The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-11
YEARS AFTER.

Matte, you little brown thing, what
are you doing? Dreaming. ! declars!
Did you know, child, you have Just Is
minutes to dress in before the dinner
bell rings?"
She had donned her prettiest cos
tune and brightest smiles in honor of
the new arrival, Guy Edgerton.
How my beautiful sister would have
laughed could she have known that this
same new arrival was the hero Of my
dreams. l will tell you how he came
to perform SO important part in
them.
Five years ago, when 1t lacked but
two weeks Of my sisters 18th birthday,
my mother died.
We mourned her loss deeply; but
Kate, for her oath's sake, given in the
shape of enameled invitation cards.
would not give up her usual party.
"Oh, Kate" pleaded, please don't
have it,"
you don't know what you are say
ing, child. ! cannot detract after the
invitations are issued, and father
thinks it is best we should have It,"
And SO it ended. The party came of,
protesting would not appear in the
drawing-room; and did not. But,
sitting alone on the balcony, watched
the forms fit to and fro in the brilliant
drawing-room.
I was crying bitterly, when firm
step sounded beside me, and, looking
up, met the gaze of Guy Edgerton,
my sister Katie's most ardent admir-
er.
why do you not join the company,
Miss Howard?"
He bent forward and looked in my
face. What, in tears, little one!" At
this cried harder than ever.
Wont you tell me what grieves
you?" .
At this told him all. How 1t SEEM
ed to me sacreligious SO to treat my
mothers memory.
He said nothing, only smoothed my
hair tenderly until ceased weeping.
AS looked up he said:
Little Matte, l am going away to-
morrow going to Europe. Will you
kiss me goodbye"
l was only Is, so raised my head
and kissed him.
Thank you, little one; and when
come back will you give me kiss Of
welcome? l have no mother, no sis
ter, Matte. No one to welcome me
back. Will you?"
Eyes, sir" sobbed.
He said THANK you" again, and then
left me.
fuo hoH hao Nd ,nth
ing from him; and now he had return
ed.
This is what I had been dreaming
about this pleasant morning.
The dinner-bell reused me from my
reverie, and hastily donning my pretti-
est blue muslin l sought the dining
room.
As entered, my father presented, me
to Mr.. Edgerton.
my little daughter, Matte"
II think we are already acquainted"
he said, and then passed on.
For two weeks every young lady at
the house, save myself, tried their fas-
cinations upon him, but to no avail.
What a pity" sighed Flo Archer,
that his uptown mansion and huge
bank stock have no mistress!"
But her signs were In vain. The last
morning of Mr.. Edgerton's stay the
subject of conversation turned upon
kissing. Mr.. Edgerton, sitting by, did
not join in the conversation. Pretty
Flo Archer saucily demanded Mr.. Edg-
erton's opinion.
Nov, really, Mr.. Edgerton, don't
you like to attend forfeit parties?"
mo, Miss Archer, do not. l think
a kiss obtained by compulsion no kiss
at ALL"
why, Mr.. Edgerton! You shall do
penance for that speech"
you are to tell what lady you kissed
last"
That would not do, as the lady Is
present, and would be the sufferer
rather than myself"
well, then, you are to tell how long
1t is since you kissed her."
"Will you promise not to doubt my
word?"
"Oh, certainly"
Then, Miss Layton, have kissed no
lady for the space Of five long years"
My cheeks were burning, and arose
and fed to my room.
Matte, you little goose, what are
you blushing for? He doesn't mean
you"
l said this over to myself, but some
how doubted my own words.
Here Kate burst in upon me.
Here you are, Puss. have been
out hunting for you. We have made
up a party to ride out to the Shaker
settlement, and take dinner and return
by moonlight. Won't 1t be fun, and
don't you want to go?"
mo, guess l had rather stay at
home and have quiet day Of it,"
What a little old maid 1t is! Well,
1t needn't go unless it wants tot" and
she was off. ! watched them drive off.
Scarcely had seated myself when
some one entered the room, repeating
those lines of Leigh Hunts little bal
lad:
Say I'm weary-say I'm sad,
Say that health and wealth have
missed me;
Say I'm growing old, but add
Jennie kissed mel"
My heart gave great bound, for I
recognized Guy Edgerton's voice.
Not knowing was there, he came
to the very window where l was sit
ting.
"Why, Matte, you here! thought
you were out with the riding party,
How coy you look here. May sit
down beside your"
Eyes, SIR" answered, frankly.
His dark eyes searched my face for
a moment. then he said:
II am going away tomorrow, little
one; will you redeem your promise be-
fore 60? l have carried the kiss you
gave me last through all my travels,
darling, and have brought 1t back to
you pure as you gave it. l have kissed
no woman all the five years. For, do
you know, Matte. you made conquest
If ma that night when Won kissed mo