The wageworker., 1910-05-20
A KISS
He Was Forgiven Only Because
She Was Equally
Culpable.
By r. TOWNSEND SMITH.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
By F. TOWNSEND SMITH.

: Association. +
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The night was dark as Erebus. 1t
rained. the wind blew, and the streets
were flooded.
There are two suburban towns
Bloomington and Rosedale-near the
sity In which I have an Office. my res
ldence being In one Of these towns.
the time Of which l write connected
by an execrable road. live in Rose
dale. but on this wild night was in
Bloomington attending a social gath
ering. I telephoned for a cab. but q
reply came over the wire that not a
conveyance was to be had.
Turning up my trousers. buttoning
my coat and opening my umbrella,
sailed forth. trusting that might
pick up some conveyance to hire.
found nothing In the way Of We
hicle on the streets and. reaching the
town limits. left street lamps behind
me. pushing on into the darkness. l
had walked or waded perhaps half a
mile when, seeing something dark
ahead OF me close by the sidewalk.
approached It curiously. What was
my surprise to hnd carriage. This
I knew rather by feeling than sight.
I CROPPED my way to its front. and
there were two horses standing, with
their heads lowered. patiently endur.
ing the rain. took my matchbox
Rv.ov vxyfn
match-it was the only one left-struck
1t. 1t was extinguished by the wind.
but not before had caught glimpse
Of q coachman In waterproofs on the
box, leaning back against the body of
the carriage fast asleep.
I shouted to him. then shook him. 1t
was some time before ! aroused him
and then could get nothing out of him
as to how he came to be in such a
singular position. Indeed. he didn't
seem to know. He asked II was the
man who had been beside him awhile
ago I asked him for what point he
had been headed when he had drop
ped OF to sleep. and he said Rosedale.
every WE'LL" replied. start up
your horses and we'll 60 there"
thought 1t better for me to remain
beside him till he became fully awak-
ened. fearing he would fall or the box.
l stayed by him till we had gone per-
haps a mile. when he seemed in better
condition. and. since I was getting
drenched. I concluded to get inside the
carriage. directed him to pull up
and.- dismounting from my perch.
found the handle Of the door and In
another moment was sitting on the
rear seat.
There was a curious odor inside
which had smelled before. but could
not remember what It was. The win
dow was closed. and I opened 1t.
thought I would smoke. but remember.
ed that had used my last match
The jolting of the carriage was such
that I braced myself In my corner
Dropping my hand beside me. it light
ed on some delicate fabric like silk.
was astonished. but had cause fol
more establishment when in another
moment. the carriage passing over
hollow place In the road. some one
was thrown up against my shoulder.
Instinctively | put out my hands fol
protection and encountered woman.
was seized with a desire to get ou
Of the carriage despite the storm and
without waiting for 1t to stop. ! call
ed to the driver. who drew up. and
asked him If he knew who was In hi!
carriage. He seemed still dazed. a
any rate SO far as memory goes. ant
said that he didn't know that ther'
was any one inside. Then he said h
had started with a lady. but he didn'
know whether she had left him or not
There was silence for q moment. ant
I could hear the person beside mi
breathing. l Judged that we wer'
midway between Bloomington ant
Rosedale. We might as well 60 on q
go back. There were few houses OF
the way. and the people in them wer
all abed. ! told the driver to drive a
fast as the road would admit. Their
was some one in the carriage VIII
might need medical attention.
He whipped up his horses. and tn
jolting was terrible. 1t occurred t
me that 1t would awaken any on
with a spark Of life. To facilitat
matters l let down the other windoy
so as to give plenty of air. Within te
minutes l had evidence that my CON
panion was moving voluntarily; the
a gasp.
'Where am I? What Is it?'
Don't be frightened" l said.
HAS be gomez"
"who?"
''The man who got in beside me an
held q cloth against my face"
"Oh! That's the explanation, Is iti
MY brooch-it Is gone!'
Anything else missing?"
II had nothing else with me. B,
how did you come to be here?"
All this was spoken in frightene
voice. and knew that she was draw
ing away from me. told her VIII
she wished to know. Then she e
lightened me still further. She sa