Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-09
The Argus Daily Story
A Mistakenly Lester Rowland.
Copyrighted. 1912 by Associated Literary Bureau

the probability that l would never
meet her again.
I tried to forget the words and the
kiss, but In spite OF my efforts to drive
both out OF my head they remained
there to tantalize me. 1t had never
occurred TO me how delicious 1t would
be If some lovely woman should bend
down over me and bid me good night,
darling" sealing the words with kiss.
had been unconscious Of what had
failed TO enjoy. I had supposed bach
elor life to be the contented state for
n man 70 live iu-no cares, no curtain
lectures, no obligation to take a woman
out to theaters, operas. social func-
lions. And now. without being even
engaged, I had been introduced TO a
momentary bliss such as is q married
mans continuous possession.
Several years passed during which
influenced by this incident, tried to
settle my mind upon some young wo-
man that she might repeat my expert
ence in the sleeping car. But If there
is one thing beyond our control IT is
love. met excellent young women,
many OF whom would have honOred
me by marrying me. but did not want
any of them.
One summer was at hotel in the
country, crowded with guests. 1t
was evening, and | stood at the foot OF
a stairway, about TO part with q little
niece of mine who was going upstairs
to bed.
Good night, darling" said as I
bent down and kissed her lady
standing with her back to me turned
and faced me. Her eyes and mine
met. She flushed scarlet. She was the
lady who had kissed me
The blush gave ME information that
I was very glad to receive. 1t told
me that the lady had known while on
the Journey that l was the man she
had kissed. 1t told me that she had
/ remembered me. While we stood gaz-
/ ing at each other I was not troubling
i myself what to do in the matter. I
/ simply smiled. Something like smile
came to her lips.
Your face is familiar to me-" said.
/ 81 think we have met before
You must be mistaken. have no
! rec
her. She stopped short.
MY memory is better than yours"
l said. I'VE We're on the same train
travelling To San Francisco. \ little
! girl was with you about the same age
as the child have just hidden good
night. | succeeded i'll scraping an ac-
QuaintanCe with her, but failed in at
tempting to do the same with you. 1
esteem myself fortunate In meeting
you again and trust you may not take
flight before l find some mutual friend
TO introduce me-"
1T isn't necessary. 1 know a gentle
man when / see one"
This was very nice of her, but would
seem to be not consistent with efforts
TO avoid me while on the train with
her. However l had no mind to find
fault with my good fortune and with
the remark that should do myself the
honor and the pleasure to see her
again, not wishing TO risk anything by
haste, l bowed politely and passed on.
But my heart was light | had found
her who had been in my thoughts for
several years. | was In the same hotel
with her, aud | vowed that she should
not again escape me. But | did not
propose to risk anything by putting off
getting better hold Of the situation.
/ found her sitting on the veranda the
next morning chatting with u friend Of
mine. l joined them.
"Win you kindly present meT ask
ed OF the mutual acquaintance in a
formal tone
A smile dawued on the lips that had
kissed mine and broadened perceptibly.
Perhaps there was something in the
formality of the matter that seemed
ludicrous to her in contrast with the
unconventional incident that had oc-
Cured at our first meeting.
But that bit of uuCOnvcntiOnality l
refrained not only from mentioning,
but gave her no hint whatever by
which she could identify me as the
man who had taken part in It. My
object was to create an uncertainty In
her mind as to my being the person
she had kissed. thinking that sooner
or later she would throw out feelers on
the subject.
1t was not long before she did so.
She began by remarknG upon the in
convenience Of sleeping cars. | said
that / had usually found them very
comfortable. She tried me again far
more directly by asking me II had
ever had any singular experience in
sleeping car. l couldn't remember any
such
l had gone to the hotel in question to
spend week, but I staged a mouth
a most delightful period, during which
the sun must have shone very bright
for l certainly made luxurious crop
of hay. That was some years ago, and
have since had many good nights
sealed with kisses. While | admit they
are still enjoyable, none have ever had
the flavor OF that first one TO which |!
had no right. Stolen fruit may be
sweetest, but l found mistaken fruit
still more to my taste.