The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-07-22
Cousinly Kisses
BY MURlEL E. GRAY
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

|
tories and had with her two very
pretty girls, her daughters. She was
speaking to young man who emerged
from door into the corridor and was
about to descend the staircase.
My name is Smith. There are sew
cras Smiths in college. Which one are
sou looking for?
Edward b. Smith"
I'm Edward B. Smith. You can't
be-
Your Aunt Elizabeth"
"You don't mean 1t, And these girls
| are
Your cousins, Bess and Ethel"
We'll. well. I'm delighted"
The young man put his arms around
the old lady's shoulders in stage en-
brace and kissed her back between
them. Then he kissed Ethel-on the
cheek. Lastly he kissed Bess-on the
lips.
when did you come down, Aunt
Elizabeth?' asked the student.
I'VE reached here this morning
We've been wishing for long while
to see the college, and your mother
wrote US that you had come here.
Let me see-how many years since we
have seen you? 1t must be ten or
twelve. You were then a little boy
six or seven years old"
"Bess and l were playmates, I be-
lieve."
At the remembrance he gave Bess
another kiss.
"Oh, no; you weren't" said the old
lady. "You spent but one summer with
us, and that summer Bess was obliged
to 60 south with her Uncle Charles
family for her health. You've never
seen her before"
Never seen her before! Well, If this
is the first time hope 1t won't be the
last"
And he kissed her again.
At that moment the real Edward B.
Smith came along. Seeing his chum
Gardner Dale chatting with an old
lady and two pretty girls, he looked
wistfully at the latter. Dale excused
himself for a moment and went to
Smith and whispered:
These are your aunt and cousins.
I've passed myself off for you. If you
give me away I'll murder you"
Then, leading Smith up to the ladies,
he said:
This is my chum Gardner Dale. He
will be very glad to assist me In show |
ing you the college sights and making
your stay pleasant"
Delighted" said the false Dale, pull
ing off his cap
Smith is a very good fellow" Dale |
announced to the party, then in a
stage whisper to the aunt, He leads |
his class and is altogether the most |
prominent man in college,"
"See here, Gard-I mean Ned-you /
stop that. You can't bride me that |
way. What do do in pure mercy"
what is he talking about, Edward"
asked the old lady.
"Oh, he's got modesty on the brain. |
Besides, he studies so hard he doesn't |
know what he's talking about"
The young men walked about with
the old lady and the two girls. taking
them into the different buildings and
showing them the sights generally.
There was to be prom" in the even
ing, and the students invited the girls
to attend 1t with them. They asked
the old lady to go, too, but she obliged
them by declining.
1--WE always heard" said Bess to
Dale-the real Dale-who had paired
off with her at the prom" that stu
dents are so full of pranks. Do you
practice them much at your college"
''Pranks! oh, no! We have to study
so hard here that we have no time for
pranks. What kind of pranks do you
well, heard Of a case once where
some ladies went to a college to meet
a relative they had never seen. One
Of the students palmed himself Off for
the one they had come to visit"
THAT couldn't have been at this COL
lege. A man who would do that here
would get the dead cut"
The girls enjoyed themselves during
the evening and on returning to their
hotel bid goodby to the two young men
who had escorted them. After being
duly thanked and when the young
men were about to withdraw Dale
stepped forward, kissed Ethel on the
cheek and gave Bess a prolonged
smack on the lips. Smith stood look
Ing on. much disgruntled.
Where do come in?" he asked in
a tone that much disturbed the
equanimity Of his chum lest he should
give him away.
ooh, you'll come in on the way
home. shall have something nice for
7ou."
"No, you won't" growled Smith. 81
lon't sell my birthrlght for a mess Of
cottage. See here, girls; this fellow
Dale has been putting up job on
'ou. He isn't your cousin at all. I'm
Iour cousin"
cousin Bess and Cousin Ethel" put
n Dale, hes doing this simply to get
kiss. It's the weakest
"Well. I'll be hanged" interrupted
'mith. "If you haven't more gall than
clown at a circus"
The girls laughed and, both spring
ng forward, threw their arms around
heir real cousin, and each gave him
ISIS.
They had known of the imposition
II the while. But not so their mother, =
nd they didn't tell her.
Ayers Ha