Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-04-12
STORY OF A KISS.


Nonsense, child His age at the very
outside cannot be more than six or eight
and thirty"
And am only IS, and besides
"Besides whatP"
"Oh, nothingl"
"Do you mean there is some one you
like botterf l am too fond of you, darling,
TO try to force a husband upon you, but
l must say that James HARDWOOD has al
ways shown himself to be very model
gentleman and well endowed with esti-
mablc qualities that too many of the
young men Of the present day unfortu-
nately lack"
Yes"
And his financial position is of inds-
putable frmness. He has not only the
will but tho means to provide the COM
forts and even the luXuries of home for
his wife"
"Oh, yes, motherl"
well, child, if your heart does not
draw you to him, l will not press you, but
l think he is man any woman might
feel proud of, and in my marrying days
p
why do you talk of your marrying
days ms though they were over, mother?
Do you never think of marrying againY"
My darling, you forget my age"
"Why, dear mother, you talk as if you
were Methuselah. You are not so very
old"
II shall be Al in few months, Elsie. "
The girl laughed brightly. And you
look hardly 81. YOU
Whatever else she may have been con-
templating saying was cut off by the an
nouncement of Mr.. James HARDWOOD, " a
gentleman who was short time following
his name and greeted the two ladies rath-
er nervously as he entered. He was tall,
well shaped man, with a good natured
face, but whose hair was getting little
scanty on the top, indicating that he had
passed the meridian of youth.
He sat down and for little while tried
to maintain his share in general CONVEX
sation, but he seemed uncomfortable and
talked in somewhat preoccupied manner,
as though something were weighing on
his mind.
At last Mrs Singleton, thinking it pol
itic to leave the two together, made some
excuse to go out and rose from her seat.
She had reached the door when James
HARDWOOD with an evident effort, leaned
forward in his chair and said quickly,
PLEASE don't go, Mrs. Singleton. She
stopped on the point of leaving the room
and came back. She designed that he de-
sired her consent first and thoroughly ap-
proved of the straightforward course.
Looking at Elsie, she said gently:
II wish, darling, you would answer
those cards for me that are in the draw
ing room. l feel a little knocked up after
my drive"
Without requiring a second bidding the
girl departed lightly on her errand, leav-
ing her mother alone with their visitor.
Mrs. Singleton was sitting on low
sofa, and James HARDWOOD left his chair and
went to sit beside her. his nervousness be-
coming moro marked as he did so. He
looked straight in front of him as he said:
Mrs. Singleton, wished-rather-t
speak to you upon subject. l trust you
will bear with me moment while p
The lady noticed his agitation and was
sorry for him. She tried to help him out.
Il think l know to what you are allud-
ing. have been expecting this, James
you will let me call you 'James?-for
some time, Please go on"
1T is kind of you to say that. 1t makes
what l have to say much easier" He
clasped one of his knees with both hands
and for the first time looked straight into
his companions face. Il have recently
had thoughts, my dear Mrs. Singleton
though l feel much diflidence in telling
you-l have lately been contemplating
marriage"
THAT is exactly what expected you to
say, and l think at your age and in your
position it is very proper course to
take"
Then may take it? May be SO bold
as to assume-that you are not averse-in
fact, that you CONSENT"
That is what ! intended to convey. l
said just now that had been little pre-
pared for this, and 1 am very glad that
you have given me the opportunity of say
ing-as 1 truly think-that no woman
could wish to find a better husband" She
looked into his face with "a quiet smile as
she concluded.
For moment HARDWOOD shuflled nerv-
ously on his seat; then, moving closer to
her, ne took her hand. Mrs. Singleton
looked surprised, but she let it remain.
Then, as everything is so satisfactorily
settled" he said awkwardly, would you
mind if THAT is-it seems perhaps a lit
tie strange at 1irst-but may kiss your"
Mrs. Singleton was more than ever TAX
en- aback at this unexpected request, and a
flush came over her face. Then she
thought that as prospective on-in-law
his request was perhaps not altogether
unreasonable, and she turned her face to
his, smiling rather consciously as she re-
piled:
'Oh, we'll, suppose you may, as l am
to be your mother"
My motherl"
'Yes; l shall be your mother, shan't I,
If you marry Elsie?''
Marry Elsie! But l want to marry
you'll"
Mrs. Singleton jumped away from him
to the other end Of the sofa, and her face
flushed scarlet as his meaning burst upon
her.
There was silence between them for a
few minutes. Mrs. Singleton's eyes were
bent upon the ground, and she looked al