The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-24
THE SALE OF A KISS.

"Oh, Mr. Feiary,' said Miss Garland
when 1 called. Il am so glad you've
come. Do you know there's to be
rattle for the benefit of the orphan .esy-
lum. and the ladies of the committee
have assigned me SO chances. If the ar
ticles to be raff1ed were for women 1
could get rid of them. I'm sure, but
since they are a mans chronometer
watch and chain I don't know what to
do. 1 can't go among men asking them
to take chances"
IN be happy to take one of them"
That's very kind of you. Now,
couldn't you think of some plan for
placing the whole lot at one timer"
That would be a pretty big contract.
Most men have watches with which
they are satisfied"
Don't you think that some man could
be found to do it2 Or two, or three
any number"
Il don't know any person or pelsons
whom 1 would ask"
Cant you think up some privilege
to go with the chances-something that
would be an honor rather than of in
trinsic value2"
remembered Lady Godiva. OF course
that wouldn't do in modern times, but
it set me thinking. Finally 1 hit on
something. The only trouble about II
was that Miss Garland might not fall IN
with the plan.
THE only honor I can thing of would
be a kiss" l said
why, Mr. Feiary!" exclaimed Miss
Garland, under her breath. You surely
wouldn't suggest my giving any one
who would take a chance kiss"
Certainly not But suppose the whole
so chances could be sold for one kiss.
= Miss Garland looked at the floor, then
at the ceiling, then out of the wlndoW.
You see. there is a great difference
between kissing fifty men ana KISSING
one man." 1 added.
yes but it is as bad to kiss man
once as to kiss him fifty times"
IF il is wrong to kiss him at all.
There was a long pause, during which
Miss Garland picked up a piece OF pa
per and tore it into little bits She
didn't seem to get on with her problem.
] must help her.
Il think 1 know a man who would
take your chances in the rattle with the
honor attached"
She made no reply to this, and I pro-
"He is not stranger to you. He has
known and admired you for long
while It wouldn't be like selling a kiss.
1t would give him great happiness, re-
lease YOU from the responsibility of
peddling the chances and benefit the
Il don't think she replied. after
much consideration. that it would be
right, even under the circumstances. for
me to kiss a man to whom 1 am not
engaged"
who knows but that an engagement
might follow"
Engagements usually precede such
things"
But this is a peculiar case. It
wouldn't do for you to engage yourself
to a man simply that you might sell
him a kiss to benefit an orphan
asvlum."
ut could be broken afterward'
That would be mere subterfuge
IF there is a sin in the transaction il
would not be wiped away by such an
arrangement as that"
Cant you suggest something that
would make the sale justifiable?"
"Oh, the charity renders it justia-
able
do you really think sop
Certainly 1 do. or I would't suggest
it
There was more thought, but the
question was being rapidly narrowed
down.
You haven't told me who the man
is" she said.
Il have told you that he is an adj
mirer of yours"
1T seems to me that a kiss given a
man who has no interest in me or 1 in
him would be merely a touching of the
lips without any feeling, whereas a kiss
from a man who admired me would be
very different"