Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-11-18
THE SALE
or A KISS
fOriginal.1

lum, and the ladies OF the committee
have assigned me fifty chances. II
the articles to be ratified were for wom-
en- l could get rid of them. I'm sure,
but since they are mans chronom-
eter watch and chain l don't know
what to do. can't go among men
asking them to take chances"
"I'll be happy to take one Of them"
That's very kind Of you. Now,
couldn't you think Of some plan for
THAT would be pretty big contract.
Most men have watches with which
they are satisfied"
Don't you think that some man
could be found to do it? Or two, or
three-any numberY'
81 don't know any person or persons
whom | would ask"
Cant you think up some privilege
to go with the chances-Something that
would Le an honor rather than Of in
trinSic value?"
l remembered Lady Godiva. OF
course that wouldn't do in modern
times, but it set me thinking. FL
nally l hit on something. The only
trouble about it was that Miss Gar
land might not fall in with the plan.
THE only honor can think of would
be kiss" | said
"Why. Mr.. Feiary!" exclaimed Miss
Garland. under her breath. You sure
ly wouldn't suggest my giving any one
who would take chance a kiss
Certainly not. But suppose the
whole fifty chances could be sold for
one kiss"
Miss Garland looked at the floor.
then at the ceiling, then out of the win
dow.
You see. there is great difference
between kissing fifty men and kissing
one man." added.
"Yes. but it is as bad to kiss man
once as to kiss him fifty times"
IF it is wrong to kiss him at ALL"
There was long pause. during
which Miss Garland picked up piece
Of paper and tore it into little bits.
She didn't seem to get on with her
problem. l must help her.
II think l know a man who would
take your chances in the rattle with the
honor attached"
She made no reply to this. and l pro-
ceeded:
HE is not a stranger to you. He has
known and admired you for a long
xx,hiI In ha lilo cnllfnU n EiSc
1t would give him great happiness, re-
lease you from the responsibility of
peddling the chances and benefit the
orphans"
II don't think" she replied. after
much consideration. that 1t would be
for me to kiss man to whom am not
engaged"
"Who knows but that an engagement
might follow"
Engagements usually precede such
things"
"But this is a peculiar case. 1t
wouldn't do for you to engage your
self to a man simply that you might
sell him kiss to benefit an orphan
asylum"
1T could be broken afterward."
"That would be a mere subterfuge.
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 1t justifia-
ble."
do you really think SOP
Certainly l do. or / wouldn't sug-
gest it,
There was more thought, but the
question was being rapidly narrowed
down.
"You haven't told me who the man
u.s." she said.
81 have told you that he is an ad-
mirer of yours"
ut seems to me that kiss given q
man who has no interest In me or l 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"
SHOulu luluh you NOulu prefer the
latter"
This remark also ELECTED no reply.
Miss Garland was still thinking, think
ing hard. She was very anxious to
dispose of her chances in one lot, but
the manner Of doing so seemed to her
very irregular.
"What do you suppose" she said at
last, 'the people present would think
of me?"
"There need be no people present"
ooh, supposed the thing was to be
done at the fair"
mo; it could be done In private. In
deed I'm quite sure the man buying
the kiss would not expose you or him.
self to such publicity"
'But in public it wouldn't be as
much harm"
81 see no harm in 1t either way"
"Are you sure this friend of yours
would do as you sayT'
81 am positive"
81 don't see how you can know that
since you have not had an opportunity
to speak to him about It."
"Do you suppose, Marion" ! said,