Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-10-10
4 KISS
(By jean R6sny.j

The girl / have loved the niost7
Many springs have passed and many
times the leaves have fallen. was
young and full of the joy of living. |
was travelling in mountain district
full of bandits.
1t was evening when I came to
house which looked like small fort
ress with tall, square tower centuries
old. A big dog came running toward
me with savage growl. followed by
giant whose eyes shone like redhot
Goals.
what do you want?" he roared.
l was well armed, quick and strong,
had two six-shootefs and a stiletto in
my belt, so l saw no reason to fear
man as long as he was alone.
81 only ask you to give me shelter
for the night. OF course 1 am willing
to pay"
"All right" he replied, come in"
I followed him and found myself in
a large room Illuminated by an inn
mense fire and few thick candles OF
the kind used in churches.
A young girl of unusual beauty,
with large brown eyes and sensuous
red lips entered and placed some NUT
ton and bottle of wine before me. |
ate and drank in silence.
Before [ went to bed l carefully bar
ricaded my door, for did not like the
looks of my host, and the sleep had
was uneasy. At dawn l awolle and
realized with a strange feeling of sad
ness that l must leave this house
which contained a girl as beautiful as
any | had ever seen. / sprang from
my bed and discovered an earthen
basin with water, in which l had
washed myself before | went down
stairs and found the girl alone.
Father has gone out and | am
alone" she said, blushingly, know
not why. She looked at me for mo-
ment, and then said impulsively:
you are no coward and no liar, and
feel that if you promise me to keep
silent you will do so.
Whatever promise l make, will
keep" l replied, rather surprised
Then please go no farther she
stammered, but return the way you
came"
'Why?" I asked.
She cast her eyes down and | guess
ed why. Her father was evidently
lying in ambush somewhere to murder
me when l should pass by.
She read my thoughts and said:
He would never have thought of 1t
before, but the thought that he must
lose his property, the land he loves so,
has made him desperate"
And why must he lose it?'' | said.
''Does he owe anybody money!
Yes, thirty pistoles."
The amount was trifling to me, al
though I happened not to have more
than twice that sum with me in cash,
but I had a large draft on bank in
the nearest city.
''He owes it no longer" | said. He
shall keep his land" And put twenty
louis doris on the table.
The girl looked at ME dumbfounded.
DO you want to pay me for my ad-
yice?" she asked.
NO" I replied, Il do not want to
pay you for your advice"
why do you give me money them"
My heart was beating violently and
my voice was trembling as | said:
Because it makes me happy to be
able to help YOU
She smiled a sad, beautiful smile.
Il can give you nothing in return. |
am engaged. and in our mountains
girl would rather die than deceive her
lover"
Il ask nothing from you, only the
JOY of removing one sorrow from your
life"
She stood there motionless and l
could see she was strugglind with her
self. Suddenly she said, blushing to the
roots of her hair:
Shall give you kiss?''
ga kiss of gratitude"
NO, kiss of love-but only one,
and then you will leave me?'
| needed not to answer her in
words; my eyes spoke for me.
She took my head between her little
hands, and her fresh, warm lips
pressed against mine in a manner
which expressed love as well as des-
pair
"Adios," she whispered, and releas-
ed me-
AS l turned once more before leav
ing the room l saw her eyes were full
of tears. l have never seen her since.