Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1910 — THE KISS, [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE KISS,

How It Made a Man’s Fortune and What Followed.

By THEODORE BROWN.

[Copyright, 1910, by American Press Asso- , elation.] Three students were walking on the ramparts of Copenhagen. Ttyo of them .were wealthy noblemen. The third was a young man of promise, but with no fortune, a necessary adjunct in old countries for assisting one to a career. The commoner was telling his friends of his desire to make something of himself and his inability to do so with no means at his command. “I must go abroad,” he said, “see other countries, mingle with other people. Here we are all frozen up like a glacier and move just atobut as fast.” “And what will you be if you go away?” asked one of his companions. “I don’t know. I shall at least haVie an opportunity for development.” The two noblemen were more interested in a lady sitting at a window on the other side of the street bordering the ramparts doing some kind of embroidery than in ' the aspirations of their companion. If they desired a career there were plenty -of avenues open to them by virtue of their rank, but their desire was rather to partake of the sweets of life attainable by means of their fortunes. It was not remarkable that their eyes should be on the lady at the window, for she was young and comely. She had withal an Interesting face, bespeaking a kindly nature, and modesty was stamped on every feature. “Poul,” said one of his friends, ,“do you see that Madonna face over there?” f \ “Yes.” r . “Well, if you will get a kiss from those red lips we will defray the expenses of this foreign tour you are so anxious to make.”

“Do you mean that?” asked Poul. Both his friends agreed that If he could get the kiss—willingly, not by force or trickery—they would furnish the required means. • Poul looked long and earnestly at the lovely fake, then suddenly started for the house in which the girl sat. The window was on the ground floor, and the two friends saw him go and stand before it, hat in hand. The girl raised the sash, and the young men saw that Poul was telling her of their offer with Its provision, for she looked up at them while he spoke. Then she drew him toward the window and gave him a kiss. The noblemen kept their word, and the commoner went abroad. It was some years after this incident that a distinguished army officer was recalled by the king from a distant station to Stockholm to receive the appointment of adjutant general, which meant chief of staff, or, in other words. Commander in chief of the army. General Lovenorn was the recipient of a great deal of attention. He was unmarried, and many a young girl of Copenhagen set her cap for him, for he was a bachelor in his prime, being not yet forty ydars old. Even daughters of noblemen were “thrown at his head,” but he would have none of them. One day while riding on horseback, with a couple of orderlies behind him, he passed a lady in a carriage who especially attracted his favorable attention. She was at an age just before women usually pass from youth to middle age. General Lovenorn returned to his quarters to dream of the lady who had thus impressed him. Courted though he was, a trusted servant of the king, admired for his ability and courage, yet there was a void in his heart that needs to be filled in the heart of every man and. every woman. For the first time in his life he had seen one whom he thought capable of filling that void. The next day he rode over the ground he had traversed before and at the same hour, hoping that he mighj again meet her. But he was disappointed. He would have, sought her but, but there was no distinguishing' mark by which he could describe her. In vain he looked for her in the gay throngs of young people in the parks, nt the theaters, at balls. Months passed, during which he treasured a vision he had seen but otjee. Instead of diminishing, his monomania, as he called It, Increased. Beautiful women, not knowing of his predisposition, continued to try to charm him, but he listened to what they said without 'tearing and to their efforts gave nonresponse. 2

Finally at a social meeting of a scientific association while strolling with a lady on his arm he came face to face with the subject of his dreams. He would have left his companion to follow the unknown , had that been admissible, .but since it he was obliged to content himself by asking who she was. He learned that her name was Itfgeborg Vinding; that she was not known in society, her family not being noble; that she had a fine mind, but, owing to a retiring disposition, did not ..assume that prominence to which her endowments entitled her.

General Lovenorn as soon as he was. free from attendance upon the lady who gave him this information lost no time in securing an, introduction to Ingeborg Vinding. He passed the rest

of the evening with her and received permission to call upon her. There was curiosity on the part of several women pho had each set her -cap for General Lovenorn when he was conspicuous for his absence from the next notable social function. When two or three of such affairs had passed without his being present curiosity had grown into alarm. When it Anally began to be whispered that the general was devoting himself to a lady to whom royalty-ICTd iibt given a ticket to the court circle alarm gave way to consternation. When he was seen at the opera with the lady who had unconsciously occasioned this disquietude necks were craned and lorgnettes Were leveled at the couple from the circle where sat the of Copenhagen/ y' General Lovenorn asked Ingeborg Vinding to be his wife. The manner with which she received his declaration was a puzzle to him. There was not that heartiness in her reply which be had hoped for. He felt toward her a certainty of his own feelings which did not meet with a response. He knew that she was the only woman he had ever wished to marry and was disappointed that she should have doubts as to her wish to marry him. “I must ask for time,” she said, “in which to consider so important a decision.” Days passed, during which the wooer’s fate hung in the balance. At last she sent for him. “There is but one thing,” she said,

“that separates me from you. Years ago, when I was in the first freshness of youth, I met a young man to whom I gave my heart. He did not enter into my life. Our acquaintance was the briefest, but from that day to this the dream of a young girl has been with me. I have not seen him for years. I may never see him again. It was the part of a girl just coming to womanhood so suddenly and uninvited to surrender to a man; but, having done so, I have never since been able to break the bonds that have held me to him. I will not deceive you. It would be dishonorable in me to marry you with this dream still in my heart.” “Your keen sense of honor only makes me more) desirous of possessing you. I have heard of cases where a young girl has given her heart in that way, and there are such cases among men. I, too, once met a girl of whom I dreamed till I met you. Now that dream has vanished before mature love.” “That is the difference between the loves of the sexes,” she replied, smiling. “A woman’s love is more enduring.” “These heart flushes of youth, I admit, are refreshing. Would you mind telling me about this young lover who caught your young fancy so suddenly and has held it so long?” “When I was very young,” she said, “we lived in a house close beside the ramparts. One day while I was sitting by a window a young man I had never seen before tapped upon the pane. I raised the sash and listened to what he said. Pointing to two young men on the ramparts, he told me that they would furnish him with the means to enable him to make a mark in the world if I would give him a kiss.” She paufeed a moment, then continued: “I shall never forget that young and enthusiastic face, full of eagerness; the intellectual cast of head, the” — “You have forgotten!” exclaimed the general, starting up. “It is I who have been true to my dream. Yours has passed into mockery. It is the man who is true, the woman who wor ships a fancy that has faded.” “You are”— ' “The man you kissed. Thank heaven, who has guided me to you, to thank you for that favor. To it, to you, is due all that lam today. Without it I should have remained here, thankful for an occasional crumb dropped by some patronizing noble. By it I have received the confidence of a king,” He was standing when he said this, and she, too, arose, peering into his face as if to recall an image she had long held in memory. “Yes;” she said presently, “it is the head, but the features are much changed. I did not recognize in the man of today "the youth of yesterday. But I, too, have changed. After all your boasted constancy you have not recognized me.” The next day it was announced that General Poul Vendelbo Lovenorn was to marry Iftgeborg Vinding, and the wedding ceremonies were graced by the presence of the king and queen. Society at the capital from that day welcomed the wife of the distinguished general. The story is often repeated in Denmark, though different versions of it are given. But in the matter of Poul Lovenorn getting the kiss and attaining by it his marked success all versions agree-

" I SHALL, NEVER FORGET THAT YOUNG AND ENTHUSIASTIC FACE.”