Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-12-11
A Kiss in The
Dark
ensp
By RALPH HAMILTON
Copyright. 1919. by the Western Nows-
paper Union.)


Suddenly the electric light went
out. There was II series of faint ex-
CARNATIONS from the six young ladies,
a rusting among young men of the
snme number, accompanied by pro.
longed "Olls!' and Abs" Then
suspicious but familiar sound, brief
but snappy, suggested the distinct
echo of Il kiss. The young ladies Gig
gled hysterically the young men ut.
tered g!oating signs.
'llorrid"
who is the guilty one?"
The erralic Fights of Woodviile
came on again. This freak of shut-off
power was Il common one in the town
but the variation and excitement
aroused by the present episode gave
zest to curiosity and excitemcnt
Everybody looked challengingly at
everybody else. The over-sensitive
appeared embarrassed the girls hit
their lips and The men looked prefer
naturally arch and WISE The hostess,
Mile neane, was ffuttered, but that
was fairly natural. for most of the
group was conferred about her. Next
to her sat her cousin. Ruth Purcell.
serene and smiling Next to her was
Robert Thursten. but who wo-.ld sus-
poet either of those as participants in
Stolen bliss? For Ruth was twenty-six
as against grades down to juvenlity
among the others, and Thurston was
nrnl. shy and sedate on all occasions.
The circumstance passed into oh.
security, though still voted mysterious.
and there was infinite chattering and
suspicion. The party broke up at
length and the cousins We're alone. 1t
was then that Mille began to betray
agitation and excitement.
Ruth" she announced, but whether
indignant or simply puzzled she did
not betray, II was the recipient OF
that perp!eNing kiss!"
"Yes, dear" nodded Ruth. all smiles
sand 1t was who bestowed It," and
Mile actually pcuted and looked dis
appointed.
"You!" she exclaimed, half believ
Ing,
"Yes. Oh. Mile! was so proud
of YOU because you looked so beauti
full could not restrain the tribute to
your loneliness Thanks for the lie.
turn kiss in the dark
'"rhe-what!" uttered Nlillie vol.
ubly
81 touched you on the cheek, and
you responded with kiss right On
the lips, and
81 never" dissented Nlillie with gen
tie force. II was SO taken aback ]
nearly screamed. Why! what is the
mntter?"
Ruth sat aghast. She believed Mile
and the revelation startled and then
stunned her. She could feel that
warm pressure yet on her lips. Who
had dared Ruth was not inserrsible
to admiration or the tribute of atten.
ton and respect, but she resented the
liberty some one had taken for rs
she got past girhood, she had heen
growing duly ctrcumspect. Millie
INDUCED a boisterous burst of mer.
riment.
Good. Good. You are the victim!'
she rallied Ruth. "And who knows
hut you invited it? You took such de-
light in teasing me by not divul..ina
the truth for whole hour, that can
pay YOU back. . You've told the girls
dozen times in the past year that
you were practically unllissable, hs.v.
ing decided to live and die an old
naid Oh. tut. tut. YOU deceiver.
Come, who was the subtle, secret lover
who stole his toll amid the darSness?"
81 am glad that Elake Ashton was
not present" cogitated NIillie. "rhe
WHY | acted might have made him
think ] was the vicrim of the kiss.
and lie is so Jealous ,"
For several days after the episode
OF the stolen kiss Ruth was restless
and mt times agitated. as the watchful
Milie observed NcitHer referred tc
the circumstance of she evening OF
the party. but Nlillie was full of II
when her tiance retdrnad.
"And. oh Blake; I've been studying
Ruth. and although SHE says nothing
am sure that mysterious kiss has
stirred her up strangely. tits like
journey into the realm Of romance
for her, after all these years, and, oh
Blaso / know who kissed her"
"YOu dow exclaimed Blake In sur
prise. Have you told Ruthf'
"Oh, dear mol For one reason, ]
wanted to consult you first.
"Who was it?"
"Robert Thurston."
ooh, impossible!" cried Blake def
nitely. "Why, I've often suspected
that he liked Ruth, but he is too shy
and unloverlike to ever tell her so"
'Well, l want to make him do just
that, dear; and want you to help.
We are so happy ourselves, why not
try to urge two lone, longing souls
into the same paradise? Don't you
see that Robert probably could not
resist mighty impulse. encouraged
by the darkness. Why, know 1t was
him, because noticed on Ruth 3
shoulder two loose petals from II g
rose Robert wore in his buttonhol, ,.
Press him close, Blake, and get him 70
confess. Then"
The mischief-eyed little sylph ms.
terialized that then" when the con.
fession was gained. She brought Ruth
and Robert together more than once
during the ensuing month. By grada'
lions Ruth was enlightened as to the
identity of her bold kiss burglar, but