The Valentine Democrat. [volume] (Valentine, Cherry Co., Neb.) 1896-1898, 1896-04-16

in which nothing was heard beyond the
rumbling of the carriages and the Oc-
caSiOnal involuntary "Ahn' of a pas
senger who was reading the news
paper or studying his guidebook, and
who was suddenly disturbed at his
occupation. Fraulein Martha wanted
to find something in her hand bag, and
in a tunnel took off her silk glove the
better to accomplish her object. When
we again emerged into daylight | no
ticed that her ungloved hand was of
surprising Wilderness. Its beauty it is
beyond me to describe, for black let
ters are not adapted to the description
of such w~hiteneSs. And what an ele-
gantly shaped hand it was! l laid a
bet with myself that it would quite
disappear in my own hand, if Frau
lein Martha would be so accommodate
ing as to let me try the experiment.
But she was not inclined TO be so &C
cOmmodating. Nevertheless, l could
not think of losing my wager. The
courageous conquer the-hand, l said
to myself, with all the obstinacy with
which II sticks to a pet idea. And
just at that very moment the whistle
shrieked and the train plunged into
a tunnel. Now or never / thought
to myself. Darkness, which is no
mans enemy, surrounded us, and not
only the idea, but with it courage,
came to me. l saw Fraulein Martha's
hand CLEAN in the darkness. ! seized
it, and before the owner had time
to know what l was doing
what was that:' cried Herr Fen
chel.
"A kiss" replied his wife.
The train left the tunnel and plunged
into the open daylight. The paSscn-
gers looked around as if they had
heard a shot rather than a kiss, aud
expected to see a suicide weltering i'll
his blood.
L initiated them and looked about
me with equal establishment and curl
osity. From several | heard giggling.
On the whole, the silence was really
embarrassing. Fraulein Martha was
rummaging in her handbag, and her
head was bent over it so that 1 could
not see whether she was angry or not.
1t may be hat L murmured, Il beg
your PARDON it may be that l did
not; for it will readily be understood
that my lips were fully employed in
what l have just described. At any
rate, l was glad that 1 had found such
a pleasure in such a short tunnel. Add
n6 70 thnt T 1nI WON nv HOT I,,,
hand had really disappeared in mine,
and l had to open my hand again i'll
order to imprint a kiss between two
pretty dimples. Fraulein Roschen aud
her admirer sat as if Stupetied and
stared solemnly at the door. y kiss,
which sounds like a real one, fills low.
ers with mixed sensations-enyy and
appreciation. Opposite them sat Herr
Fenchel, who stared at them in aston
ishment and shook his head warming
ly. His foresight had deceived him.
for he had not known that RoscheE
would be kissed. 1t was, moreover.
such a kiss! so fragrant, so resonant.
Had he dared to Speak-which be did
not, out Of consideration for his dauSh-
ter-he would have administered the
strongest rebuke that mortal ver re-
ceived. So he contented himself with
looking reproachfully and warningly
at the two culprits, and occasionally
turning his eyes on his wife, who was
intent on a newspaper which she was
holding upside down.
The rest of the passengers gradually
recovered from the shock. Al the
next station there was a louge" stop,
and we got out of the train. In doing
other: Good gracious!!" He was
speaking of the kiss. "Beausiful..'
said a lady to a gentleman who was
accompanying her. She, too, was speak
ing of il.
Il know exactly what's to be done,'
said Herr Fenchel to his wife as they
got out ON the platform. "Of course,
you'll understand, too, Martha, that
that kiss in the tunnel"
Il know all about it," replied Martha.
"a man of your understanding cannot
fail to perceive the meaning Of that
kiss. And if you ignore it, heavy re-
Sponsibility rests on your shoulders
continued she theoretically. 1T va
a perfect kiss, the meaning Of which
cannot be explained away. There are
kisses which are serious deeds, and
that in the tunnel was one OF them.
How could young and inexperienced
lips produce such a kiss? It's ringing
in my ears yet"
$50 you noticed it, did you, Martina"
said Herr Fenchel, although you We're
so far away? My wife didn't notice it,
of course. How often have l warned
her that that young Taube was Il Don
Juan. But it's no use repeating that
now. What is, is, and what must he.
must be-" Whereupon Herr Fenchel
took his wife's arm, and signed to his
daughter and young Taube 10 follow.
The quartette went into the first-class
waiting-room, which was empty.
But, fraulein," / said TO Martha,
who, having looked ON smilingly while
the four disappeared, came to my side.
Il made the best of use of the kiss"