The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1911-10-27
ONE OF THOSE
TUNNEL KISSES
BY ]. BERRY GRAPE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
BY J. BERRY GRAPE

There is a woman whom l bitterly
hate. She is both young and pretty,
and yet hate her. Why so? 1 will
tell you.
l was travelling with my friend Bob
Caruthers-both Of us bank c!erks-go-
ing on our minute vacation Of one
twenty-fourth Of the year. We were on
the train to Cheltenham Beach and
both feeling pretty good. We were
young. and youth is not overwise. We
talked too much. and We talked too
loud. In other words. we were fresh.
There was party of four in the two
seats next in front of us. one back be-
ing turned to face the other. 1t con-
sisted of young woman, two children
and negro nurse. The children, two
little boys. were doing pretty much as
they pleased sometimes insisting on
riding forward. at other times back
ward. This kept the lady changing her
seat When she rode backward she
her back to us. but in the next seat in
front.
While she was facing us l made a
discovery. I learned to my satisfac-
ton that she would f1irt. There are
different grades Of Irritation, from the
little miss who passes her handker-
chief over her lips to the lady who
simply darts her eyes about. flashing
them at rare intervals, and but instap-
tapeously. on the fellow she flirts with.
This vas the kipd Of dirter the girl
was who sat in front Of us. That she
was not married was evident from the
fact that the nurse called her Miss"
The children called her Aunt Carrie"
After considerable play Of eyes l
made up my mind that Aunt Carrie
was full Of Old Nick. I began to talk
to Bob about her. expatiating upon
her beauty. naming different features
her eyes. her nose, her chip<any one
Of which would make a model for an
artist. AS for her lips. / pronounced
them the most kissable had ever
seen. All this said quite loud enough
for her to hear. at the same time pre-
tending 70 talk in q low tone.
Then Bob put an idea into my head
"why don't you kiss herr" he re-
marked. -.s .-..-
kiss her1 Do you suppose l would
profane those sacred lips without per-
mission?" -~p
You might steal a kiss"
would that l dared and found an
opportunity
THE opportunity win present itself
shortly. There's tunnel on this road"
Don't tempt me-"
Faint heart never won fair lady"
We kept up this conversation, inten.
tionally speaking loud enough for the
young lady to hear. what we said.
dwelt on the delight there was In .
stolen kiss and the inexpressible BLISS
1 would derive from pressing my lips
to those Of the girl In question. Bob
told me all about the tunnel: said we
were approaching It and dared me 10
take the kiss while we were Ia 1t.
adding that since It was not long
tunnel and the only one on the road
the lamps were not lighted in passing
through it. Presently he said:
This Is Markham Station we're
passing Well reach the tunnel in FIVE
minutes
Notwithstanding that the young
lnA nd hn .,f
what we said she resolutely kept the
seat next in front of us. argued that
If she didn't wish to be kissed she
would take the other seat. where |
could not reach her. Indeed, con-
strued her remaining where she was
for direct challenge.
Suddenly the train shot into the
tunnel. and within ten or a dozen Sec
onds the car was black as midnight.
"Now's your chance" cried Bob.
II dare not"
Nevertheless I half rose from my
seat and threw my arms about the
neck Of the woman sitting in front of
me. l expected box on the ear. but
instead two arms were thrown about
my neck and a pair Of lips glued to
mine.
Scarcely had we embraced when the
darkness began to disappear. l at
tempted to unwind the arms from
around my neck. but they refused to
be unwound. 1t grew lighter. and in
a few seconds more the train shot out
into broad day.
Great heavens! I was held tight by
the negro nurse.
l can yet hear the burst Of laughter
that came from the passengers: can
see the eyes of Aunt Carrie dancing a
Jig. l can see the horrible face Of the
black wench as she released me Of her
own accord and hear the horrible yah
yah! And I still feel in my heart the
shame. the modification of having
been made spectacle before a car
full Of passengers.
Bob-the villain-lay back in his seat
and roared struggled between a
desire to throw him out and punch his
head where he sat. AS for the girl. my
admiration was turned to gall. long