THE LOST KISS By Alvah Jordan Garth. "You are noblest man I ever knew!" Her fair soul in hereyes, Evelyn Snow stood before theman who at the risk of his life had saved her brother frerai a terrible death in a runaway. She wae trembling all over. In her eyes was the warm "You Will Not Send Me Away, Will You?" ardor of more than gratitude, and Bertram Morse read what it was and his heart seemed bursting. Evelyn swayed toward him. Closer came the cherry lips, bent on bestow ing upon him the kiss of utter thank fulness, the reward for his courage and manliness. "No!" he said, and his voice was - se and restrained and he held her '- length. She deemed that ion conveyed a charge of unwomanliness. She tried to break from him and hide her face for shame, but he held those struggling hands imprisoned. "Wait!" he said, sharp pain in every accent of his voice, but tenderness and decision, too. "You and I need not misunder stand. Your troth is plighted to Amory Kendall. He is my best friend. I dare not be treacherous to him. You must not. My love!" and his great frame was shaken "oh, my love! This shall be the supreme mo ment of my life until I claim the kiss I only defer." "What do you mean?" she flutter ed, and longingly. "That I am going away, that I hope you will be happy with the man whose glory is in claiming you as his wife. But through all the lonely future I wish to feel that you owe me that kiss. It may be years, but some time, some place I shall ask what honor bids me now postpone. When I ask, will I have that kiss?" "Yes, yes oh, you are breaking my heart!" and Evelyn ran from the room in sobbing distraction. Bertram Morse hurried from the house and its vicinity. He thought only of reaching the outskirts of the town, of being alone in some seclud ed woodland spot where he could think out and wear out the great grief that was consuming him. He tried to slip down a side lane as he saw coming toward him Amory Ken dall. But the latter had espied him. He ran up to Bertram, affectionately entwining the arm of the loyal friend he loved next best to Evelyn. "You big, brave fellow!" cried Ken dall, "I've heard all about. The whole town is talking of the fearful risk you took, and well they may. Oh, how grateful Evelyn will be! You must come at once and see .her." "I have just left her," said Bertram as steadily as he could. "Amory, she is a rare jewel. Cherish her as the apple of your eye!" "Why, how grave and strange you act!" commented Amory.