The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-03-01

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"Oh, wait a moment; let me compre
hend this first. Obstinate, foolishly
proud, selfsh-I think have it-go on.
NO. On the whole l think won't
You've got it all there All the rest o
lie flaws in your style of mind and tenn
| per are subordinate to those. Correc
their radical faults, and you will be al
angel"
ooh, but don't admit word of IL
Indeed
Certainly not. On the contrary,
am sure you have made mistake.
am generous, confding, yielding, ant
amiable; but-oh, Molly, have you got
cigarette in your pocket? feel that
cannot continue the course of my re
marks without a stimulant."
am ashamed to say that the blonde
haired Molly thrust her hand into he
pocket, and pulled out little bunch Q
Honradas, from which her compan1ol
extracted a dainty, white paper tube
and lighted it with a practiced hand
She placed it between her lips, and en-
joyingly drew in a volume of smoke
then emitted it in slender stream, un
til it was nearly exhausted; and then sh'
heard step in the grass behind her
and, being startled, she puffed out thC
rest through her nostrils, after the
manner of the Cubans, and looked
around.
She saw her sweetheart, Dick, tower
ing above her, with a curious expression
upon his face. He said nothing. She
nodded, and, placing the cigarette be
tween her lips, she put out her hand tC
him. He took it, and sat down.
by George" exclaimed he, first
bowling to Molly.
What is the matter?" cried Poppet
Iam surprised-confounded.'
AT what?"
"At you"
"An excellent subject"
That's a fact. 1 thought you agreed
with me the other night that this woman
smoking is a bad habit"
"Yes, certainly-if it is a habit 1t is
dreadful"
"Then it isn't the smoking, it's only
the habit you refer to, is it?''
Poppet looked puzzled. There was q
silence, a long one; meanwhile Poppet
smoked vigorously; her little clouds
pulled into the two faces beside her, and
Dick began to grow red. Finally he got
up"
"Poppet, I'd like to speak to you q
moment,
"Oh, dear! What's it about, Dick
1 can't get up"
Very well, then"
He looded moody.
"Is it about smoking-is it?"
"Why, yes"
"Oh, then, if you are going to scold
why do you want to take me asidea l.
it is sensible, why not give Molly the
benefit of it?"
Dick looked ~,llmes. He hal
laughed and h.:f swore. This was 6
terrible sort Of girl
"Well, then. ell you fatty do no
approve fit"
"That isn't much If an argument"
"But 1 hoped you would consider it {
reason. l would quit any habit tha
offended you, and feel glad of the chance
ofpleasing you"
"If adopted that principle, mercy
knows what there would be left fomel
to do. You always object"
Il beg yonr pardon"
(Which, 1 fancy, is your polite way o
telling me l fib"
"As you please" Dicks eyes begar
to light up. aPoppet 1 remember DIS
tinctly that you agreed with me tina
it is an unpleasant sight to see woman
smoke. 1t is useless, hoydenish, fast
and you know it. expressly ask yol
to throw away that cigarette"
"And 1 say expressly that shall d.
no such thing. To dare TO come here
before my best friend, and ask me Il
give up one of the few pleasures have
simply because your Highness has com,
to the conclusion that / do not show Of
to advantage in cloud of smoke, 1t i
preposterous absurd idiotic,"
"Poppet"
"And 1 wish you to understand, sir
that I shall retain as many of my habit
is pleases me. 1t so happens that | en-
joy smoking, therefore | shall smoke or
all occasions, and what 1 ike, whether
at is a cigarette, or a cigar, or meer
schaum or clay pipe-itis all the sam'
to me-"
Mr. Dick Redfern arose easily to hi:
feet, took off his hat, made low bow
and went away; leaving his sweetheart
fuming and glaring and smoking, while
in her friends eyes there was a faint
trace of tear.
Il believe it is yoa who are the idiot'
said she.
"At any rate, / shall now enjoy my
cigarette without interruption replied
the other, and to show him how little
care for what he SAYS, shall go thi:
evening and smoke good Havana un
der his window. He will smell it, look
out, see me and come down, and shall
forgive him
But Dick was savage. 1t was the
middle of the afternoon, and it was hot
and so he brought jug of lemonade
and sat down in a corner of his room
upon q japanese fauteuil. to think over
his situation.
He sat until the hotel bell rang for tea
He felt neither like eating nor drinking
A man who feels he must give up his
sweetheart rarely does. He sat until
dusk. He heard them dancing, and he
knew that Miss Preston was in the mid
die of the rout He grew more and
more indignant, and more sure that he
was right and that she was wrong. He
nursed his troubled mind, and recalled
all her words. 1t was not the miserable
cigarette, bnt it was the disposition she
showed. If she would act thus in the
delicious moments Of their courtship
what would she not be capable of doing
when in the midst of the hundrum o
married life? He reasoned with himself
that there was nothing to do but to sur
render to her-to send back her letter;
and pictures, and then to go away on Z
sea-voyage.
1t grew dark. His room was but /;