Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-09
YEARS AFTER.

utes to dress in before the inner bell rings?'' Do'A She had donned her prettiest costume and brightest smiles in honor of tbe new arrival, Guy Edgerton. /"
 How my beautiful sister would have laughed could she have known thai this same new arrival was the hero of my dreamsl will tell you how he came to l perform so Important part in them. We a5 nome always made it practice to cele- brate the birthdays with a fete. Five years ago, when it lacked but two weeks oI my sisters eighteenth birthday, my mother died. We mourned her loss deeply. put Kate, for her oaths sake, given in the shape oI enameled invitation cards, would not give up her usual custom.
 The party came off, 1 protesting Iwould not appear in the drawing room. and I dld not, but, sitting alone on the balcony. watched the forms fit to and fro in the brilliant drawing room.
 was crying bitterly when a firm step l sounded beside me, and, looking up. I met tho gaze of Guy EdgertoA, my sister hatieis most ardent admirer
 Why do you not join the company, Miss Howard?''
 He bent forward and looked in my face. What, in tears, little one?' At this I cried harder than ever.
 Won't you tell ne what grieyes youq'' At this l told him all-how it seemed to me saerilegious so to treat my mother s memory.
 He said nothing, only smoothed my hair tenderly until ceased weeping.
 As looked up he said:
 Little Hattie, I am going away tomor- row-going to Europe. Will you kiss me goodby?"
 was only 15, so raised my head and kissed him.
 Thank you, little one, and when I come back will you give me a kiss of well come? I have no mother, no sister, Mat tie, no one to welcome mo back. Will you?7
 Yes, sir, ) I sobbed.
 He said 'Thank you" again and then left me.
 For five long years I had heard nothing from him, and now he had returned This is what had been dreaming about this pleasant morning. The dinner bell reused me from my reverie, and, hastily donEing my prettiest blue muslin, I sought the dining room. AS I entered my father presented me to MT. Edgerton.
 Ny little daughter, Mattie.9
 II think we are already acquainted, " he said and then passed on.
 The last morning of Mr. Edgerton s stay the subject of conversation turned upon kissing Mir. Edgerton, sitting by, did not join in the conversation. Pretty Flo Archer saueily demanded Mir. Edgerton s opinion.
 "Now, really, MT. Edgerton, don't you like to attend forfeit partiesf"
 ''No, Miss Archer, do not. think kiss obtained by compulsion no kiss at all. J
 "Fie! We shall get up party on pur- pose to test you. We believe you would assist
 II certainly should not.
 "Why, Mr. Edgertonl You shall do penance for that speech.
 You are to tell what lady you kissed last.
 'That would not do as the lady is pres ent and would be the sufferer rather than myself
 Well, then, you are to tell how long it is since you kissed her.
 twill you promise not to doubt my word?''
 "Oh, certainly"
 'sThen, Miss Layton, I have kissed no lady for the space of five long years. :"
 "Oh, Guy is probably faithful to some fair lady who favored him then, ' suggest cd Ned Archer.
 Exactly so Ned,' and he passed to meet his valet, who came with letters.
 My cheeks were burning, and 1 arose and fled to my room.
 Hattie, you little goose, what are you blushing forf He doesn It mean you. U
 I said this over to myself, but somehow doubted my own words.
 Here Kate burst in upon me-
 stHere you are, Fuss. 1 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 to go?''
 ''No I guess had rather stay at home and have a quiet day of it. '3
 "What little old maid it isl We'll, it needn't go unless it wants toF And she was off. watched them drive off. Then l took my sewing and ensconced myself in bay window in the quiet, cool parlor
 Scarcely had l seated myself when some one entered the room, repeating those lines of Leigh Hunt s little ballad; Say Pm 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 Q great bound, for recog- nized Guy Edgerton s voice.
 Not knowing was there, he came to the very window where l was sitting
 He drew back the curtain and looked 1n upon mo.
 aWhy, Hattie, you hereP I thought you were out with the riding party. How oozy you look here. May l sit down be- side yous"
 "Yes, sir, answered frankly.
 His dark eyes searched my face for moment. Then he said;
 1T am going away tomorrow, little one. Will you redeem your promise before gof I have carried the kiss you gave me last