Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-02-24
A STOLEN KISS.


painful TO me-"
my dear guardy. said tho young
lady he addressed. a very pretty girl
about 10, ''what have | done? Just
mention some Of my sins and will try
to reform"
well. " said Sir Henry, 'to begin
with, you are much too fond of using
slang expressions; l am snre you do not
mean any harm. dear, but IL docs not
sound we'll. I wish you would adopt =
more ladyliks manner, like tbose nice.
quiet girls. Colonel Bonds daughtera
! assure you, Leslie. men do not care
for fast girls. however much they may
nirt with them. and | confess l should
like to see you we'll married"
"Now. my dear Sir Henry, " said Les
lie coaxingly, "toll me. did you ever
hear me say anything the least weeny
Bit improper"
Certainly NOT, my dear child"
"Then let mo tell you those nice,
quiet. ladylike girls you admire 50
much say things that would make your
hair stand on end. II you could only
hear how they 90 on when we are by
ourselvesl l should DO quite ashamed. "
she added, with energy, ''even to think
of the things they discuss freely-in-
deed / Out them whenever l can. AS for
marrying-Teally. all the young men l
know are such muffs or prigs ! defeat
the whole lot. What Is my nexf crime?"
"You smoke cigarettes Leslie, I" said
her guardian sternly. II was told you
were actually seen with one between
your lips out Of doors tho other night"
Leslie hung down her head a little.
and then said, with q slight blush:
IL cannot deny | tried one once, and
indeed il was 40 nasty and made me
feel SO Ill that I assure you l Em not
likely TO do It again"
81 am glad to hear Il. SO you think
all young men NUTS or rrigs? hope
to introduce you to ono who nswe
neither description. You havo Of course
heard Of Captain Murrny?"
"Do you mean the Captain Murray
who gained the Victoria GROSS for de-
Tending that fort SO calamity in the
last campaign OF course l remember
all about him. WhyF"
"He is coming home, and being the
con Of an old friend no haS promised to
pay me a visit. and 1 expect him
shortly"
"How delightful shall like to
meet q real hero. l hope ho is hand
some"
Douglas Murray was a very good
looking lad, but you will not suit him.
young lady. He abhOrs fast girls' and
10 very fastidiouS."
aaNu-lN L-IN ----g-- IL.
baton. l dare say. Amy will suit him
to a 7, she is such a demure little
mouse" And Miss Lindsay took her
self OF.
In due time Captain Murray arrived.
Leslie Lindsay was disappointed. She
could hardly believe that quiet. unas-
Stunning young man could be the hero
who had startled the whole civilized
world into admiration. To her guard.
ian's great annoyance she seemed to
make a poirt Of showing herself in her
worst colors, and when Sir Henry asked
her whether she thought Captain Muir
ray a prig or q HluR she declared be
was both.
One very hos day in July Leslie and
Sir Henry's daughter. Amy Seymour.
were returning from making q call.
The drawing room windows opsned on
the veranda, which vas covered with
Iuxuriant crospers. 1t looked very COO
and pleasant inside on such Q sultry
day. The two girls were about TO entel
the room when Leslie. who was in ad
vance. suddenly drew back aud pointed
inside. Amy peeped in. There was Cap
tain Murray fast asleep in an armchair
near the window.
"What q chance. Amy, for me q
win a pair Of glovesr'
"For shame, Lesliel You surel,
would not think Of such q thing"
who's Afraidl'' said Leslie "Be
sides, he is really fast asleep ard viii
never know. and the temptation IL to-
much for me. Consider, the hero tn
whole world raves about. " and with
mischievous look at Amy she steppe,
lightly In and dropped q kiss As ligh
as q puff Of thistledown upon the sleep
er's forehead.
AS the sound Of tho girls r~etreatinI
footsteps died away, Douglas Murra,
opened his eyesand. smiling 70 himself
said:
81 suppose that Is considered q fnl
girl. must confess I like her. ard be
Heve she is really true and wOmanly
That fast manner is all humbug. I mus
not forget to pay my debt, however,
aud he laughed. "She thinks me
mun. I know. Never mind, that kia
was very nice-I forgive her"
A day or two AfterwArd a. they wer
an At breakfast. Sir Henry said;
~ forgot. Leslie. here IL someihinI
for you, handing her a small packet
marked Parcel Post"
"What can 10 DO, I wonderf" sh
sAld, a. she cut the string, "the hand
writing Is quite strange to me" an
she was about to open II quite unoon
esFBediy. when Amy remarked;
'It is iust the shape Of a glove bon.
Lssli0 started and looked guiltil
soToas the table At Captain Murray