Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-05-17
THE KISS.
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b. LOUISE 3. cUMMINos.

They met on the transcontinental
train going west. He started from
New York, and she got ON at Omaha.
She was a dashing girl. He was a
hit of swell in fancy waistcoat
and light CATERS over his shoes. She
sat near him in the parlOr car, and
when the conductor took her ticket
and let it down like the steps Of a
coach Of 1896 he saw that she was
hooked for San Francisco. He was
going to San Francisco himself.
He wished he had some one to In
tpoduce him, but he hadn't. In a little
while. though, something funny oc.
cured, and she smiled, happening to
catch ais eye at the same time. He
hadn't been used to having eastern la
dies smile at him on a train. He
eOuldn make this one out.
They were crossing the aIkaIl plains.
and there was nothing attractive to
look at Even the river Platte, devoid
Of a fringe of bushes on its banks.
was bereft Of beauty. BE couldn't
stand it any longer. He took his news
paper and novels, dumped them on the
seat beside her, lifted his hat, threw
open his coat the better to show the
pattern Of his waistcoat and said:
II shall be pleased If you can ind
anything among those to help YOU
while away the time in this desolate
region"
"Oh, don't wish to readP' she said.
"Tve had enough Of books lately. I'd
much rather talk
She took up the papers and put them
on the opposite seat. He sat down
beside her.
He was quite astOnished at the ease
with which the acquaintance had been
made. Since he had never thus made
lady's acquaintance before it was
natural that he should be a little sur
prised.
There was an added zest in finding
her out-plenty of difficulty in it. And
1t was an adventure much to his lik-
ing, although he rather suspected that
she might turn out to be an adven-
turess or a ladylike pickpOcket. She
was fairly well educated, made no slips
in grammar. used no slang, but he had
not been conversing with her an hour
before she treated him as If they had
been introduced, and at the end OF
twenty-fOur hours acquaintance like
an old friend
And he was astonished at himself
for the confidence he committed to
her. He told her he had a chum liv-
ing in San Francisco who was about
to be married. He was going out
there to be his friends best man. She
asked him great many questions
concerning the couple who were to par
ticipate as NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. there
was a romance In 1t, how old the
groom was, the bride. Was he hand
some? Was she pretty? Were they
rich or poor? She prattled and ratified
on till she had exhausted all he knew
about the groom and had made up all
be didn't know about the bride, which
was considerable. By this time she
Knew that his own name was Scarbor-
ough, his friends name Wolford and
tne brides Merriam. She was disap-
pointed that he couldn't tell her the
pride's first name, though she was
sure 1t was RoSalie. When he asked
why she said it was because that was
TIE name she should have. He told
her that Charlie -Wolford-after this
she always spoke OF him as Charlie
was not a romantic chap, 90 he In
TERED that there wasn't much romance
U the case. She said she didn't be-
heve it-that she had never known a
Charlie that wasn't a good fellow and
lust full of love and lovableness.
What had Charlie told him about
Hosalie's looks? He couldn't remem-
Der Charlie having written him about
that but he was sure Charlie thought
her pretty.
When they reached the mountains
ana the scenery became grand the girl
nad become so interested In the man
that she did nothing but prattle to him.
eaVing the canyons to waste their gOr-
eeous beauty on some one else. She
treated him with as much unreserVe
spu Internationally as II she had
Oeen brought up with him. He could
only understand It on the assumption
tnat there was something just a little
OH queer about her. However, some
tning, he knew not what, kept him
RON acting on the assumption TIL
sney were nearing San Francisco.
tnen when they were alone on the car
PLATFORM she put her red lips 50 near
70 his that there was nothing left for
aim but to take kiss. Instead OF
pushing or drawing back, she burst
INTO a merry laugh. Then he was
more mystified than ever.
he asked to see her to a cab when
tney should reach the station, but she
.Olo him that she expected friends
" meet her-very straitlaced friends
snO would not Ike to see her In com
pAny with a man. 50 he must go away
" himself He asked IL he might call
N her. and she said he might She
you'd see that he got her address.
when he saw his friend wolford he
seCOunted his adventure. wolford told
ha