the
way to the circus. had just figured
out that we would miss the parade and
grand free exhibition outside the big
tent II Melvina didn't hurry when she
aove In view | looked at her second
md then jumped in the air so sudden
y l Jared myself II my raiment had
paralyzed Melvina she got even all
light She had placed cheap ribbon
lround her neck and spoiled the beauty
II 1t, and had covered her pretty feet
With pair Of shapeless, hard, heavy,
,owhide shoes, Between the tops Of
Ter shoes and the bottom Of her dress
occasional glimpses Of pair
II stockings Of the variety known as
barber pole They were striped red
md yellow and the stripes were wide.
But she had something else on that
Knocked me speeches..
Years and years had this browning
eature of Melvina attire been in the
Drake family. 1t was an heirloom, !
,uess, and the only piece OF tlnery the