Connecticut western news., 1896-04-16
HE KISSED HER.

"Well, it proves that circumstances alter cases, and that women are unrea- sonable beings, and that everything de- pends uIon the point of view. :"
 Anything else?'' D.. "It also proves that long engagements are mistake and that there are some trifles about which man does better to deceive his wife.
 "It must certainly be your own story if it proves all that you say," I said "Why don't you write it out-make book of it, for example, and call it 'Ev- cry Man His Own Don Juan?'"
 But my friend protested.
 "It wasn't quite so bad as that" he said. "I'll tell you about it if you like and you can judge"
 So agreed to listen, and he told me.
 "Ours was long engagement, but at last we ended it."
 "You broke it off?''
 "No, no. we married. It is not an un- usual alternative, I believe, and on the whole it has turned out very we'll. l don't complain. Only there have been awkward moments. I suppose there nearly always are Moments, for in- stance, when my wife has asked me if have ever loved before" '"
 ''There is a stereotyped answer to that question, my friend, interposed.
 1T know. l used the cliche. I was even prepared if necessary to have the cliche printed and framed and glazed and hung up in the bedroom. But the matter did not end there. Pauline was always fishing for confessions. Had I always been faithful to her during that long engagement in thought as we'll as act? If not, must tell her-I must con- fess. She was sure there hadn't been anything serious, and she would forgive me. I mustn't think that she wanted to live in fools paradise.
 "And do you mean to tell me that you are actually capable of believing woman when she says that she doesn't want to live in fools paradise?"
 "Not now, not now. should always use the oliches now. But was bolder then 1"
 "More rash, you mean. <"
 "More rash, then, if you prefer the word. You see, the truth was so very unimportant, and she might be imagin- ing something so very serious. So l thought that if told her it would clear the clouds away"
 "You didn't understand that women Ire happier in wondering what is behind the clouds than in discovering definite spots upon the sun?"
 "Not then. Besides it was rather a funny story in it's way. and I relied on Pauline's sense of humor. She had often told me that she had more sense of hu- nor than the average woman. "Every woman," I insisted, "is an average woman in her appreciation of a certain kind of funny story. But what was the exact story that you had to tell?'
 And he told me all about it, quoting, so far as his memory served him, the exact words in which he had told it to | his wife. 1t is nothing so very terrible, Pau iine,' I said. Such a trife that, till you questioned me, had forgotten all | about it.
 "'But you must tell me, she urged. | Oh, yes, you must tell me or shall be afraid that it is something dreadful' "'Ahi We'll then, in that case must confess, said. It was long time ago, when we were engaged-that summer, you know, when I was travelling ir Switzerland. was staying for few | days at the little hotel that stands be. | side the falls of Tosa, in the Val Far mazza. There was girl there-a beau tiful girl like you, dear, only in differ ent way-a sweet, helpless, clinging lit tie thing, with complexion like { peach in bloom, and the very lovelies auburn hair.
 Pauline interrupted.
 "'You mean red hair. hate iti think it very ugly P she exclaimed.
 My friend, that jarring note ough to have warned you, remarked.
 "I know. It frightened me, and tried to stop, but Pauline would not le me"
 And he resumed his narrative.
 "tI hate red hair too, as genera rule, because your hair is black, I tol, her. But it pleased me then. You see was travelling quite by myself, and was feeling lonely and was glad to fin' some one whom I could talk to. So broke the ice at dinner. and afterwar' the girl and I always chatted with eacl other when we met.
 "'You quite forgot to tell her tha you were engaged to me, I suppose! Pauline inquired.
 "I had of course That was the whol point of the story, and it was inartisti of Pauline to pretend to be surprised. ) did not reproach her for that, however but continued.
 "'No, dearest. If I had told hel there would have been no confession fc
 you to wiring from me now. If had tol her, she would never have walked ou with me that night to watch the moor , light shining on the waterfall But sh came, and we sat on rock together Iii
 tening to it's music. You must not
 angry with me, Pauline, for have bee sorry ever since. You must rather pit t me for being weak. For the whole al seemed full of poetry and passion. an . she was very pretty, and she nestle 1, very close to me, and then-forgiV me, Pauline, hardly knew what l w' doing. and it all happened such Ion time ago-then I put my arm round h'
 waist, and she let her head fall on m 'f shoulder and looked up with her lips 6 little parted expecting to be kissed. AT
 them
 "And then?' Pauline repeated.
 "And then, Pauline, remembert
 you. It seemed to me that, through u
 hay white mist of the broken water,
 saw your beautiful gray eyes looking l. me sadly. reproachfully. Twas asham'