Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-08
EV VENING STAR.

ICONCLUDED.l |

ohly oeen IOr the sport lt promised ner, lnde-
pendent of the good which might flow from IL
Wouldn't he beg her not to smoke any more
| Wouldn't he be mortified, and wouldn't she
win the day and glory over his defeat
Wouldn't he be glad to promise her that he
wouldn't smoke another cigar as long as he
lived! She was so delighted that she could
hardly contain herself.
Mr.. Washburn came home to tea, and rs
usual when he entered the house, he gave her
a kiss, and tender greeting They were
seated at the tea table; Mrs. Washburn was
| so full of mirth, that she came near scaldinr
herself with the hot tea as she poured it out
Her merry, mischievous laugh rang pleasant
| ly on her husbands ear, who, poor fellow,
| could have had no idea Of the terrible ordeal
through which he was doomed to pass
| When tea was over, the astral lamp trans
ferred to the lightstand, and Mr. Washburn
had stretched himself into comfortable posi-
lion in the large easy rocking chair with his
legs lazily reposing in another chair, the ever
lasting cigar was produced, lighted, and be-
gan to diffuss its fragance through the room
Mrs. Washburn could hardly control her in
clination to burst into laugh at the mere
| thought OF what she was ABOUT to do. Seating
herself at the side of her husband, she took
from the work basket, with an air as grave
| and as solemn as a judge, one of the "Bag-
dads" Placing the filthy roll between her
ruby lips, she glanced at her husband
Now, Mr.. Smoker" thought she,--it
would have spoiled the joke to have said it
eve will see whether you don't abandon tn at
nasty habit"
Nj. Wsshburn happened to glance at her ;
but contrary to her expectation, he manifest
ed no surprise, and went on reading the Tran
script.
$50, so," Mr.. Smoker, thought she again,
you think 1 m joking, do you? L will soon
convince you; and the lady took taper, and
applied light to the cigar
| But Mrs. Washburn was rather inexpe-
rlenced in the naodus operandt Of lighting a
| cigar, and she was unable to make il go"
| She lit another taper, and pufed away with
all her might; but the bagdad was as resolute
| as the great caliph himself She persevered,
TIL her extraordinary exertions again attract
| ed the attention of Mr. Washburn.
| "You are lighting the wrong end, my
| dear, said he, with the utmost nonctaLance
GLOW provoking he is !'' thought Mrs
Washburn. Why don't he demonstrate %
| "You had better bite off the twisted end, and
then put it in your mouth" continued the
husband, turning to the paper again.
! Aided by these directions the lady took an
! other cigar, which she succeeded in lighting
| The first taste of the tobacco smoke was hor-
| rible but she had determined to be martyr
for her husband S sake, and taking her sew
ing she continued to puff away as she piled
her needle till a certain nausea compelled her
| to abandon the experiment for that time,
| Casting the Bagdad into the CRATE, she began
to wish she had not listened to Mrs VOlant
| What is the matter, my dear? Wasn't
it good cigar? Try mine; they are Monte
! Christos of the first uality ;" and the imper-
turable Mr.. Washburn offered her a choice
| from his case
mo, 1 thank you, my dear; I will not
smoke any more tonight"
"But what is the matter, Mary? You are
as pale sheet -
q feel little faint shall be better in a
moment" and Mrs. Washburn was obliged to
| leave the room.
Poor woman. she was sick all the evening.
But the next day Mrs Volsnt, who had called
| to learn the success of the experiment, ad-
vised her to try it again, assuring her it would
| not make her sick the mex. time
CHAPTER iii.
Mr.. Washburn had a couple of his intimate
| friends at his house to play game Of whist
| the next evening, and the devoted wife re-
| solved to try the effect of smoke in their
presence.
When the party was seated, Mr.. Washburn
passed around his cigar case.
Won't you smoke, my dear?" asked he,
| rendering the cigars to his wife
81 will; but you know, Joseph, that
never smoke your cigars, they don't suit my
| taste"
Whew. that was cool!
Mrs. Washburn Lit Bagdad.
"Is it possible you smoke, Mrs Wash
burn?" asked Mr.. Barnes, astonished at the
spectacle of a woman putting away at a cigar
for all the world like loafer in a bar room.
Occasionally, just to please my husband"
replied Mrs. Washburn, after she had blown
out long wreath of blue smoke.
eyes, Barnes, interposed Mr. WashburD;
lit is more sociable, you know, to have com
pany when one smokes. We are generally
alone in the evening, and she is SO kind as to
smoke with me. All, Barnes teach yOur wife
to smoke, it is so pleasant to smoke with ones
wife %
The lady was thunderstruck. Was it pos
sible that he had no more respect for the pro-
prieties of life than that. She smoke. She
had already acquired the reputation of being
a smoker, without having produced any OF
the anticipated good results.
Mrs. Washburn threw the lighted Bagdad
into the stove. She had almost cried with
vexatien.
"Not smoke, my dcar''' said her hus-
band.
~ think l can be sociablo tonight if 1
don't smoke"
"Do smoke, my dear; it give me so much
pleasure to see you enjoy good cigar.
"That too bad, Joseph"
Mr.. Washburn laughed outright, and throw
ing down his cards, explained the event of the
preceding evening.
- will own up. did it to break him Of
a bad habit L give it up"
When the gentlemen had taken their leave,
Mrs Washburn explained by whose advice
she had adopted the plan.
"Mrs. Volant has the reputation of being
a perfect shrew. Her husband is a laughing
stock fer all State street. She is bad ad
viser.'
"How slick you have turned the joke on
me !" said Mrs. Washburn, laughing heartily.
"To tell the truth, l overheard some Of your
conversation when the plot was laid"
"Oh, ho. You did, No wonder it failed, |
then -
81 did; but Mary, are you so very much |
against my smoking? L love the weed, but L |
love you more" and Mr.. Washburn kissed |
her tenderly.
"Nay, will say no more about it. Per-
haps was selfish.
"Not selfish |; will leave 1t of, my dear, |
for your sake"
UNo, no: don't want you to do so. If Won