The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-04-23
Much Ado
About Nothing
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper UnIon.J
By r. A.

ndu 4 ever iOveu any one else, engaged
her thoughts. At any rate this was
what she was continually harping on
Since she would not discuss prac-
teal matters / was forced to talk
about what I considered trifies, though
they were very delicious triies, mas
much as all my assurances to her were
REINFORCED by kisses. One day when
the kisses were plentiful 1 said to
Phyllis:
Have you ever been kissed by g
man beforeT"
Certainly not"
That's very lovely" I replied with
another kiss.
Have you ever kissed a girl be-
foref" she asked.
The innocent creature.
Il annot tell a lie" I said. II
have"
She looked a trife disappointed.
"A long time agof"
Il am sorry to say I kissed a girl
within a week"
was holding her hand, she with
drew II as II mine were a hot coal.
j expected to see a tear In her eye,
but / did not. She wal hurt but she
was also offended. There was lust
enough man in her to keep back the
tears.
Forgive me-" / replied. eff you
should see those pouting lips, You
would not blame me-"
81 knew It," she said with heav-
ing breast. II have ell along feared
that In such matters you are not trust
worthy"
1T is my only fault"
"Your only fault II IL the worst
fault a man can have: that Is one his
wife or lancee would consider his
worst"
"The temptation was very great"
/ pleaded.
There was an awful silence for some
time. then she said In a tone Of bitter
disappointment:
II should think that you would MOI
care 10 kiss a girl who would permit
you to kiss her, unless you were en-
gagged 10 her"
That's the girls lookout. not mine.
II she don't mind I don't
But by kissing her you Influenced
her"
ION the contrary she Influenced
me-"
That's just like a man he Is always
ready to throw all the blame on the
woman"
~ solemnly aver that I was not
thinking of kissing her. She put up
her lips TO be kissed and-well, I Just
kissed them. I couldn't help IT."
Without a word Phyllis rose and left
the room. I called to her to come
back: that l had an explanation to
make; but she paid no attention to
me. Her mind was in that peculiar
state OF a girl who has Just become
engaged. ready to take fright Mt the
slightest appearance of unfnithfulness
l think that more engagements would
hold II the parties were separated the
day after the betrothal and kept apart
without correspondence-tll the
wedding.
There was nothing I could do-at
least for the ~present-to undo the dam
age I had done. Phyllis had left me,
deaf to my recall. and would not come
back. I cursed myself for a fool. I
was 20 go away on a business trip
for the firm / was with early the next
morning. and would have no oppor-
tunity TO plead for forgiveness. While
/ was away Phyllis might do some
thing to separate us forever. / thought
Of going TO my employer and asking
permission TO delay my departure.
But what reason could I give himf
That l had had a spat with my sweet
heart and wanted an opportunity TO
make II up before II became any
worsef Likely ne would have accept
ed the reason. but / did not propose
next morning.
/ could have written Phyllis an ex-
PLANTATION, but I feared that on cold
paper she would not believe II. l was
only 10 he gone a week and concluded
that the safest plan was to let the
matter rest till my return.
I confess that IL was a week OF
anxiety for me, and II must have been
n of misery to Phyllis. On reach
Ing home I wrote her a note saying
that the girl I had kissed would go
with me the next evening AZ seven
o'clock 10 plead my cause with her. I
received no answer but I expected
none.
On the appointed evening I appeared
as had said I would with the girl
I had kissed.
Phyllis came down from her room
evidently resolved to listen to no ame
excuses. On entering she saw my lit
tie niece. Alice, four years old. Alice
put up her lips TO be kissed.
That's the way she accomplished
NV fall" I said. "Now can you blame
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