Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-10-14
DAVIS DETERMINATION.
gnwritte1 history of the x. PA.
South Kentucl1ian.
No. sir. I will not. /"

oouiu hchNuSAAah.
''No, sir, / will not"
These words were uttered one
starry night in the leafy month of
June, in the year 1880, as the men,
bers of the Kentucky Press AssO-
citation were steaming down the
Ohio river, returning, on board
magnificent boat, from a visit to
the mountainous. regions of West
Virginia. The meeting with its
pleasures was over and the happy
gang were en- route from Hunting
ton to Ashland To disperse to their
several homes. In almost every
nook and corner Of the boat could
be seen loving couple, each bend
ing low to catch the whispered
words that fell from the others lips.
Upon the top Of the proud vessel
which was surging through the
muddy waters of the Ohio, sat
young couple busiiy engaged in
counting the moon, which was just
half full, like some of the parasites
who were dead-beating their way
as members of the Press ASsocia-
ton. We Will pause moment to
take a glance at this pair. The
youth was ApOllo-like in his beau
ty. His raven locks clustered around
a classic brow and his curled NOUS
tache was just too lovely and cute
for anything. He was a suscepti-
BILE youth and when a pretty girl
pitched him a smile ii invariably
set his heart to fiuttering like Cos
ling with its foot in turtles mouth.
He had been the constant attendant
OF the young ladies i'm the crowd
and especially of the little bright
eyed lassie by his side. She was
the sun around which he like
planet revolved, and on this partic-
ular night the planet had reached
its perihelion. The reader must |
not think we are writing our herO's |
obituary, for our language Is only |
figurative. But to return to the |
girl. She was n petite, graceful, |
bright faced little lump of sweetness
whose name il is not necessary TO |
give. She had played sad havoc
with the hearts of more than one OF |
the boys and about the first scribe |
who was captivated by her charms
was Dan O'Sullivan at that tine |
on the Bowling Green Intelligencer,
but now on the CQprier-Journal
staff. He loved, ne adored, he
worshipped, he idoliHed her, and
she had shown decided prefer
ence for Dan. In fact it was pretty
generally understood that they
were mutually mashed" No
wonder they had sought the top of
the boat. 1t was the last OppOrtu-
nifty they would have to hold sweet
communion with each other. There !
they had repaired in a gang to
themselves and while the noX was
lit by the lux of the luna, they had
been wrapped, for an hour, in the
sweet solitude of their own loving
thoughts. The distant lights of
Ashland were visible in the dark
ness ahead and Dan grew eloquent
as he realized that in a few mo-
ments the boat would land and the
parting must take place. He spoke
of the sad thoughts that welled up
in his heart, at the near prospect of
an indefinite separation. He as
sured her again and again that the
picture he had in his lOcket was his
Cousins and that his whole heart
was given to her whose hand was
in his own. He raised his
eyes toward the Starlit heavens,
while the blue smoke from his pa
per cigarette curlcd above his head,
and vowed that he would not forget
her. 1t was at this supreme mo-
ment when the whistle had sound
cd and the boat was heading to-
wards the wharf, that Dan turned
to the fair creature by his side and
in accents of beSeeching
pathOs:
Darling kiss me ere we part"
II was ut this point that the little
beauty uttered the words quoted
above.
Rising to her feet and pointing to
he cigarette which Dan held be-
tween his fingers, she repeated:
''NO sir; | will not, l will not kiss
man who smokes paper cigar
cites" 5
Dams heart sank within him,
1ut he quickly realized that tempus
vas rapidly fighting and that what
ever was done must be done quick
y. l
Another moment and lighted
cigarette descended and was lost in
he turbId waves below, and in ]
tones Dan pleaded:
Just once, and I'll swear by the !
tellas in the heavens above us l |
will never smoke another cigar !
,tte."
The boat touched the wharf and
Is the girl stepped off Dan whis-
Dered:
AZ will always keep my prom
Glnnn hnnTN |
;nown to smoke a cigarette. She
must have complied with his re- t
quest.