Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-06-04
FT%TFFTFFF"
A KISS
he Was Forgiven Only Because
She Was Equally
Culpablc.
By r. TOWNSEND SMITH.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
By r. TOWNSEND SMITH.

The night was dark rs Erebus. II
raincd. the wind blew. and the streets
were flooded.
There are two suburban towns
Bloomington and Rosedale--near the
city In which | have an office. my res
idcnce being IN one Of these towns.
They are five miles apart and were ut
the time Of which | write connected
by mn execrable road. live In Rose
dale. but on this wild night was In
Bloomington attending n social gath
cring. | tcicphoned for cab, but a
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 10 hire.
I 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. !
had walked or wadcd perhaps half II
mile when, seeing something dark
ahead of me close by the sidewalk. |
approached II c,riously. What was
my surprise to find n carriage. This
knew rather by feeling than sight.
CROPPED my way TO its front, and
there were two horses standing. with
their heads lowered. patiently endur-
ing the rain. took my matchbox
from my pocket and. drawing forth a
match-it was the only one left--struck
II. II was extinguished by the wind.
but not before had caught n glimpse
OF coachman In waterproofs on the
box. leaning back against the body OF
the carriage fast asleep.
/ shouted to him. then shook him. II
was some time before ! aroused him
and then could get nothing out OF him
Ms 10 how he came 10 bc In such a
singular position. Indeed. he didn't
seem 10 know. lie asked II ] was the
nan who had been beside him awhile
ago. asked him for what point he
had been headed when lie had drop
ped off to sleep. and he said Roscdale.
Very we'll" replied. start ny
your horses aud Wen go there"
| thought II better for me to remain
beside him till he became fully awak'
ened. fearing he would fall of the box
stayed by him till we had gone per.
haps u mile. when he seemed In better
condition. and. since WAS getting
drenchcd. | concluded 10 get inside the
carriage. directed him to pull NJ
and. dlsmounting from my perch
found the handle Of the door and IN
another moment was sitting on the
rear seat.
There was curious odor inside
which had smelled before, but could
not remember what II was. The win
dow was closed and ! opened II.
thought | would smoke. hut remember
ed that ! had used my last match
The jolting If the carriage was suci
that braccd myself IN my corner
Dropping my hand beside me, II light
ed on some delicate fabric like silk.
was astonished. but had cause fol
more establishment when In another
moment. the carriage passing over 4
hollow place IN the road. some ont
was thrown NJ against my shoulder.
Instinctivcly put out my hands for
protection aud encountered II woman.
was seized with desire 10 get out
Of the carriage despite the storm and
without waiting for II To stop. ! call
ed to the driver. who drew up. and
asked him II he knew who was III his
carriage. He seemed still dazed. n
any rate SO far rs memory goes. ant
said that he didn't know that there
was any one inside. Then he said III
had started with lady, but he didn'
know whether shes had left him or not
There was silence for Il moment. ant
| could hear the person beside m'
breathing. Judged that We Were
midway between bloomington ant
Roscdaic. We might rs well 20 ON ~
20 back. There were few houses OF
the way. and the people In them were
all abed told the driver TO drive a'
fast as the road would admit. There
was some one IN the carriage wh'
might need medical attention.
lie whipped M his horses, and TIN
lolting was terrible. II occurred 4
me that II would awaken any on
with n spark of life. To facilitate
matters | let down the other window
so as to give plenty of air. Within tel
minutes had evidence that my com
panIon was moving voluntarily; thei
n gasp.
"where am II What Is q"
Don't be frightened" said.
elias he gomez"
who"
"rhe man who got In beside me am
held cloth against my face"
"Oh. That's the explanation, Is III
"My brooch II IL gone
"Anything else missimgi"
Il had nothing else with me. Blu
| how did you come 10 he hcrcg'
All this was spoken IN u frishicne
voice. and knew that she WAS draw
ing away from me. told her wha
she wished 10 know. Then She on
llghtened me still further. She sai
that while passing out of Bloomingto