The Florence daily tribune., 1899-04-08
A STOLEN KISS.

one is talking about you, and it is very
painful to me.
My dear guardy, said tho young
lady he addressed, very pretty gill
about is, what have | done? Just
mention somo of my sins and ! will try
to reform.
"Woll. said Sir Henry, "to begin
with, you aro much too fond of using
slang expressions; am sure you do not
mean any harm, dear, but it does not
sound well l wish you would adopt
more ladylike manner, like those nice
quiet girls, Colonel Bonds daughters
assure you, Leslie, men do not care
for fast girls. however much they may
firt with them, and ! confess | should
like 10 sec You well married. A"
Now my dear Sir Henry, " said Les.
lie ooaxiugly, tell me, did You ever
hear mo say anything the least woeny
bit impropcr!'
Certainly not, my dear child"
"Then let me tell you those nice,
quiot, ladylike girls you admire so
much say things that would make your
hair stand on end If you could only
hear how they go on when we are by
ourselvesl | should be quite ashamed, "
she added. with energy, "even to think
of the things they discuss freely-in.
deed | cut them whenever l can AS for
marryiug-really, all the young men
know are such mnffs or prigs | detest
the whole lor. What is my next crimei"
"You smoke cigarettes Leslie, said
her guardian sternly. 81 was told you
were actually seen with one belw
your lips out of doors the other night,
Leslie hung down her head ittle.
and then said, with a slight blush
81 cannot deny | tried one once and
indeed il was so nasty and made me
feel so i'll that l assure you am not
likely to do it again.
81 am glad to hear it. So you think
all young men mutfs or prigsg | hope
to introduce you to one who answers
neither description. You have of course
heard OF Captain Murray
"Do you mean tho Captain Murray
who gained the Victoria cross for de.
Tending that fort so CALAMITY in the
last campaign OF course remember
all about him. Why;'
He is coming home, and being the
son of AN old friend he has promised to
pay me visit, and l expect him
shortly"
'llow delightful shall like to
meet II real hero. l hope he is hand
sumc.
Douglas Murray was very good
looking lad, tut you will not suit HIM.
young lady lIo abhors fast girls aud
is very fnstitiious" p"
We'll, | shall survive his disappro.
baton, dare say. Amy will suit him
to T, she is such demure littlo
mouse, " And Miss Lindsay took her
s,lf Off
In aue time Captain Murray arrived
Leslie Lindsay was disappointed She
could hardly believe that quiet, uuas
suming young man could be the hero
who had startled the whole civilized
world into admiration. To her guard
isn's great annoyance she seemed to
make point of showing herself in her
worst coiors and when Sir Henry asked
her whether she thought Captain Muir
ray a prig or muff she declared he
was 10th.
One very hot day in July Leslie and
Sir Hepry's daughter, Amy Seymour,
were returning from making a call
The drawing room windows opened on
the veranda, which was covered with
luSuriant oreepers, Ii looked very cool
and pleasant inside on such sultry
day The two girls were about to euter
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 chance, Amy, for me to
win a pair of glovesr'
For shame Lesliei You surely
would not think of such a thing"
WHO'S afraid?" said Leslie. BE
sides, he is really fast asleep and will
never know, and the temptation is too
much for me. Consider, the hero the
whole world raves about. " and with a
mischievous look at Amy she stepped
lightly in and dropped kiss as light
as puff of thistledown upon the sleep
er's forehead
As the sound of the girls retreating
footsteps died away, Douglas Murray
opened his eyes and, smiling to himself,
said:
II suppose that is considered fast
girl must confess l like her. and be-
i1eve she is really true and womanly
That fast manner is all humbug. must
not forget to pay my debt, however, "
and he laughed. 'She thinks me a
mnff, | know Never mind, that kiss
was very nice-I forgive her.
day or two afterward as they were
all at breakfast. Sir Henry said;
II forgot, Leslie, here is something
for you, handing her small packet,
marked Parcel POST
Nv hat can it be. l wo-der?'' she
said. as she cut the string, ",Ae hand
writing is quite strange to me, and
she was about to open il quite uuoon-
cernedly. wha0 Amy remarked:
1t is just the shape of glove box. :"