Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-30
The Dailv
Short Story
THE KISS.
By Evelyn May.

III neT husodno mad struck her IN
the face Margaret Blake could NJ.
have been more startled, amazsd .,s
spellbound. For a moment she f,,r,,
crumbled back. Then it seemed =. .
sudden glory pervaded the little NJ.
row hallway. For the first TINA !.
80 years John Blake had kissed H.,
"Oh. john" she fiuttered and II.
faded cheeks, yet soft az ynlvst
flushed pink and the lips ouiyers.
and she felt as II she could die cor'
tent, and then she seemed to Rro.A
her way blindly into the little parlor
and sank to her knees, collapsins IL.
side chair and burst into tears
What a fuss woman makes" ab.
caught the tones of her husband ont
side, and then, soft and tenderlike--
"All the same. Margaret, you're Ia
best wife a man ever had. Hello!
forgot my cane"
He turned back into the hall ana
secured the article required. For 1
moment he halted. His glancs ~.
fixed upon the half-pros.rate woman
Her hands were clasped above her
head, the tears we're raining down her
cheeks, her soul seemed soaring heay-
EDWARDS as she uttered the words:
1T is worth all the longing and
kwaiting of 80 years---oh. my one
only love. Oh! life is sweet"
"H'm!" John Blake tried to mutter
in his practical phlegmatic way, but
the strong man was shaken. II was
the first day in-two weeks that John
had been out of the house. He had
| recently overdone himself, was Laid
up with a bad attack OF rheumatism
and Margaret had nursed him.
A sense OF her ureless attention
sleepless nights, poignant anxietie,
had overcome him as he left the
house. A fash Of the true worth Of
this deserving woman had caused that
erratic impulse Of sentiment
How glorious it was to again battle
in the joyous sunlight, free from pain!
How neat and prosperous the farm
looked. Margaret had done double
service as nurse. housekeeper and out
door manager.
Margaret won furtive, but half
gratified glance from John as he noted
at supper time that she wore one Of
! the tidy white aprons, that had
seemed so dainty and becoming In the
earlier days of their married career.
"You mustn't overdo yourself, John
remember" she said the next morning
and accompanied him again to the
door. There was something longing
and wistful in her eyes.
"You aren't thinking Of yesterdays
nonsense, are you, Margaret" he half
laughed.
Yesterdays, nonsense kept me hap
py all day long. john" she said, her
lips trembling.
Its cheap and handy, anyway
said he, and went over and gave her
a hearty smack.
"Haw, haw!" greeted John outside.
In the yard. in his gig, was his portly
neighbor Joshua Griggs. He waved
his whip boisterously.
Il say, Blake" he hailed, what's
the occasion? Old sparkling days over
again?"
4 JOuu was ucepiy SudSI4uc ~
frown came to his face.
mo harm done, is there?" he chal-
lenged angrily.
What's the good, though? Why, |
haven't kissed my wife in 10 years.
That soon wears out with the sex,
Blake. Woman get man and forget
everything except that he is a pro-
wider. Your wife drudges, mine gal
livants-change, change, change. New
err satisfied. Bah! the honeymoon over
and they're practical critters"
Perhaps If you kissed your wife
once in a while she would drop %
much gallivanting."
Don't you criticise my wife!
blurted Griggs.
Il amt. You did. Yes, I've made
Margaret drudge"
And she's happy in it. Don't dis
turb her way"
But I'm going to mend things.
Joshua. I'm beginning to wonder II
the humdrum way We sink into mere
providers doesn't chill all that is love
ly and natural in women folks"
Margaret" said John the next DAY.
you're going to make tw0-weeks
visit to your sister and her two little
kids. You're going to bring them BACK
here, for good. Miranda is having :
hard time of it, and l see my duv
plain to make it easier for the poor
widow. With her help you won't %
drudging your life out
"Oh, John. the added burden ior
: you, their care"
"A blessing, girl" declared JONI.
| Those two little ones Will mase
, music in the house. There's going
| be a change in affairs around mere
monograph, movies, new furntus !.
maybe an automobile. You're going y
| get something out of life, il 1t ta.es
all I've got. Good-by. Two wee.s'
take good rest and come back req,
, to enjoy the new life" was what 1ona
said when the next day Margaret w
, seated in the wagon bound lor tas
, depot
. He waved his haid airily. Mafea!'
= with beaming eyes leaned forws!G =
, ward him. How enticing, how sirns''
she looked, -.
You've forgotten something, sn'
whispered palpitatingly. Inc
: "Oh, yes," he laughted, ana METZ sy
: and with sparkling eyes, and ~!
: vim-"the kiss. There's two OF 'n''''
/, Margaret. Heaven bless you!