The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-29
A Kiss In the
Dark
BY ARNOLD BARTON

thard pass. entering Switzerland ut the
northern opening of the tunnel. The
time of passage Is fifteen minutes-as
long time underground as In any 9th
err such passage In the world
On entering his compartment at Luz
gano George took seat opposite a
party OF ladies who were evidently
travelling together. One was appar'
emily about thirty. while the other two
were young girls. The elder had chest.
nut hair. fair complexion and brown
eyes. One of the girls was of north
ern type, very fair, while the third.
evidently the youngest Of the three,
was certainly Italian, with the dark
hair. eyes and complexion Of Italy.
AS for George, he was not only very
handsome. but had one of those smiles
that are so winning in either man or
woman--a smile through which Iowa
BILE soul speaks to all who look at 1t.
He was twenty-five years old, an age
when a mans attractiyeness is usual
ly at its best
All the morning George Lockwood
| sat opposite these three ladies, who
were evidently tourists and chatting
with one another. now in French, now
in Italian. and once he heard the fair
haired girls speak few words that
sounded to him so like English that he
put her down as a Swede. Since he
did not speak any but his native
tongue he did not understand what
they said. but saw they were evidently
bent on enjoying themselves. One OF
them during their chat clasped her
hands and looked up toward heaven,
smiling, as though describing something
extremely engaging. If he had been
more conceited he would have inferred
that the ladies were talking about him. !
The train stopped few minutes at
the mouth Of the long tunnel, and
George got out TO stretch his legs. Then |
he resumed his seat, and the train. pull |
ing out from the station, entered the |
black hole In the mountain. There was
a lamp In the compartment. but through /
some oversight 1t had not been lighted.
George drew forth match from his |
pocket, struck 1t and held it aloft to
see il the omission could not be RENE
died. But. there appearing no feasible
way of doing 50, he sat down to pass
quarter of an hour In the dark.
Above the rumble of the train he
could hear whisperings between the
ladies opposite. but they were not
loud enough to be understood even IL
he knew the tongue In which they were
spoken. When about half the distance
in darkness had been traversed, sud
denly he felt pair Of arms clasped {
about him and lips pressed against his.
So taken by surprise was he that he
did not on the instant think TO hold
the kisser. When he did make the
effort he felt pair of sleeves of some J
fine material passing through his hands. /
There were about seven minutes left a
for the lady who had kissed him to re- |
cover her self possession before merg- b
ing into the light of day. George pre-
pared himself to scrutiniZe each face,
believing that she would in some way .
betray herself But seven minutes is !.
4 good deal of time on occasion. Be-
sides, when the train shot out OF the Il
tunnel 1t stopped at station only a Il
Few hundred yards from the mouth. re
instead of being able to scrutinize the p
aides opposite him he found them pre- W
,aring to alight at the station. =,
Batfled. he determined to get out also, A
md If they remained at the station he d
would do likewise. but when he saw "
hat they left their hand baggage in eli
he racks be felt easier and remained ia
n his seat The Indies evidently got to
ut that the kisser might have time to CT i
olect her faculties. for the train stop ~
ed but a short time and they were
Don in their seats again. Each one
eemed to have a good deal to do to a
ct settled, and the train was well un- -
err way before any of them gave u
gorge an opportunity to look her over @.
" that time it was too late; the kiss rs
:. whoever she was. had completely r.
,covered her composure. =
The ladies' on arrival Mt Fluelen. "a
alton on Lake of the Four Cantons, =
ok the boat for Lucerne. George ;
lssed the ladies occasionally while
. walked on the deck, but refrained I
ON giving any evidence that anything IT.
usual had happened. The trio in
IN never looked at him, ignoring him -
thoroughly as IL they had never SE
en- him before. Nevertheless he re- Coo
lved to shadow them and stop at the FER
me hotel as they at Iucerne. On go -
2 ashore he followta them at dis -
nee and settled himself under the
me roof with them. II
They remained in Lucerne a week,
lking all the excursions to be made
its environs. One morning George,
liking along the lake shore, saw then III
going on TO the boat that had
ought them from Fluelen. As IL TX
I the dock-when he could not fol-
v them-the youngest OF the party, IL
, dark girl OF Italy, with a smile H
'ew him kiss. Ill
That's all want" remarked George lie
himself. and. going back to the ho- II
he took down the names of the par -
from the register with their address.
ich was in Milan. Within n week
was In Milan and a few days later
ated the girl who had thrown him a that
: Six months LATER they were mar isia