The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-02-19
WHO KISSED HIM I?
IOriginal.1

md | was sent spawning paNs
Why I was not killed ! don't know.
fragment broke my arm, Dut th"' VIZ
nil the damage that was done ny w
sbolI The conclusion did much more,
and either fame or gunpowder OIL W W
put my eyes in a critical CONDITION.
The army was moving every uaf,
and what hospitals were es'aoiish' 7"
were full. Those for whom there W ~
10 room were left in homes along ne
way. and | was in one OF these houses.
lay on bed with my eyes closeu'
The SURGE insisted on binding them,
but | protested, and he laid my hand
kerchief over them telling me that II
opened them l would lose my eye
right.
l Law thinking of home and the care
l would receive were | there. We pity
the soldier worn with tinmping, CO. ~.
hunger; we pity him dead. 1t is not In
either of these conditions that he "ea lly
needs our sympathy, but sick or
wounded, with so many of his com
rades in like condition that he cannot
receive attention. AS starving man
will pass his time ordering imaginary
dinners, | dwelt upon the acts of 10y
ing kindness my mother and sisters
would lavish upon me were they at
hand. or, rather, were l in my own
room at home, in my old four post bed
stead, my favorite pictures on the
wall and decorations with which l
had always been familiar on every
side. Thus thinking fell into semi
sumbcr. my day dream merging into
sleep dream. My favorite sister came
to my bedside and, saying softly
Poor boy" bent over me and kis sed
me.
Before her lips were taken from mine
l was awake. Yet the dream did not
vanish with the waking. For an In
slant longer l felt Il pair of lips on
mine, and they were extremely lifclIkc.
took no thought Of the surgeons wa RI
ing, but. selling the handkerchief. drew
it away and opened my eyes. Before
my impaired vision became accustomed
10 the light the person who kissed me
had vanished
l heard, q rumble of wheels at the
door, a hospital steward and two men
bearing stretchcr entered, and was
carried out to an ambulance where
there was room for one more and taken
to hospital. There l remained short
time, then was sent away to get treat
mcnt with n view to saving my Eye
sight.
The youngster of twenty-thrce who
could submit to ignorance as to the
identity of the one who has kissed him
must be indeed untouched by romance.
| surely could not. During days and
nights that | was obliged to sit or lie
with closed eyes my mind was CON
stantly on her. for it never occurred to
me that the person could be aught but
q woman. She was a queenly brunr rite.
blue eyed blond endowed her with
every charm of soul and body TINT n
woman can possess. If ever man was
in love with Il fancy was that man.
| recovered and rcjoined my COM
iland. The stern duties of soldier
somewhat diverted my mind, but were
incapable Of blotting out the fasc Gina
Lion. the desire to learn who it was that
kissed me. The army had been driven
FAR from the region where | had been
wounded, but soon after l rcjoincd we
recovered the lost territory. Finding
myself near the house where had
been kissed. rode in search of it and
found 1t deserted. The only house near
by where | could make inquiries was
IN the center Of Il large plantation half
a mile distant. There | repaired and
riding up to the vcranda. was met bv n
young girl who ut the moment cono
oIt of the hall door.
The people of the south whenever
lhion troops approached suddenly
were sure to be disconnected, fo.. they
never knew what treatment they
were TO experience. The girl turned
pale. In order to rcass,lre her fold
her that simply wished 10 know what
had become of the people who ha h oc-
c"picd the house iii which wa in
terested. She told me that they had
gene away; that the family consisted
of Il father. a mother and three o own
daughters. AS she recovered her cuuo-
nlmity and pushed my questions SIS
to the daughters she told me that
tAe youngest was pretty girl of sew
enteen, while her sisters were ordi.
Eary, one of them an old maid. tol,1
her that she had only added fuel 10 NV
curiosity and begged her to tell me
more about them. She not only aid So
hut promised to try to find them for mo
we remained in the locality for some
time, and saw her frequently. She
soon told me that she had seen the
family and promised me an inter view
but kept putting me off. tanto lizino
me with different stories. Ney crthe.
less managed to endure the della v, for
was becoming engrossed with tho
young lady herself. She kept on with
her information, but the statement w.
RED from day to day. She dee Jared
That the daughters denied INV storv on
tirely. Then the youngest and prettiest
mad kissed me. The next day it was tho
Oil maid I began to suspect tbot !
was being fooled. Indeed, | ha Il lost
my heart to the investigator, and tho
ceased to interest me Ono
moonlight night l told her of my love
Inc corners of her mouth uuir,J cd mn