Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-13
YEARS AFTER.

ates to dress in before the inner bell rings?"
 She had donned her prettiest costume 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 tho hero of my dreamsl I will tell you how he came to perform so important part in them We at home always made it a practice to cele- brate the birthdays with fete. Five years ago, when it lacked but two weeks of my sisters eighteenth 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 custom.
 The party came off, protesting l would not appear in the drawing room, and I did not, but sitting alone on the balcony, watched the forms fit to and fro in the brilliant drawing room.
 l was crying bitterly when a firm step sounded beside mo, and looking up I met tho gaze of Guy Edgertan, my sister Katie most ardent admrer.
 Why do you not join the company, Miss HowardY'
 He bent forward and looked in my face 'What in tears, little one2h At this I cried harder than ever.
 Wont you tell me what grieves you?" At this l told him all-how it seemed to me sacrilegious so to treat my mothers memory.
 He said nothing, only smoothed my hair tenderly until l ceased weeping.
 As looked up he said:
 Little Mattie l am going away tomor- row-going to Europe. Will you kiss me goodby2'i
 was only 15, so raised my head and kissed him.
 Thank you, little one, and when I come back will you give mo a kiss of wei eome2 l haye no mother, no sister, Mat tie, no one to welcome me back. Will you?'
 .sYes, sir. 3 sobbed.
 He said Thank you" again and then left me.
 For five long years had heard nothing from him, and now he had returned. This is what 1 had been dreaming about this pleasant morning. The dinner bell reused mo from my reverie, and, hastily donEing my prettiest blue muslin, sought the dining room As I entered my father presented me to Mr. Edgerton.
 My little daughter, Hattie.
 T think we are already acquainted, '' he said and then passed on.
 The last morning of Nlr. Edgerton stay the subject ef conversation turned upon kissing. Mr. Edgerten, sitting by, did not join in the conversation. Pretty Flo Archer saucily demanded Mr. Edgerton s opinion.
 Now, really, Mr. Edgerton, don't you like to attend forfeit partiesf"
 No Miss Archer, do not think kiss obtained by compulsion no kiss at all !"
 Fiel We shall get up a party on pug pose to test you. We believe you woald assist
 II certainly should not"
 'Why, Mir. Edgertonl You shall do penanee for that speech. "
 You are to tell what lady you kissed last.
 That would not do, IS the lady is pres ent and would be the sufferer rather than myself.
 We'll, then, you are to tell how long it is since you kissed her. "
 Will you promise not to doubt my wordg"
 "oh, eertainlyr'
 "Then, Miss Layton, have kissed no lady for the space of five long years.
 "Oh, Guy is probably faithful to some
  ed Ned Archer.
 Exactly so Ned.s and he passed to ,neet his valet, who came with letters.
 My cheeks were burning, and I arose and fed to my room.
 Hattie, you little goose, what are you blushing forF He doesn t mean you l said this over to myself, but somehow I doubted my own words.
 Here Kate burst in upon me.
 Here you are. Fuss. I have been out hunting for you. We have made up party to ride out to the Shaker settlement and take dinner and return by moonlight Won't it be fun, and don't you want te gos''
 No, guess I had rather stay at home and have a quiet day of it. ;"
 What little old maid it isl Well, it needn t go unless it wants to" And she was off. 1 watched them drive off. Then I took my sewing and enseonced myself in bay window in the quiet, cool parlor. Scarcely had I seated myself when some one entered the room, repeating those lines of Leigh Hunt little ballad; 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 me.
 My heart gave great bound, for I recog- nized Guy EdgerteH's s voice.
 Not knowing l was there, he came to the very window whero l was sitting.
 He drew back the curtain and looked in upon ne.
 Why, Hattie, you here? I thought you were out with the riding party. How oozy you look here. May sit down be- side you2"
 Yes. sir, answered frankly.
 His dark eyes searched my face for a