Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1895-06-21
HE KISSED THE BRIDE.
Hilarious Experience of a Chicago
Mining Engineer with a
Cowboy.

A chicago mining engineer
grew confidential as he was talk
ing with a party of friends in his
club one day last week. He es-
Inmates the expense of his chat
tering at several hundred dollars
already and the account is grow
ing.
81 was down in Ration, n. NJ,
about ten years ago." he said,
"and the first thing l did after |
had secured my room in the ex-
cellent hotel at the station was
to 60 down and see an old &C
quaintance of mine who had
come up from the mines and
opened a combination liquor sa-
loon, ga1nbling>house and dance
hall. We talked over old times
until it was almost time for dim
ner, and l started back for the
hotel.
81 had got within plain view
of the crowd sitting out on the
broad veranda waiting for the
dinner bell to ring when l be-
came conscious of the approach
of little blonde, Weazen-faced
cowboy, escorting a stout, bleary
looking woman. AS We were
about to meet, | said in my best
manner:
Pleasant day, partner.
"'Betcher life it's a pleasant
day. he answered with some eff
fusion; "slny weddin day Then
with an air of evident pride at
the new-found joys and sorrows,
'Smy wife. Pretty, amt she?
81 saw no reason why l should
insult a bridegroom by telling
him the truth, so I answered that
she was very pretty. Without
any more conversation he chan
ged the subject with startling
abruptness
"'Kiss 'er,' he said. Kiss a
bride
Nov, | didn't want to kiss
anybody at that time, and least
of all this silent woman, who
stood rocking dreamily on the
arm of my new acquaintance. |
bethought me of my old friend
as a refuge i'll affection and said:
Lets go down to Bills place
and drink her health.
"'Kiss 'er first he replied, I'M
compromisingly.
"'Well, said l, suppose you
take a dollar and go down there
and drink her health.
"'Gin1me dollar he said.
81 produced the dollar cheer
fully thinking it mighty cheap
under the circumstances when
he interrupted my thoughts of
self-gratulation with:
"'Now kiss'err
"You all know I'm a bachelor
and an honest truth telling man.
| am ashamed to say that i'll my
desperation | lied shamefully.
My wife is right up there Oh
the hotel porch, | begged, and
what will she say when she sees
me kiss a stranger :.
"Tha's all right, he responded
cheerfully. You kissa girl an I'll
go up and kisshure wife
Il had played my last card anc
could distinctly see, III spite OF
my modification, that he was
lingering his weapons, a perfect
arsenal Of guns and knives that
pervaded his whole miserable
front. There was only one thing
to do and | did it like man. | put
both arms around that frowsy
woman i'll front of the crowd On
the veranda and kissed her good
and loud.
"'Thank you said he, and
our acquaintance ceased from
that moment.
"When | reached the hotel the
crowd rose as one man and fol>
lowed me into the bar. Ny bust
ness made it absolutely neces-
sary tor HE to stay III Ration sew
eral days, During all that time
men | never saw before and hope
to never see again would come
up to me and whisper Kiss 'er.
The amount Of money it cost ME
was fabulous.
And here it was that the min~
ing engineer failed to reckon on
Chicago adaptability. Men in
that club he never saw before,
and never wants to see again
are coming up to him cat inter
walls, all day long and saying in
low tone kiss 'er."-ChiCago
| Tines Herald.