The daily Alaskan., 1909-06-28
THE KISS.
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By LOUISE 3. CUMMINGS.

By LOUISE b' COmmiNSo' ICopyright, lsO9., by American Press Asso-
 ciation.l
 They met on the transcontlnental train going west. He started from New York, and she got on at Omaha. She was a dashng girl. He was n bit of swell in fancy walstcoat and light gaiters over his shoes. She sat near him In the parlor car, and when the conductor took her ticket and let 1t down like the steps of q coach of ~1796' he saw that she was booked for San Francisco. He was going to San Francisco himself.
 He wished he mad some one to in- troduce him, but he hadn't. In a little while, though, something funny oc- cured, and she smiled, happening to catch his eye at the same time. He hadn't been used to having eastern la- dies smile at him on train. He couldn't make this one out.
 They were crossing the alkali 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. He couldn't stand 1t 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:
 "I shall be pleased if you can find anything among those to help you while away the ume in this desolate region"
 "Oh, don't wish to read" she said. "Pve 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 a ladys acquaintance before 1t was natural that le should be little sur prised.
 There was all added zeSt in finding her out-plenty of difficulty in 1t. 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 astonlshed at himself for the confidence he committed to her. He told her he had chum llv- ing in San Francisco who was about to be married. He was going out there to be his friends best man. She asked him a great many questions concerning the couple who were to par tIcipate as principals-wh whether there was 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 rattled on till she had exhausted all he knew about the groom and had made up all he 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 the brides Merriam. She was disap- pointed that be couldn't tell her the brides first name, though she was sure 1t was Rosalie. When be asked why she said 1t was because that was the name she should have. He told her that Charlie Wolford-after this she always spoke of him as Charlie was not a romantic chap, so he in- ferred that there wasn't much romance In the case. She said she didn't be- lleve it-that she had never known a Charlie that wasn't q good fellow and just full of love and lovableness. What had Charlie told him about Rosalie'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 and the scenery became grand the girl had become so interested in the man that she did nothing but prattle to him, leaving the canyons to waste their gor- geous beauty on some one else. She treated him with as much unreserye and unconventionallty as If she had been brought up with him. He could only understand 1t on the assumption that there was something just little bit queer about her. However, some thing, he knew not what, kept him from acting on the assumption till they were nearing San Francisco. Then when they were alone on the car platform she put her red lips so near to his that there was nothing left for him but to take kiss. Instead of blushing or drawing back, she burst into merry laugh. Then he was more mystihed than ever.
 He asked to see her to a cab when they should reach the station, but she told him that she expected friends to meet her-very straitlaced friends who would not like to see her in com- . .,.a,,N 60 hn f,uct fyn ou-nu