Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-09
The Kiss

THE BcncdictS left carly. and Her
l. bert stayed on fcw minutes. while
Norman drove the Bcncdicts to the sta =
tion in the car.
Edith was very quiet. she made no
effort to join in the conversation. and
l was uncomfortable because she kept
looking from Herbert to me rs though
trying {" fathom the relationship be-
tween us. was little cross with
Herbert because he So pointcdiy nd-
dressed all his remarks 10 me and tool;
no notice at all of Edith. but. although
! knew it was IN unworthy feeling, il
CAV" me Il little sense of triumph for
all that.
When Norman returned. Herbert left
His good-hy to Edith was purely per-
functory and ], who was watching her
/ closely. fanricd that for moment n
CLEAN of anger lighted hcr eyes. but
| could not be sure. and even il it
had been thrre, it WAS gone in n mo-
mCnt.
On the way upstairs 7 went first
and Norman and Edith followed We
paused for a moment on the landing and
Norman, who had been joking with
Edith, said lightly:
"Good- night, little sister," and bent
his handsome head suddenly as though
he were going to kiss her.
My heart loap"d strangely or course
it was all nonsense, and after all there
was no reason why he should not kiss
Edith if she wanted him t". hut | didn t
want him to do it. Something in me
cried out against it, even though it was
just in fun.
And then as I stood there. unable to
turn away. Edith raised her face and
Norman bent lower. There was n mo-
mcnt's intense silence while stood
there staring, my heart heating sufro-
catingly in my breast | had caught n
glimps" of Edith's face. and it had
worn Il strange. subtle look, Il look of
purpose, 1t did not seem at all as
though she were letting Norman kiss her
for joke. And then suddenly It was
all over and Norman was turning laugh
ingly to me. For n moment could not
speak. ! wanted to treat the matter
lightly, but ! couldnt \ tumultuous
anger was raging through me, anger
directed toward, Edith, ana ! did the
very worst thing ! could do, lust stood
there staring 0t them.
Joan doesn't approve. Norman"
Edith drawled slowly. Just look at
her; she is absolutely shocked at my
forwardncsS.
] laughed then, strange high laugh
that did not sound ut all natural to my
ears.
Nonsense. Edith, Norman can tell
you that | am quite unShOckahle. =" But
my voice trembcd II little, ami as Nor
man came toward me, ! turned quickly
to my door. | didn't want him 70
touch me, ] couldn't bear it, now. after
what he had done.
Good night, you two," sang back
lightly, and then ] was alone IL the
haven of my room, but with the scene
that | had witnessed in the hall n mo-
ment ago still dancing tantallzinglv he
fore me. With trembling fingers / tore
off my clothes, snapped off the lights
and crept into bed.
Try as ! would ! could not nut tI,o
thought of that kiss out of my mind In
spite of what Herbert had said, | fell
that no man could resist Edith If once
she made up her mind to attract him
Norman had kissed her, and, although
| was woman and Edth's sister, I
fancied she would be rather lovely 70
kiss. There would be the readiness of
that peculiar perfume she used, nil
about her, and the dainty slimness Of
her, together with her provocative man.
ner, could not fail to move any one ms
impressionable as Norman.