Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-08
CAME
OF A KISS
tOriginal.1

think Of II before she went outW
Il didn't know she was going so
soon.''
"Well, l see nothing for you to do
but go without the kiss"
That would make mother miserable
for a whole week."
True, you deserve whipping for
your carelessness. You never attend
to anything properly. Either your
mother or l must always be looking
out for you
"True again. You must look out for
me now"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You must give mother the kiss for
me-"
~ will give her kiss for you, but
1t will be no good. You should have
attended to the matter yourself and
saved her the disappointment. Now
go. You will miss your train"
But you haven't the kiss"
"What kiss?"
For mother"
81 told you would give her kiss"
lone Of your own. l want you to
give her one Of mine"
How can do that, stupidY'
II will give it to you and you can
pass II on to mother"
"Well, l decla-ev'
Tommy went up to her, put his arm
gently about her waist, drew her to-
ward him and kissed her. Tommy
was eighteen and Molly was sixteen.
She had been adopted by Tommy's
mother because she had no other home.
AS soon as Tommy had given her the
kiss he ran for his hat-and coat and
left the house. Ten minutes later his
mother came in.
where's Tommy" she asked.
"Gone"
"Gone? And without kissv'
"It troubled him very much, but he
couldn't wait Why didn't you take
your kiss before you went out?''
81 expected to be back before he left.
I'm very much disappointed"
The mother said no more. The kiss
hCI DOt SuNC hCi VII Nlonudy blhS
when he departed usually kept her up
till Saturday evening, when he re-
turned. Molly endeavored to tell her
that Tommy had left the kiss with
her, but she was unable to screw up
her courage to do So Several times
she opened her red lips to speak about
it, but her face grew SO hot and her
tongue so rebellious that she gave it
up. Monday passed, and she had not
given up her commission. Monday
night when she went to bed she firmly
resolved that she would do so the next
morning, but the next morning the
mother was very busy, and Molly
didn't like to interrupt her. So Tues
day went by. and Molly had not acted
In the matter. On Wednesday she ar
gued that, half the week having
elapsed, the mother would only have
three days to wait for kiss direct.
Consequently when Tommy arrived on
delivered. Tommy gave his mother a
good smack, and without mentioning
the kiss he had left for her he sat
down to supper. At 0 O'clock his moth
er went to bed and left him and Molly
sitting by the table. Tommy was read
ing; Molly was sewing. Moliy's head
was bent low over her work, the unde-
livered kiss being heavy on her mind,
or, rather, on her lips.
MOLLY" said Tommy, laying down
his book.
What, Tommy replied Molly, col
oring.
did you give mother the kissT
mo"
"Why didn't your
IL couldn't"
do you mean you have kept what
doesn't belong to you all the week.
What could do with itY'
There is but one thing you can do
now"
whats that"
''Give IL back to me-"
THAT wouldn't be right"
"Do you think it would be right to
keep 81"
There was long silence, at the end
Of which Molly said: "Wait till to-
morrow. I'll see IL l can't give 1t to
her after church"
1T would have only been Of use to
her before my return"
Then IL it's worthless IL doesn't need
to be returned"
1T isn't worthless"
But you just said 1t was"
''TO mother: Since you did not de-
liver II must have II back"
Another silence, at the end of which
Molly said:
Lets ask your mother what to do
with it,"
The next evening before the mother
went upstairs to bed Tommy said:
Mother, when Gent away last
Monday | left kiss with Molly for
you She didn't give II to you. Now
we should like to have you tell us what
she shall do with it,"
The mother looked from one to the
other She was greatly pleased, for
she wished both when they grew older
to be her children. IL will take the
kiss" she said to herself. land keep IL