The Forrest City times., 1895-10-04


 form of a monster lion rushing at her with open mouth, and me engaging the lion just as he was about to grab her, and choked him to death with one hand.
 "The next time I saw Melvina-I used to see her every day; in fact, I came pretty near being with her all the ume-I asked her if she'd go to the circus. 1 thought she'd faint. Her eyes opened wide, and so did her mouth, and astonishment was en- graved on every line of her counte- nance. She was so overcome with joy that she just sat down and cried. I sat down, too, and that was the first time l ever kissed her. Young man, that kiss is sacred memory with me. l have experienced good many sensa- tons 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 mething 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, clinping kisses that Ella Wheeler Wilcox writes about-words are superhuous. But I have often wondered, since 1 have be- come calloused and cynical, where Melvina learned to kiss. She was a revelation to me.
 
 Finally the glorious Fourth came around and l got ready for the circus. j. might explain here that I had brought suit of store clothes and pair of shoes from the east with me, but had never worn the clothes on the farm and seldom wore the shoes. Every body down in that section went barefooted, boys and men, and I did as the Romans did. This Fourth of July morning 1 put on billed shirt my store clothes, my shoes and socks, and l brushed and cleaned myself un- til l was positively uncomfortable. After breakfast, followed by the good natured but cutting 'joshing' of my relatives, 1 started down the road to meet Melvina. I had arranged with
 
 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 go in the wagon with him and his family, but was too wise.
 Tt was two miles to the Drake cabin, and four miles to town. l was to meet Melvina at the turn in the road just below her fathers house. The sun was about two hours high and cast long shadows on the ground as l trudged along to the trysting place.
 Il remember I took out my Barlow and cut stout stick from a hedge along the roadside, in anticipation of a 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. made up my mind l was going to spend every cent I pos sessed on Melvina.
 Directly l 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, I must confess, it fit her like it was cut out with a pair of skates. A wide brimmed hat sat jauntily on her brown curls, and her face looked like a ripe peach to hungry man. I noticed she had no shoes on, but that cut no ice with me, for she had as pretty a foot and ankle as anybody would want to look at.
 ''l had calculated on making a 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. I stood simpering like prize idiot. She began to cry, and wouldn't tell me what was the matter with her, and l, 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. l 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 ny praise of her that she consented. finally, to go with me if I'd let her go home and fix up bit. Still didn't know what was the matter, but I let her go.
 "I laid down in the shade of tree on the grass to wait for her. The sun climbed higher and wagons loaded with country people rattled by on the way to the circus. I had just figured out that we would miss the parade and grand free exhibition outside the big tent if Melvina didn't hurry when she hove in view. looked at her a second