THE STORY OP A KISS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1206, 26 December 1871, Page 3

THE STORY OP A KISS.

[BY IfREDERIKA BREMER/]

In the great University of Upsala, ia Sweden, lived a young student, a noble youth, with great love for studies,. but without means for pursuing them. He was poor, without connections. Still he studied, lived in great poverty, but keeping a cheerful heart, and trying to look at the future, which seemed so grim to him. His good humor and excellent qualities made him beloved by his comrades. One day he was standing in the square with some of them, chatting away an hour of leisure, when the attention of the young men became arrested by a young and elegant lady„ who, by the side of an elder one, was slowly walking over the place. It was the daughter of the Governor of Upsala, living in the city, and the lady was her governess. She was generally known fcr her goodness and gentleness of character, and looked at with admiration by all the students. As the young men stood gazing at her as she passed, like a graceful vision, one of them suddenly exclaimed : " Well, it would be worth something to have a kiss from such lips."

The poor student, the hero of our story, who looked on that pure angelic face, ex* claimed as if by inspiration : " Well, 1 think I could have it."

" Well!" cried his friends ia a chorus, *' are you crazy ? Do you know her ?"

" Not at all," he answered : " but I think she would kiss me if I asked her."

11 What! in this place, and before all our eyes ? "

" Yes."

" Freely ?"

" Yes, freely." " Well, if she would give you a kiss in that manner, I will promise to give you a $1,000!" exclaimed one of the party. "And I! and I!" exclaimed three or four others, for it happened that several rich young men were in the group, and the bets ran high on so improbable an event. The challenge was given and received in less time than we take to tell it.

Oar hero (my authority .tells me not whether he was plain or handsome ; I have my peculiar reasons for believing he was rather plain, but singularly good looking at the same time), immediately walked up to the young lady and said :

" Mein Frauleia, my fortune is in your

hands."

She looked at him with astonishment* but arrested her'steps. He proceeded to state his name and condition, his aspiration, and related what had passed between him and his companions. The young lady listened attentively, and at his ceasing to speak, she said blushingly, but with great sweetness: "If by so little a thing so much good can be effected, it would be wicked in me to refuse your request," and publicly, in the open square, she kissed him. Next clay the student was sent for by the Governor. He wanted to see the man who dared to seek a kiss from his daughter in that way, and whom she consented to kiss.

He received him with a scrutinizing bow, but after an hour's conversation was so well pleased with him that he asked him to dine at his table during his studies at the University.

Our young friend pursued his studies iu such a manner that he was soon regarded as the most promising student at the University.

Three years are passed .since the first kiss, when the young man was allowed to give a second kiss to the daughter of the Governor as his wife. He became, later, one of the most noted scholars iu Sweden, and was much respected for his character. His works will endure while time lasts among the works of science ; and from this happy union sprang a family well known in Sweden at the present time, whose wealth and position iu society are regarded as trifles in comparison with its goodness and love.