The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1918-08-16

aWkWardly, ana DaSlQ Arnold LUKE
was not usually awkward:
Carol, you'll think I'm cad to say
what I'm going to, after doing what
I have just done, but I'll have to risk
that You shouldn't let men kiss you.
1t isn't right. You're too pretty and
sweet and fine for 1t. know you don't
allow 1t, commonly, but don't at all. l
hate to think of anyone even touching
n girl like you"
Carol leaned forward, fitting back
her head, and looking up at him
roguishly. her face a-sparkle.
| He blushed more deeply. "Oh, l
know It," he said "I'm ashamed OF
myself. But can't help what you
think OF me. / do think you shouldn't
let them, and hope you won't. They're
sure to want to-"
YES" she said quietly, very grown
up indeed just then, yes, they do
Aren't men funny? They always want
| to. Sometimes we hear old women
say, Men are all alike I never be-
lieve 1t. I hate old women who say IT.
But-are they all alike, professor
mo" he said grimly. they are not
But l suppose any man would like to
kiss a girl as sweet as you are. But
men are not all alike. Don't you be
lieve 1t. You won't, then, will your
~ ont believe It? No."
/ II mean" he said, almost stnmmer-
Ing In his confusion, y mean you
won't let them touch you"
| Carol smiled teasingly, but in mo-
ment she spoke. and very quietly.
.P'fessor, TIL tell you a blood-red Sc
ret II you swear up and down you'll
| never tell anybody. I've never told
Lark--well, one night, when / WIS
sophomore-do you remember Bud
Garyinw
Yes. the tall fellow with black hair
and eyes, wasn't he? In the fresh
man zoology class"
"Yes. Well, he took me home from
party. And Bud. wel-he put his
| arm around me, and-maybe you don't
know 1t, professor. but there's big
difference In girls, too. Now some girls
| are naturally good. Prudence is, and
SOS Lark. But Fniry and well,
we've got a not of the original Adam
In us. Buds rather nice and I let
him-oh, Just little, but It made me
nervous and excited. But I liked 1t.
Prudence was away. and I hated to
Talk to Lark that night, so I sneaked
In Fairy's room and asked II I might
sleep with her She said 1 could, and
told me to turn on the light. II wouldn't
disturb her. But was 20 hot didn't
want any light, % I undressed as fast
as l could and crept IN Somehow.
from the way snuggled up to Fairy.
she caught on. l was out Of breath
really was ashamed of myself but
wasn't rust sure then whether III
ever let him put his arm around me
again or not But Fairy turned over.
and began to talk.
! -She said that once, when she was
fifteen. one of the boys at Exminster
kissed her good night. And she didn't
mind 1t n bit. But father was putting
the horses In the barn, and he came
out just In time to see It; it was a
moonlight night. After the boys had
gone, father hurried and took Fairy
indoors for little talk, Just the two
of them alone. He said that In all the
years he and my mother were married,
every time he kissed her he remem-
bered that no man but he had ever
touched her lips, and 1t made him hap
py. He said he was always sort of
thanking God inside, whenever he held
her in his arms. He said nothing else
In the world made man SO proud, and
glad and grateful as to know his wife
was all his own, and that even her lips
had been reserved for him like sa-
| cred treasure that no one else could
share. He said 1t would take the
meanest man on earth, and father
thinks there aren't many as mean as
that, to 60 back on woman like that.
Fairy said she burst out crying be-
| cause her husband wouldn't ever be
able to feel that way when he kissed
her. But father said since she was SO
young and innocent, and It being the
first time, 1t wouldn't really count.
Fairy swore of that minute-never
again! OF course, when 1 knew how
father felt about mother, wanted my
husband to have as much pleasure in
me as father did In her, and Fairy and
1 made a solemn resolve that we would
never, even hold hands, and that's
very simple. until we got crazy enough
about a man to think we'd like to
marry him II we got q chance. And I
never have since then, not once"
"Carol." he said in a low voice, II
wish had known 1t. wouldn't have
kissed you for anything. God knows
I wouldn't IL think I am man enough
not to have done 1t anyhow II had