The Somerset reporter., 1897-02-11
A KISS IN THE DARK.

for down town car.
The A 5. A. usually gives an annual
banquet, but this year no one seemed
to be hungry, as the nlan that makes
the speech said, 50 they are giving in
stead an artistic, musical and dramatic
entertainment for those who are
Two cars approach, running tandem,
one with seats running lengthwise, the
other with seats running erosswise.
Shall we take the front carr" he
asks, i'll no amiable tone of voice, for it
had taken her just hour and 20 min
utes TO dress.
No, the last one. Everybody has
such an opportunity To stare when the
passengers face each other Now, if
were so beautiful that none could look
but to admire''-- \ low growl from the
depths of his mustache as he hands her
up to the rear platform of the car is the
only answer Then he flashes a look at
the graceful, white clad fignrN, the black
eyes and mass of raven hair beneath the
rose decked hat, but says nothing.
THAT wide eyed girl across the aisle
reminds me of a story | read the other
day of New York man who was call
ing Oh lady in Boston. She was a sort
of poster woman, with orange hair and
orange lips and crimson bodice Stay
ing with her was Il young girl from
somewhere in Missouri girl with
eyes set mystcriously wide apart-who
enchanted him with her singing. A
year later he met the wide eyed girl
again and ASKED her TO sing to him. She
went to the piano and sang a touching
little ballad that brought the tears to
his eyes. See, you have called forth my
tears
l would give the rest of my life to
see your tears, she SAID. and then he
knew that wide eyed girl was blind. I"
Where did you get that" he asked
quietly
"Oh, from one Of these impossible
little magazines, 'Clack ora Clique, ;
a Chap or Chip, she answered.
As they are about To leave the car
the little woman across the aisle arises,
takes the wide eyed girl 10y the hand
and carefully leads her out. They look
at each other i'll silence
They are late, of course Memorial
hall is a flutter of pink and white, a
garden Of flower trimmed hats III a per
fume laden atmosphere.
They are just IN time to see Burne-
Jones Garden Court III the legend Of
the Brier Rose, 10 the music of she
Sleeps. Then lis the usher points them
IL.
natcly III the back roW-thc curtain
rises again upon one of Bourgereau' :
Madonnas sitting with unhliuking eyes
and reverent upliftcd hands 1t is the
wide eyed girl they had seen i'll the car
In the interval that follows girl in
ivory white, bareheadcd, down the aisle
exchanges IL few words with lady in
black and darts back again, her glorious
hair framing her face IN Il halo of light.
Il believe she did that with pur
pose" he growls.
How could one suppose anything
else? She knew, of course, what the
effect of the light on her hair would be. -
do look at that huge woman in the
blue silk gown. She reminds me Of
nothing so much as lazy, pale blue
COW "
Where? Which one
Second seat from the end, third
row. "
As they look and laugh the female
bovine turns and casts il look of very
human seoin at them.
Aren't You ashamed of yourself?'
Yes, | am. | wouldn't be rude even
to a COW ne remarks III an undertOne
us he hidos his mblushing face behind
her gau1e fan.
just then the directors wife, Il plain
little woman with sorrel hair, gowncd
III yellow organdie, rises from seat Il
little 10 the left and goes to sing II
Swedish folkSong behind the scenes
while Won der Lipre's little son and
daughter posi- IN Il Swedish fairy scene.
But he Is not looking at the stage. He
is studying the group just i'll front Il
demure little maiden, with pinehable
checks and a nose that tits the least lit
tie mite in the world, and. OH the dam
test little chui The two men who are
with her might pass for twins but for
the fact that the one at the right wears
IA gray coat while the other is clad III
black. Yes aud he of the gray coat
wears a mustache.
"Wcll, what do you think of her?'
she asks observing his scrutiny
of the lights should all go out sud
denly, | think | should kiss her, " he
says thoughtfully while he gazes at the
bronze hair beneath the correct little
panama sailor.
"You wouldn't have the ghost of a
chance with those two mon keeping
guard over hr | wonder if they are
both in low With her, she says, while
she catches sly glance from the man
with the gray coat. He Ind heard every
word.
The director $ wife flushed and tri-
umphant. eurges from side door and
resumes hcr seat, unfortunately also
her hat and the view of fhc Stage Is cut
of
Docs tho director paint She asks
Then, t.torc heean answer, Sometimes
they don l. yoa know.
"No, / suppose he sometimes doesn't, -
he says, with "a sideloug glance from un
der his lasf
"Oh you LuoW what ! mean know
of one art museum director who never
painted a stroke III his life, She says,
while the wonderful green and yellow
mooubran~ tll across the stage on
leighton 5 summer Moon