Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-08-23
A KISS
He Was Forgiven Only Because
She Was Equally
Culpable.
By r. TOWNSEND SMITH.

+ By r. TOWNSEND SMITH. +
I Copyright. 1910. by American Press
< Association. 4
T***&*+**.s**+*+*+***+****s'
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
city In which have an Office. my res
idence being III one Of these towns.
They are five miles apart and were Mt
the time of which I write connected
by an execrab!e road. live In Rose
dale. but on this wild night was in
Bloomington attending II social gath
ering. | teIephoned for Il 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 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. |
had walked or waded perhaps half a
mile when. seeing something dark
ahead Of me close by the sidewalk. l
approached 1t curiously. What was
my surprise to find carriage. This
I 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 q
match-it was the only one left-struck
It. 1t was extinguished by the wind.
but not before had caught Il glimpse
Of a coachman in waterproofs on the
box, leaning back against the body OF
the carriage fast asleep.
/ 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. ] asked him for what point he
had been headed when he had drop
ped Off to sleep, and he said Rosedale.
VERY WE'LL" l replied, start up
your horses and we'll 60 there"
l thought 1t 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 q mile. when he seemed In better
condition. and. since / was getting
drenched. l 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 curious odor inside
which had smelled before. but could
not remember what it was. The win
dow was closed. and l opened 1t. l
thought would smoke, but remember
ed that had used my last match.
The jolting of the carriage was such
that | braced myself In my corner.
Dropping my hand beside me, 1t light
ed on some delicate fabric like silk. |
was astonished. but had cause for
more establishment when In another
moment. the carriage passing over a
hollow place In the road. some one
was thrown up against my shoulder.
Instinctively put out my hands for
protection and encountered woman.
| was seized with a desire to get out
of the carriage despite the storm and
without waiting for it to stop. call
ed to the driver, who drew up, and
asked him If he knew who was In his
carriage. He seemed still dazed. ut
any rate so far as memory goes. ana
said that he didn't know that there
was any one inside. Then he said he
had started with lady. but he didn't
know whether she had left him or not.
There was silence for moment. and
could hear the person beside me
breathing. l judged that we were
midway between Bloomington and
Rosedale. We might as we'll 30 on as
90 back. There were few houses on
the way, and the people In them were
all abed. | told the driver to drive as
fast as the road would admit. There
was some one in the carriage VINO
might need medical attention.
He whipped up his horses. and the
jolting was terrible. 1t occurred to
me that II would awaken any one
with II spark of life. To facilitate
matters | let down the other window
so rs to give plenty Of air. Within ten
minutes | had evidence that my com
panion was moving voluntarily; then
gasp.
where am L? What Is 1T?
"Dou't be frightened" l said.
HAS he gomez"
"Who?"
"The man who got In beside me and
held u cloth against my face"
oh. That's the explanation. is lit"
My brooch-it is gone!
Anything else missing?
II had nothing else with me. But
how did you come to lie here?"
All this Was spoken In Il frightened
voice. and | knew that she was draw.
Ing away from me. told her what
she wished to know. Then she en-
lightened me still further. She said
that while passing out OF Bloomington
the carriage had stopped. and she
heard man talking with the driver.
Then the man got up on the box. She
saw the fare of match. and she
smelt tobacco smoke. There was an
odor to the smoke that made her feel
III. Presently the carriage stopped.
rnu cne man VINO nuo got up BESIDE Tue
driver descended from the box and got
into the carriage. Frightened, she or.
dered him out, but he forced a cloth
over her mouth and nose. and that
was all she remembered.
1t was all plain 10 me now. \ rob-
Der had persuaded the coachman to
let him ride. had given him druggcd
cigar and had then administered ether
or chloroform to the lady inside ind
robbed her. This explained her ask.
Ing II was the man who had been
beside her.
The lady on coming to herself was In