The daily Alaskan., 1917-01-24

The journey was especially Interest," ing to me, because I had problem to solve. reckoned that the guilty one would betray herself before we arrived at the Queen City of the West But the only one of the three who could have kissed me who showed a special predisDoSiti0n for me IVES Agnes, and she gave no. sign of guilt. At all events, 1t seemed to me that had made very favorable impression upon her.
 On arrival at Pittsburgh those of us who were going further west took a steamboat to descend the Ohio river. Among those who were aboard were the elderly. gentleman, whose name by this timesI had learned to be Shotweu; bis sister and his daughter. In the coach, crowded together as we were, there was no opportunity for a tete-a- tete between me and Agnes, but on the steamboat was plenty. We sat together on the guards outside the ladies' cabin, and at times on deck. The Ohio was called by the early French settlers La Belle Riviere, and justly SO. At the time of this journey, the autumn, her waters were clear and the foliage on the multitude of hills on her banks was of many cOlors. No affair Of the heart could have taken place under more propitious circumstances.
 One evening, when the air was out of the south, Agnes and l went on to the hurricane deck, which 'is the high est deck of all. No one was there but ourselves. We stood looking out on a moonlit scene. The sounds were the throbbIng of the engine below and the striking of the paddle wheels at the sides of the boat upon the water.
 Now, had not thus far regarded my affair with Agnes Shotwell as any more serious than those I-had had with oth- CT girls. I had by this time made up my mind that she had given me kiss in the dark and that her innocence was assumed. Acting upon this theory, suddenly clasped her in my arms ana rained kisses upon her cheeks and lips.
 A man may sometimes kiss a girl without having declared himself and not appear disrespectful. l, having as- sumed that Agnes had oYerstepped the boundary of feminine modesty, gave her too many kisses:
 Az soon as she could release herself she turned from me without a word, went to the steps leading below ana disappeared. There was that in her manner to tell me 1t would be useless to follow her; that she was incensed beyond measure and If l obtained for EiYeness I must wait and strive for 1t Had I known her better l would not have feared that she would make 1t unpleasant for me with the others Of her party, but my limited knowledge Of her made me fear that she would.
 I confess was very much disgrun- tied.s To have made such mistake troubled me very much, for l was at an ags when a man is especially BenBi- tive to the good opinion or condemna- ton of women. I brooded over the matter during the day and lay awake thinking of 1t at night.
 I did not see her again till the after noon of the next day, when l ap- preached her while she was with her father and aunt She received me nei- ther kindly nor unkindly, there being nothing in her manner to indicate to the others that she was offended with me. But when again met her alone she passed nc without recognition.
 I was now badly cut up. knew from her manner that she was not act ing a part, and 1t was plain to me that the kiss given me in the coach had not been imparted by her. was in d. lemma. must either acknowledge myself a culprit or excuse myself by telling her of the kiss in the coach, story so improbable that 1t was not likely to be believed.
 Very soon after my ofense we ar rived at the landing at Cincinnati. That Mfr. Shotwell did not know ot anything amiss between his daughter and me was made plain by his giving ne an invitation to call at his house. 1 looked at Agnes to note if she acqui- esced, but saw no sign that would or would not be welcome. We parted on leaving the boat, the Shotwell party driving to their home in the city, l to my hotel.
 After much breeding over the matter I concluded to make the call. had in me the consciousness of not being quite SO bad as I appeared and l must bide my time for an opportunity to explain. Upon entering the Shotwell residence received the surprise of my life. Agnes came into the drawing room alone and with a very different look on her face from any had seen there since my transgression. It was very cordial
 was of course relieved, but pug Eled. did not believe for a moment that Agnes had pretended to be offend ed with me, and yet as sensitive girl how could she suddenly return to her former treatment of me without even an RpOlogy7 started to make one, but she checked me and went on talking