Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-12-03

L QOWn over ine duu Olu u0 BoVo uAbus
darling" sealing the words with q kiss
had been unconscious Of what hat
failed to enjoy. had supposed bach
elor life to be the contented state To-
man to live in-no cares. no curtaiI
lectures. no obligation to take woman
out to theaters. operas, social rune
lions. And now. without being ever
engaged. l had been introduced to
momentary bliss such as II q married
mans continuous possession.
Several years passed during which
Influenced by this incident ! tried tt
settle my mind upon some young wo
man that she might repeat my expert
ence in the sleeping car. But II there
Is one thing beyond our control 1t II
love I met excellent young women
many Of whom would have honoret
me by marrying me. but I did not want
any Of them
One summer was at hotel In the
country, crowded with guests. II
was evening. and stood at the foot OF
a stairway. about to part with little
niece Of mine who was going upstairs
to bed
Good night. darling" l said q
bent down and kissed her. A 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. II told
me that the lady had known while on
the Journey that 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
myself what to do In the matter.
simply smiled Something like smile
came to her lips.
"Your face Is familiar to me-" said
II think we have met before"
"You must be mistaken ! have no
rec"-
Evidently the lie was too much for
her. She stopped short.
"My memory is better than yours"
I said. 1--WE were on the same train
travelling to San francisco. A little
girl was with you about the sumo age
as the child have just hidden good
night. succeeded In scraping an nc
oualntauce with her. but failed In ut
tempting to do the same with you.
esteem myself fortunate In meeting
you again and trust you may not take
flight before I find some mutual friend
to introduce me-"
1T isn't necessary. know 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 ind
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 b!
haste, I bowed politely and passed on
But my heart was light i had found
her who had been In my thoughts for
several years. I was In the same hotel
with her. and I vowed that she should
not again escape me. But ! did not
propose to risk anything by putting of
getting q better hold Of the situation
I found her sitting ON the vernndu the
next morning chatting with friend 0f
mine | Joined them.
"Will you kindly present me?' ask
ed of the mutual acquaintance In ("
formal tone.
A smile dawned 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 unconventionaiity
refrnined not only from mentioning.
but gave her no hint whntever by
which she could identify me as the
man who had taken part In 1t. 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
It was not long before she did 30
She began by remarklng upon the In
convenience Of sleeping cars. ! said
that l had usually found them very
comfortable. She tried me again far
more directly by asking me II l had
ever had any singular experience In
sleeping car. couldn't remember any
such.
I had gone to the hotel in question to
spend a week. but I stayed month
a most delightful period. during which
the sun must have shone very bright.
for I certainly made luxurious crop
Of hay. That was some years ago. and
have since had many good nights
sealed with kisses. While I 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 found mistaken fruit
still more to my taste.
But not till l had taken my first kiss
did ] admit that she had taken her
Grst already.
Moors Consider us Dirty.
A habit Of our own which we con-
-