The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-06-07
!, EXTENUATING
CIRCUMSTANCES
The Story of Kiss.
BY HORACE WYNDHAM.
%~-s-'.%~.s-"%%..-..%~..-s-%%s-.%~-.-..S,
The Story of a Kiss.

| ~~-s-s~~.s-s-~~.s-s.@%-s-s-A~s-s-AH-s-sSs,y
1t was a quarter to 10 on SATURDAY.
night-a time when, standing aS one los>
on the threshold Of new week. it is ou.y
/ appropriate that new resolutions should
be formed. This, at any rate, was Ply,
| lidas view of the matter. and no Sa.,,~
day within my memory had ever bee.
! permitted to join its predecessors uG,
she had solemnly registered detcrmiui-
| ton to lead "hichcr and more purp as..
! full life for the future. From previous
! experience knew that | should bc press.
ed into subscribing to similar prote~ta
tons. 1t was therefore with no feclia.
of surprise worthy of the name that
heard my departure prohibited. as on {;
date in question, | made a strategic move.
mcnt hat in hand, toward the door.
You mustn't 70 yet" observed Phyl
Ida, laying detainin@ hand on my arm.
But my train WILL" | protested
Never mind that-you can catch an
other"
resigned myself to the inevitable an
sat down again. The pause that followed
was broken hy my companion.
Il called YOU back because you'd for
gotten something" she remarked insinn-
atingly.
81 don't think so. My overcoat is in
the hall, and I've got your letters for tive
post all right"
Its something more important th..a
( letters returned Phyllida. Guess"
"Parccls?"
"No-nor kilograms, either. You know,
! perfectly well what you've omitted to d.
I'm not going to give YOU the opportu
nifty of making another silly remark.
though. so I'll tell You at once. You
haven't made any good resolutions for
next week yet"
Quite 50; I'm afraid it Slipped my
memory. Have YOU noticed how the win |
is rising? | see that the meteorological Of
fee says
'Ics-it will probably be fine if it
doesn't rain" broke in Phyllida Il don't
think we need talk about the weather.
though"
ut is unspeakablc," agreed.
''Then perhaps YOU will give me your
attention for a few minutes. Do YOU
know what day this is?'
| consulted my notebook. at is the
10th of the month"
YES, and it is also Saturday evening" ''
returned my companion in a deny il If
you can voice. I'm Il quarter of an hour
or so we shall enter on new week. !
! should like to know, therefore, what your
resolutions for its proper observance are
Il think. Phyllida," | remarked dplu-
matically, that it would be as well if you
would mention the more conspicuous of
my moral lapses."
1T is time for self examination" she
replied severely. still perhaps it would
be better if did as You suggest"
| am afraid that Phyllida miSrcad til
expression with which | received this re-
mark.
"You needn't look so relieved" She con
tinucd. I'm only going to tell YOU your
faults because | don't believe | shoull
get the truth out of you"
That is not the way to invite conf
dencc," | replied with dignity. a mo-
| mcnt ago and | was more than ready t.
reveal the inmost workings of my mind
to you. As it is-well''-
Phyllida rose from her seat and crossel
over to my side. Looking at the matter
impartially | cannot regard her suisse
| quent action rs being strictly in accord
ancc with the dictates of propriety. Ii
was. however, distinctly tranquillizng-
! and then there were no spectators.
VERY we'll" | observed. as she rctu.
ed to her own chair. "Ask me anything
you like"
"Now, you're nice again" she answered.
! SmilinglV "Nou can't thinl; how att,.,..