Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1906-02-22
LOVE TAPS
GOriginal.l

[Orignall
1t was a bright day in December
and Mabel and | We're walking under
the stripped trees, kicking the fallen
leaves. We We're both very young, and
very young people are apt to fancy
the discussion of abstruse subjects.
"Why is it, remarked Mabel, chat
old people usually dislike autumn and
winter?"
"Oh, old people have no apprecia.
ton! 1t has been all knocked out OF
Them
.All old people?"
"All? Yes. Why? What do you
mean?'
Mrs. Kennedy, for instance?"
Mabel did not look up at me. She
bent her eyes to the ground. 1 saw
her drift. | had been somewhat at.
tentive to Mrs Kennedy, who was
widow
Mrs. Kennedy is not DID," 1 said.
"She is thirty"
Not yet twentysiX."
The only reply to this was scorn.
full laugh
ITO return to what we We're saying"
went on, 81 think that people, birds,
trees, flowers, all pass through the
same stages. Each has its spring, sum.
mer, autumn, winter. When the leaves
fall the old person is reminded that his
or her autumn is at hand; when the
snow is on the ground it is typical of
| the end of life
ooh, dear, how did you come to
| think of that? To hear you talk one
would fancy you We're in your dotage."
| This left handed compliment caused
slight color to come into my face. !
| did not deign an answer.
II have it," she went on. you got
it from the widow. Is she in her sum.
mer fall or winter?"
Mrs. Kennedy is but half a dozen
| years older than you" L said.
please don't bite my head off. ]
said nothing against your love. mere.
| ly referred to her age"
Miss Sinclair" 1 replied sternly
"these references to Mrs. Kennedy are
unpleasant to me. l wish you to IN
derstand that, situated as am with
regard to her, living under the same
roof with her, l must walk a chalk
| line"
with Mrs. Kennedy"
You are incorrigible."
Tired of this defensive warfare, l de.
termined to carry fire and sword into
the enemy's territory
WELL" l said, "since you will have
it so, 1 admit that am partial to wild.
| ows. Only last night one gave me
delicious kiss"
I was watching her closely and saw
an involuntary shiver pass over her.
my darling boy the widow said to
me- what would do if anything should
come up to part us?'"
DO old women who mate with young
fellows always call them darling
boy:'"
Then she put her arms around my
neck and gave me long kiss"
"Shamefulr'
''Why Shameful
NO, | don't mean that; anything that
is legal is not shameful, but never
could endure these elderly women who
get their claws on young men,"
Mabel was turning white and red
alternately and | felt assured that ]
was getting the best Of the argument
We came to stone culyert under
meath which ran a small stream and
sat down ON the coping | sat very
near her. She moved away. l moved
nearer. and she retreated to the end
of the coping. l arose and strolled
about. finally bringing up directly be-
hind her Then, bending l kissed her
on the cheek.
The hand that boxed my ears was
gloved, but the tingling that followed
was worthy of a bare hand She turn
ed a fiery glance upon me.
Keep your kisses for your superan
nuated widows"
ITO kiss you is more spicy"
81 don't choose to divide my kisses
with Others"
Its not division. kiss you once;
kiss the o,her hundred times"
The other gives you leave. do
. not"
That's where the spice comes in"
You mean the ungentlemanlike con-
duct"
Why Will not women understand that
to call man ungentlemanlille is insult
ing? l returned the thrust in kind.
Il don't consider it ungentlemanlike
to kiss some women l remarked
coldly.
do you mean-you horrid-well,
never!"
'.There are women who permit
| dow oil Of hot
kind?"
You do not permit me to finish. The
widow who permitted me to kiss her
WAS of course one of those
This fencing was with pointed
swords, and already there had been a
deal of pinling. This last stab threw
me into a fury.
stop" cried, holding up my hand.
"She was my mother"
"Your mother" rnful1y si\Tora