Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-10-09
An Old Time
Saying
By RAY ARLINGTON
Copyright. 1918. By Western New,papsr ussos.S

1t was the most delicate and meiO-
dious respiration possible, but three
pairs of smiling eyes turned inyolun-
tnrily toward Ethel Briggs, and tie
sprightlIest of the trio, Lora Vance,
familiarity quoted:
"snceze on Tuesday and kiss a
stranger!"
In pretty exaggerated Indignation
Ethel directed q mock resentment at
the speaker.
Improbable and impossiblel" she
declared with confidence. and the in
cideht drifted into ohscurity amid the
casual chatter of the hour.
Ethel was heart-free, winsome be-
ing, on a weeks visit to Aida Prescott.
There were two other girl guests and
Lora was one of them. A fourth was
expected that evening or on the train
next morning. Ethel had announced
her intention Of meeting her at tho
depot. Lora, Aida and Dora Wayne
stole off to movie show about z
o'clock. Ethel waited half an hour
and went out into the hall to put on
a wrap and hat, to find Lora had
assumed the fancy of using those
parts of her wardrobe, leaving her
own picture hat and audaciously loud
checked wrap in their place. Friendly
exchange of this character was a COM
mon feature with the group, and there
was nothing better to do than to &C.
cept the situation and make the best
of 1t. The depot was only few
squares distant and Ethel soon reached
1t. She remained outside on the plat
form, walking up down its length,
and rousing 70 vigilance and inter-
est as the train, comprised Of three
coaches, came to stop.
Ethel centered her attention on the
two rear cars. She was somewhat
disappointed as, watching the car
platform and scanning the interior of
the coaches through the windows, she
made out nothing Of her expected
friend.
"She will come on the morning
train" decided Ethel, and was about
to start away when the last passen-
ger of the smoker swung off, caught
side view of the wrap that en-
veloped Ethel, hastened toward her,
threw one arm about her and i'm
printed warm, resounding kiss on
one cheek.
Ethel uttered suppressed scream.
If some one had fired cannon ball
at her she could not have been more
astounded. With vim she tore her.
self free from the embrace Of the
new arrival. Her eyes glowed with
poorly suppressed indignation, her
lovely face assumed an angry flush.
"How dare you!" she quavered, and
her dainty fists clenched tightly. She
had swung quite within the radius OF
| the platform light The stranger re-
| coded two steps as though he had been
driven back by blow. His face was
| void Of CONSERVATION and embar.
rassment.
"Thunderi" he exclaimed, and the
gcnuineness of his emotion was evil
denced by the fact that he blankly
dropped the satchel he carried, and
stood rooted, staring at Ethel like q
| person turned to stone.
Ethel was tingling all over, trem.
bling, on fire with resentfulness she
was too ladylike to express in words
Then, strange vicissitude of glrllsh
emotion, she felt the slnarting tears
come to her eyes. Angrily striving to
suppress them she briskly rubbed the
tell-tale pink spot on her cheek with
her handkerchief. She shot another
wrathful glance at the stranger. Was
he audacious or simply clown? His
eyes were riveted upon her. His face
was vast blank. He stood like q
statue, unmindful of the fallen
satchel, like person fairly hypno
tized. Still, there was nothing of de.
fiance, ridicule or rudeness in his eyes
He tried to speak.
"Regret = mistake - pardon -'
were parts of disconnected sentences
that foated to Ethel's hearing, but
with pettish, spiteful air, Ethel hur
ried across the street. What should
she tell her friends? Should she tell
them anything ut all7
She entered the house, flushed
trembling and excited. The girls had
not vet returned. Somehow she could
not get. her mind away from the Incl
dent of the evening. Ethel roamed
about the house, disturbed and rest
less. When there came ring at the
door bell she fastened to respond tt
1t, hoping it was Lora and the others
returned from their mild evening dis
sipation. Ethel opened the door. Il
was her turn now to pose stupefied
There stood the man Of the depot
the owner of the lips that had swept
her dainty cheeki
"Thunder!" he again uttered, ant
before he could speak further, ant
before Ethel could arouse herself, "a,
voices and lively, tripping footsteps
announced the coming Of Lora anG
her companions.
"Why, Bartley" exclaimed I.ora
r1,shinc I'M RI tho stranger and kiss,ne