The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-08-17
An Engagement Kiss
[orIglnaL

tracted so much In the first twenty.
four hours that-but l anticipate.
! allghted at the hotel. gave my
hand baggage TO porter ana was
climbing the piazza steps when ! saw
girl whom | was sure ! had never
met before coming 10 meet me with a
radiant smile.
Good graciOus" she exclaimed. II
thought you were not coming tin to
morrow"
But you see ! have come today"
replied. humOring her mistake. for
knew she was In error as 10 my lden
tlty.
We'll. declared You quite take my
breath away" she went ON. looking
at me admlrlngly from tip TO toe
How you have Improved I'd scarce
by have recognized you"
You are the same lovely girl; you
couldn't Improve"
| was ireading ON dangerous ground.
but relied as soon as the error was
discovered on my ingenuity IN making
up a plausible story TO let me cut
We'll" ! said looking nj her wlst.
fully. ARE you OF the same mlndT
Those people over there are looking
al Us. Leave me tlll after supper:
then Wen walk on the beach"
was glad TO comply. determining
that as soon AS rejolned her ! would
LET the fact come out that I was not
the lover she expected. When we met
H.. 4
could not resist the temptation 10 en-.
Joy a brief period with 80 charming a
girl We went down on 20 the beach
In the cleaning aud strolied ON the
line OF foam The moon rising out Of
the ocean gllnted the crests OF inter.
venihg waves. The stars were coming
out There was no sound but the plash
OF waves knew that II talked OF
anything except love would expose
my hand. and IL seemed a. natural for
me 10 talk love 10 her rs n we had
long been lovers. | told her how dur
ing the four years OF absence my heart
lad yearncd Tor her and begged her
Go tell me II was 90 be made happy.
Sailing on the broad sea of losc
struck never n rock aud when IL was
time for "a 10 40 In she had no sus
piclon that she had made mn exchange
OF lovers.
"And now" ! said before parting
give your reply In a kiss
She kissed me. and that kiss was the
lovellest. longest. most rapturous
ever took from woman's lips.
The next morning rose late and was
the only person In the breakfast room.
Sitting 10y n window. heard voices
on the piazza.
"Who was the fellow" asked
mans voice, "and what did be look
lker'
Like you. very much improved from
what you were when ! saw you last.
"II'ml You don't seem 60 consider
me improved"
"Not In disposition. You blame me
Tor a very natural mistake"
"A very unnatural mistake. II you
make such mistakes after we are mar
ried. there'll be the deuce TO pay"
Were not married yet"
I peeped through a Stat In the blind
aud saw man sitting with the girl
l had made love 10 the night before
He looked very like me. though did
not feed battered by the likeness.
What should l stink out unOb.
served and take the FIRST train or
brazen Il Outf | marched boldly out
and Joined them.
certainly expected both 10 receive
me scOrnfuliy. without waiting Tor
either 10 speak | begged a thousand
pardons Of the girl for not rectifylng
her mistake nj once giving as my only
reason that she was so charming
could not bring myself To do 30. While
was speaking, which ! did humbly,
the face Of the girl slowly hroadened
Into smile: that OF the man grew
momentarily surlier. Having done all
could 10 atone for my sin. turned
aud left them.
1 resolved to leave the place that
afternoon. but. meeting the girl with.
out her lover. she extended her hand
TO me and asked me to take seat be
side her. I did 80 and told her OF my
intention 20 depart. which had been
formed on the ground that my pres
ence there would not be agreeable to
her and her lover She declared that
she would not be the cause Of my de
parture aud begged me 10 stay. | de-
termined 20 remain for awhile. but II
my presence proved Objectionable
would 70 at once.
That evening. observing the young
lady sitting alone on the piazza.
Joined her. 10 my surprise, at my
mention OF her lover she said that he
had gone.
Then she gave me her confidence In
a matter OF which l already knew the
principal part. At eighteen she had
admired n man whom she had known
but a short time when he removed 20
another place. They had correspond
ed, aud after four years absence be
had returned. hoping 10 get favora-
bic answer to his suit. she had been
disappointed in him and had rejected
him.