Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-06-07
HE KISSED HER.
Not That He Wanted to. but It Was B
 Case of Must.

Case of Must.
 A Chicago mining engineer grew cun- fidential as he was talking with party of friends in his clnb one day last week He estimates the CXprnSC If his cllat;C-- ing at several hundred dollars already, and the account is growing.
 II was down ill Raton, N. NJ, about ten years ago, he said, "and the first lining did after had secured my room ill the excellent hotel at tho station was to go down and soc an old acquaintance of mine who had come mp fc,-n tho mines and opened combination liquor saloon, gambling house and dance hall. We talk cd over old times until it was almost time for dinner, and started back for the hotel.
 "I had gotten within plain view of the crowd sitting out on the bread ve- randa waiting for the dimer bclltorjng when 1 became cOnS,'luls% uf the approach of little blond. weazrn faced cowboy escorting stout, blrary locking woman. As we were about tn meet I said in my best manner:
 Pleasant day. partner.
 BctcEcr life it's a pleasant day, Ee answered, with somo illusion. 'Smy weddin day. Then. with an air of cvi- dent pride ut tEe HOW found partner of his joys and sorrow: 'Smy wife Pret- ty, ain't shc:'
 II saw no reason why 1 should insult bridegroom by telling him the truth, SD answered that she Was very pretty. Without any more conversation Inc rl, r.lA Ira 1irnry abruptncSs:
 "'kiss CT. he said. Kiss a bride.
 "Now, 1 didn't want to kiss anybody at that time, and least of all this silent woman, who stood rocking dr"amily on the arm of my new acquaintance. I be thought me of my old friend d., a refuge ill affliction and said: Let s g0 down tn Bills place and drink her hcahh. "'kiss 'er first, he replied uncom- promisinyly.
 Well said, 'suppnSirg yuu take dollar and go down there and drink to her health.
 Ginnc dollar, he said. II produced tho dollar cheerfully, thinking it mighty cheap under the cir cum.tanccS, when he interrupted my thoughts of self graduation with:
 "'NOw kiss 'cr!
 "You all know I'm n bachelor and an honest, truth telling man. I am ashamed to say that in my desperation lied shamefully.
 My wife is right up there on the hotel porch. begged, and what will she say when she secs me kiss Il stran- ger?'
 "'Tha's al right he responded cheerfully. You kissa girl, an I'll go up an kisshure wife
 II had played my last card and could distinctly see, in spite of my mOrtitica- tion, that he was lingering his weapons, a perfect arsenal of guns and knives that pervadcd his whole miserable front. There was only ono thing to do, and did it like man. I put both arms around that frowsy woman in front of tho crowd on the vcranda and kissed her good and loud.
 Thank you, said he. and our ac- quaintance ceased from that minute.
 When 1 reached the hotel, the crowd rose as one man and followed me in tC the bar. My business made it absolutely necessary for me to stay in RatOn sev- eral days During all that time men never saw before and hope to never see again would come up to me and whis' per, Kiss 'er' The amount of money il cost me was fabulous -
 And here it was that the mining en- gineer failed to reckon on Chicago adaptability. Men in that club he never | hot to ir are coming up to him "at intervals, all day long," and saying in a low tone. "Kiss 'er. ."-Exchange.