The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1915-08-26
The Kiss That
Went Astay
3, JOHN TuRNLEE

IL tue sweet summer time IN the coun-
try when neither had anything to do
but talk about love, think about love,
dream about love. and when any two
young persons Of opposite sex are In
that situation there is bound to be a
love affair between them.
Willard and Nancy spent two weeks
together and would have made a match
II 1t had not been that neither had the
wherewithal to make nest, and both
realized that such was necessary. The
time was long enough to cause them
to wish to marry, but not long enough
to cause them to do what they consid-
cred foolish thing. Willard might
have been willing to take the risk, but
Nancy, who was a sensible, farseeing
girl, would not hear Of 1t.
Willard said when the parting time
came that Nancy might give him Just
one kiss. She said she would see about
1t. Willard had often as child heard
his mother say when he wanted some
thing that she would see about 1t, and
he always got it. So when Nancy said
1t he felt sure that the kiss would
be his.
Funny, isn't 1t, that fate should have
produced lot Of trouble and finally
forced these two to marry on account
OF kiss that was not even definitely
promised?
When the lovers left the summer re-
sort, where they had passed two deli
cious weeks, they went from the same
railway station at 10 o'clock at night.
Willard was to 60 on one train. Nancy
on another. When Willard went to
the station he had not received his
kiss. He arrived on dark side Of the
building and saw a woman walking
back and forth whom he mistook for
Nancy. 1t occurred to him that she
was waiting there In the dark to give
him the farewell kiss. Going up to
her, he put his arms around her.
The woman pushed him away. but
any coy damsel would do that, and
Willard persisted. The woman cried
loudly for help. The agent came around.
She accused Willard Of insulting her,
and there was scene. She was very
angry and insisted on the agents tele-
phoning for the police. He did so. They
came, and on the woman's promising
to appear against the prisoner he was
taken to Jail.
Nancy came up just in time to see
her lover marched of. He was per-
mitted to explain the matter to her, and
she believed his story. She concluded
to remain over and await the trial.
il The next morning Willard was
brought up before a Judge who had
acquired the name Of the little red god
Of war from the fact that his bristling
hair and whiskers were Of fiery red
hue and his disposition was as fiery
as bis hair. 1t was seldom that case
of any importance came before him,
and here was one Of gentleman-in
appearance at least-who was accused
OF heinous crime. Besides. the pris-
oner was summer city man. belong
ing to clan that looked down on the
denizens Of the town.
The woman gave her testimony, and
Willard admitted the fact, but denied
criminality. declaring that he had mis-.
taken the woman for another. When
he was asked what other he declined
to answer on the ground that he was
not required to give the other person
away. Nancy was In court in a back
seat She longed to save her lover by
testifying that she was the person the
prisoner had intended to kiss. But
to do that she must acknowledge their
engagement to the world.
The trial was brief. and the prison.
er was found guilty under instructions
from the little red god of war that did
not admit Of an acquittal. Then the
Judge gave him long discourse on
those excrescences of society whose
wealth led them to believe they could
commit any crime with impunity. The
prisoner was given to understand that
he could not offend the morals of
town that had suffered only too often
from the misdeeds OF summer visitors.
Since the townspeople made their liy-
Ing from summer boarders. this was.
to say the least, unjust to the class re-
ferred to. Finally he sentenced the
culprit to six months In Jail.
Your honor" cried feminine voice
from the rear Of the room. II desire to
be put on the stand"
The Judge declared that it was too
late, but the prisoners counsel declared
that he would move for new trial
that would cost the county consider
able money, and in view of this threat
ened expenditure the Judge consented
to hear what Nancy had to say. She
took the stand and told the story "A I
have told it, or as much Of 1t as was
necessary. The Judge. in order to save
costs. directed the jury to retire again
and bring in new verdict. This thew
did. and the prisoner was acquitted.
A number Of friends and acquaint.
ances Of both parties attended the
trial and at the end gathered about VIII.
lard and Nancy with congratulations
both as to Wizards escape from long
Imprisonment and their engagement
There was nothing for them to do but
to acknowledge the latter, or at least
81 H.