The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-11-12
TWO KISSES
BY MARGARET VAN METRE
I'M ANNA. look, there's Tom Pat


why, so 1t is" answered her mother.
"He must have come out from the city
for summer vacation. Well" And
she settled down in her chair with the
ever present mending at her side, while
she looked with slightly questioning
glance at her daughter.
WELL" echoed Marion, to herself.
But she said nothing, and soon wan
dered into the yard, book In hand, to
the hammock which swung idly out un-
der the trees.
Marion Haddon and Tom Patterson
had been playmates ever since, as one
old neighbor used to express 1t, Marion
was knee high to a grasshopper. They
had played together. gone to school to-
gether, and through 1t all had been
friends.
Then Tom had gone away to college,
and after year or two at an eastern
university, had gone to New York city
where he had been ever since employed
In the office of noted architect; for
Tom was an expert draughtsman and as
such had secured fine position. AL
ways bright youth, he had settled down
to his chosen business with a spirit of
energy that showed plainly that he was
serious in the choice Of a profession;
and with persistence that had sur
prised even his closest friends, he had
continued at the same work, in the same
Office, until now four years had passed
since he had taken vacation of any
sort and since he had revisited the scenes
of his boyhood trials and pleasures.
During these years, Tom had paid
little attention to the girls. In his early
days the people Of Martinsburg thought
he was rather in love with Marion Had
don; but he had stayed away so long,
and Marion had been SO happy and
lively in the company of various other
OF the village youths, that 1t was decided
by the wise ones of the town that there
wasn't anything in it after all. But
when 1t was rumored on this beautiful
July day that Tom Patterson was In
town, there were not few who. like
Marion's mother, thought questioningly
of her and wondered.
Marion herself wondered, too. tom
In town! I wonder how he looks. And
how will he think look? wonder IL
he" The pause, was suggestive Of
some deep question, but Marion did not
finish, even to herself. the thought that
was in her mind. She sat for come time
thinking. She thought Of all the good
times she and Tom used to have to-
gether How she hated to have him go
away! And he said he was sorry, too
Did he mean It? She wondered again
Her earliest memory Of him required to
her mind, such a provoking recollection
that was, and. always SO vivid a one.
Try as she would, she could never quite
forget 1t. t'f
She was very little girl then. and
unusually bashful at that. A crowd Of
little people were playing in Toms yard
one hot afternoon in summer. The
game was king William Most Of
those In the game were older than
Marion and evidently thought 1t would
be fun to play little trick on her. Tom
was in the center. Around him the
others circled, singing as they went:
king William was King James. son,
Upon a royaf-race he run;
He wore star upon his vest
That points the way to the governors
breast,
Round and round the little company
circled, still singing, all alive to the fun
of the occasion except Marion; she
alone. shy and uneasy.
"Go to the east. go to the west,
Go choose the one that you love best;
n she's not here to take your part,
Go choose another with all your heart. "
AS these words were sung, Tom, as II
by a hint from one of the older girls,
pointed to Marion, who slowly. shrink
ingly, took her place IN the center at his
side. Persistently the song went on u
its Inevitable end:
I Down on this carpet you must kneel
As sure as the grass grows in the field.
So kiss your bride. end kiss her sweet,
And now you may rise upon your feet. =
When the last words were sung by the
gIeeful little crowd, Marion was seized
BY Tom and kissed--kissed there before
them all! This was more than she could
stand, and with tears Of wounded pride
flling her eyes, making her stumble a.
She went, she hurried home. That wal
an Insignificant Incident and evidently
quits fpftotten By all concerned. but In
the ngnd of Marion 1t remained and
ranked.
/ So Tom was home. Did she care'
She wondered II she did. and was Just
going to admit that she believed she did