The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1895-06-15
IT PAYS TO TELL THE TRUTH.

Lying Over the Dinner Table Nearly Fin
ished . Mans Chasces.
"Yes, said the man with the impe-
rial. lit always pays to tell the truth.
l remember that once. when l was q
good deal younger. came mighty near
losing the woman who is now my wife
because l lied bit
TO herr" asked the young man with
the Vandyke beard.
mo; to her father. You see. it was
this way: l was a young sprig of q
clerk then, with bot little money and no
prospects in particular. had seen the
girl who is my wife at one or two
places had been, and l was dead in
love with her. figured around and got
permission to call on her. and it wasn't
long before had proposed and had been
accepted. Then came the tug Of war.
had to go and ask her father for her
hand. He was rich as mud and had the
reputation Of being the ugliest old skate
in the ward. got my courage up one
morning. Though, and walked into his
office and struck him for the girl. After
| had told him what wanted be asked
me to sit down. and we had long talk.
He inquired into my prospects and my
habits and all that and wound up by in
viting NE to dinner the next day.
Il was tickled TO death. for thought
had made hit with the old man, and
l went to dinner the next night in high
feather. The dinner itself was fair.
but the wine was execrable. The old
man kept filling my glass at every op-
portunlty and urging me to drink. Then
the ladies went away, and the old man
produced cigars. He offered me one.
took it and lighted it. So help me, ii
was the poorest weed had ever tackled,
and have gone against pressed Pitts
burg tobies too! Then he poured me
oct another glass of wine and told me
to drink it. 1t was something like a
combination of spoiled vinegar and al
cohol. 1t was abominable. The old man
made great ado in putting his away. !
DE smacked his lips, slipped it as if 1t
were priceless Tokay and held it to the
light In an ecstasy Of admiration.
Great wine, that, don't you think?
be asked me. said that it was the
best | had ever tasted.
oh, yes, continued the old man.
i imported that wine myself. Has q
most magnificent bouquet. There's
nothing like it in this country as
sured him that was confident Of that.
Then he went on praising it, and
chimed in with him and said three words
for every one of his. called it nectar
flt for tho yO6z I S1Il
minded me Of some very rare vintage
which had once tasted in New York
and a lot Of other CUFF like that, and
wound up by assuring him that the
damnable cigar l was trying to smoke .
was the most fragrant Havana bad
ever lighted.
The old man seemed pleased. He
fairly beamed at me. Twas coppratu.
lating myself that had made an excel.
lent stroke and was feeling on pretty
good terms with myself when the old
man Strengthened up and roared.
Young man, you can't marry my 4
daughter. ventured to ask him why.
md be roared again: Because, sir, Won
Ire an Internal liar! You sat there to-
hight and perjured yourself about this
Hop We have been drinking In the place
II wine. 1t Is the worst connection |
'ver tasted. And that cigar cost about
cents. You are liar. The truth in
rot In You. II it is, you are a coward.
You didn't dare tell me what YOU
bought about this stuff. Iwant pei-
her a liar nor coward tor a son-in-
aw. Get out!'
With that he stamped out of the
Dom, and there was nothing for me to
o but go home. l made up my mind
bat the game was up. and was discop-
plate. tried to see my sweetheart
nd was baffied at every turn. For three :
avs was heartbroken. Then | got a .
ote from the old man. 1t read like
Dis: Young man. On second thought ! I
ave made up my mind that | need a .
BOD liar in my business. Take the girl
she wants you, and l will give You ,
interest in the FIRM I
And that. continued the man with
70 imperial, lis the way got my start '
life and my wife. Buffalo Express.