The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-01
A KISS BY
MISTAKE
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

Sarah had decided to go down witt
him and spend few days there on thu
matter Of her trousseau.
Shortly before reaching the Termina
the train ran into a tunnel. It was I
short tunnel. and no lights were lii
Most of the passengers. thinking tina
they were rolling into the station
arose from their seats and crowded
into the aisle. Ned and Sarah among
the number. When Ned perceived tina
the train was in the dark he conclud
ed to take a kiss. Drawing Sarah to
ward him. he pressed his lips upor
hers.
Sarah, to his establishment, broke
away from him, at the same time ut
tering cry. The train shot out int
the light and revealed to Ned a young
woman looking at him Indignantly
Sarah was standing yard away from
her fiance.
The young woman who had beer
kissed seeing the astonlshed express
sion on Ned's face, broke into smile
Ned was in a dilemma. He couldn't
apologize without saying that he had
kissed the wrong woman. So he said
nothing. The smile on the girls face
changed to frown. Sarah, not un.
Outstanding what had happened. look.
ed curious
The train stopped In the station, and
the passengers poured out on to the
platform. The kissed woman alighted
before Ned and Sarah, and Ned kept an
eve on her as she walked out of the
station a dozen yards ahead Of him.
When she reached the sidewalk she en-
tered taxi. Ned made a mental note
Of Its number.
Fate has 80 many persons affairs in
Its hands that 1t starts things. then
leaves the persons themselves to work
out the problem, though fate will take
hand at any time In any of the mil
lions Of iife's real stories Ned Bar
tholow felt that he owed the lady he
had kissed by mistake an apology. Since
no could not well have made one in the
presence Of Sarah 1t occurred to him
that possibly he might do so when Sarah
was not present. At any rate, he fixed
In memory the number Of the taxicab
In which the lady had been driven
away and as soon as he had disposed
OF Sarah went to the cab company's Of.
nee, asked that the number be called
a N hnr, hn
cabman dollar to tell him where he
had driven the lady.
Another strange thing is that we do
things for one reason thinking that we
are doing them for another. Ned could
have let the matter drop, or he might
have sent brief explanation by mail
that Is, after getting the lady's name.
lie did neither. He called at the adj
dress the cabman gave him that very
evening and asked for the lady who
had arrived during the afternoon on
train.
The truth is that all this part of the
story might as well be condensed into a
few words. That kiss in the dark was
a feast for god, and he wanted anoth-
er one from the same lips. He could
Kiss his fiancec all he liked Possibly
that entered into his reasons for wish
ing TO kiss another woman whom he
had no right To kiss
The lady entered the room wonder
ngly and, seeing the man who had
kissed her blushed. That was the most
unfortunate thing she could have done.
1t doubled Ned's desire to kiss her
again.
Il have taken the liberty to come
without permission" he said, ito make
an explanation"
The lady dropped her eyes to the
floor and waited. Ned had intended
TO tell her that he was engaged to the
lady who had stood near him on the
train and to confess that the kiss had
been intended for her. But how could
he hope for duplicate kiss after max
ing such an avowal? The scamp
changed his tactics. entering instead
on tissue of lies
Il had noticed you," he said, sitting
In the car not far from me. You will
forgive me, won't you?"
Proceed" said the girl.
How could help admiring one to
whom admiration is due7 Your liquid
eyes. your glossy hair. your He
paused.
"What?"
Coral lips They took me I'D like a
whirlwind and made me dizzy.
know not what did"
He paused. The lady's eyes were
still fixed on the rug on which she
stood.
DO not stab me by saying that I
am not forgiven"
There was no reply.
Does this silence mean that I am
TO be treated as OBSERVER
He made step toward her. She
did not move.
Have you no replyT
Still silence
He turned and went to the door
where he paused and looked back.
She stood as If waiting for something
he returned TO her and for the second
time pressed his lins IN hers