The evening Republican., 1902-05-10
THE MEMORY :
OF A KISS

ulCullIiy loluAHLlS Auiu.
Perhaps the gloomy silence of the
big house, given over to the care OF
servants since his mothers recent
departure for Europe, impressed him
anew with a realization Of his solitary
lot.
pcrba ps the quiet dusk ofthe room
lighted as yet only by the titful glow
of tie tire. had its due effect upon his
musings. Or perhaps his relaxed
mood. following an unusually stren-
uous day at his law studies left
him gently susceptible to softening
Influences.
Certain it was that his meditatons
driftcd to dreams Of the one perfect
woman who should some daycomplete
existence for him.
More than once in th" past had he
thought of her. More than oncc, too,
had he licen deceived into believing
that he had found her which means,
tru'hfuly speaking, that Trarcrs had
faucied himself in love on several Uc-
casions only to discover that the fair
one whose charms had blinded him
was Il mere counterfeit Of the one
ideal. What normal hearted fellow OF
twenty eight has not known SINH
lar experience?
There was an element Of the un-
usual in his musings to night, how
ever a mysterious consciousness that
descended softly upon him. an intim-
alton, sort OF intuition, let us say,
which seemed to assure him that the
hour of his meeting with hcr-the
one perfect woman was near at
hand.
Being a man, he was inclined to
attach any real importance to the
apprehension. Alluring though it
was. it could be nothing more than
a iiimy fiber of the web his inlagi
nation was weaving.
In the mcsheS of this web his
browsing senses were ensnarad and
he driI'tel into semi -slumber.
1t seemed to him that he had slept
not at all when suddenly every fac
ulty became keenly alive to q hur-
riedly entertaining feminine pres
ence. There was the unmistakable
silken rustic Of skirts on the thresh-
old and the quick trailing of those
skirts across the carpet toward his
chair.
Before his dazed eyelids couldlift,
hefor" he could think or breathe, Il
pair Of arms pressed about his neck
and swift. sweet kiss, light as a rose
petal, fell upon his lips.
Travers' eyes struggled open,
hut not before wonans dismayed
gasp and a startled fluttering sound
warned him that the presence has
turned from him for precipitate
flight.
His confused vision caught what
seemed to him the vague outlines of
dark, slender form vanishing into
the shadows of the hall.
Splinging to his feet he started in
pursuit. He thought he heard the
rust!n" continue down the base
ment stairs and followed wonder
ing if he We're indeed awake or only
dreaming.
The rushing Of cold air against
him as he descended brace;l him in
to un alert realization that the base
ment door stood open.
A sudden certainty Icapad within
him. The presence had been an &C.
t1laiity. She had escaped into the
street.
But although he peered up and
down the quiet avenue. he saw no
sign Of a mysteriously fleeing figure.
AZ he rctraced his steps to the IL
hrury, he searched eagerly for some
Sma|l clew IL veil, perhaps, or
handkerchief that would settle all
dulbt as to his strange visitors re-
ulity. But his efforts were iluitless
Absolutely no trace, no token was
to he found.
The conviction that she was not a
phantom of his dream, but indeed a
woman of flesh and blood, grew
upon Travers every moment. That
kiss. Could heever forget it! There
was certainly no doubt of its reality.
The sweetness of it fingered still
upon his lips.
As days passed into weeks and
weeks into months. the memory OF it
grew swccter yet. Like wine, it be.
came richer and rarer with the ad-
vance Of time.
Tavers remembered the intuition
that had come to him that evening
as he muscd by the fire. lie began
to believe that the mysterious being
whose tender lips had touched his
was after all, the one ideal Would
any other wonan's S kiss SO thrill his
memory?
But where had she flown and how
was he to lind her?
In his conviction Of the affinity be-
tween himself and the unknown one
Traycrs became almost superstltious.
lie vowed that no further fancy
should ever desecrate the memory Of
that sacred kiss. So, as time went
on and further opportunities for fall.
ing in love presented themselves, he
rigidly refrained. lie would be loyal
to his perfect love.
So he resolved. But Fate had ev-
identity different view, when she
made possible, six months later, his
acquaintance with Dora Pendleton.
She was not by any means the
prettiest girl he had-ever seen. In
fact, she was not absolutely pretty,
according to artistic standards. She
lacked several of the requisites. But
thara was an 1ndatinahla Snmatb;nn.