The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-01-16

saved her the disappointment. Now so. You win miss your train."
 But you haven't the kiss"
 "What kissY'
 sFOr mother"
 q told you would give her a kiss.
 cone of your own. l want you Co give her one of mine"
 "How can do that. stupldr
 q will give it to you and you can pass it on to mother
 "weI, I declarer'
 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"
 "Gonel And without a klss"
 Tt troubled him very much, but Dc couldn't walt. Why didn't you take your kiss before you went outT'
 T expected to be back before he left. I'm very much disappointed"
 The mother said no more. The kiss her boy gave her on Monday morning when be departed usually kept her up tin Saturday evening. when he re turned. Molly endeavored to tell her that Tommy had left the kiss with hor, but she was unable to screw up her courage to do so Several times she opened hc- rcd lips Co speak about lt. but her facc grew SO hot and her tongue SO rebellious that she gave lt up. Monday passed, and shc had not given up her commission. Monday night when she went ,o bed she firmly resolved that she would do SO the next morning. but the next morning thc mother was very busy, and Molly didn't like Co interrupt her. So Tues day went by, and Molly had not acted In the mnttcr On "Wednesday she ar. gued that. half the week having elapsed. the mother would only have three days to wait tor a kiss direct Consequently when Tommy arrived on Saturday night the kiss had not been delivered Tommy gave his mother a good smack, and without mentioning the kAs he had left for her he sat down to supper. Al Q o'clock his moth. CT went to bed and left him and Molly sitting by the table. Tommy was read. Ing: Molly was sewing. Molly's head was bent low over her work, the unde. liyered kiss being heavy on her mind. or, rather. on her lips.
 ''Molly." said Tommy, laying down his book.
 "what Tommy replied Molly, col. bring.
 "Dld you give mother the klssY'
 "No."
 "why didn't youY
 Fl couldn't"
 "DO you mean you have kept what doesn't belong to you all the weekr'
 "What could I do with ltr'
 ''There Is but one thing you can dc now"
 "whats thatT'
 ''Glve it back to me"
 That wouldn't be right"
 DO you think 1t would be right tc keep itP
 There was a long silence. at the end of which Molly said: "Wait tlll to. morrow. Pn see f l can't give it tC her after church"
 'It would have only been Of use tc her before my return"
 'srhen 1T it's worthless lt doesn't need to be returned"
 'It Isn't worthless"
 "But you just said it was"
 "To mother. Since you did not de liver lt must have it back"
 Another silence, at the end Of which Molly said:
 Lets ask your mother what to dc with it."
 The next evening before the mother went upstairs to bed Tommy said:
 "Mother. when I went away lost Monday left a kiss with Molly fol you. She didn't give it to you. Now we should like to have you tell us who she shall do with lt."
 The. mother looked from one to th' other. She was greatly pleased, fol she wished both.when they grew oldeI to be her children. "I will take tho kiss," she sald to herself, "and keep | tn lt is time to bring them together Then will give 1t back to Molly, and she can restore it to Tommy"
 A year later. seeing that 1t would mol be best to walt longer, the mother gav' the kiss to Molly and told her to giv- it to Tommy. Molly blushlngly cop sented. During the year she had TO ePlved by actual count T43 addidoRa klsses, all of which needed to be re turned E. A. MITCHELL.