The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-08-20

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brave men, as though they had di.
vined my desire, made every effort TO
diminish my chance of ofsuccumbing. The
great day arrived at last. had spoken
to the mayor. Ii had been agreed
that / should 60 TO the house for Gene
We've at / o'clock. That morning
rose early. / put on my new black
frock coat, made for the occasion. Af-
ter was entirely ready, alter having
retwisted the ends OF my mustache. /
looked at my watch. IL was high
An hour! / had waited six months
before knowing whether / would ever
see Genevieve again. / had waited
six weeks from the time ! had been
accepted for the moment when | might
marry her. An hour? And | burned
with impatience. | walked up and
down my room. sat down. / got
up. / reseated myself and got up
again, longing for some way to pass
the time, anything that would help me
to bear that hour OF waiting. Turn
ing toward the mantle my eyes fell
upon that box of cigar. There was
only one left Ny friends, the ianitor,
the man who polished my floor, had
all done we'll. One lone cigar /
took il up mechanically. 1t was long,
round in the middle and tappering to
Il point that seemed to call for n pen
knife. / pressed it between my fingers
close TO my ear it cracked rs though
well dried. IL was neither too dark
l..
cigar OF the drst class. / threw it
back quickly into the box and closed
my eyes 20 escape the temptation.
Fifteen minutes past twelve. Still
moro than three quarters of an hour
to wait. | returned 10 the mantle,
took up the cigar (eyery one has mo.
ments of folly now and them and cut
ii with my teeth. ! lighted it and,
sitting down in my armchair, COM
menced smoking. It was delicious.
: Was the odor OF the cigar too strong,
or was it because | had lost the habit
o! smoking? Al the end of few mo-.
ment my head fell buck, / partly
closed my eyes and gave myself up to
the luxury Qfthat sensation noighbOr.
ing upon u slumber, at the paint where
thoughts ends aud dreams begin.
, Suddenly l awoke 10y the odor OF
something scorching. | got up and
looked about the room. Nothing.
went 10 the curtains, to the draperies
Nothing. l felt my coat, my vest.
, Nothing.
"Bah it was only an idea," thought
l, and | am mistaken. / looked Mt my
watch. 1t was twenty-five minutes
past one. / grabbed my hot and my
: gloves. flew down the stairs four
at time and jumped into the carriage
} that was waiting for me. The janitor
! was there standing on the door.sill.
} On seeing me pass nc burst out laugh.
ing, and so did the coachman. They
are laughing ut me because am late,
thought /.
"Whcn | reached my father.in. laws
/ | was up the steps in one bound an
rang the bell. As John, the domestic,
| who opened the door, caught sight of
! me he started rs though he had re.
. ceived isudden shock, and said,
: Every one has gone, Monsieur, after
, having waited for Monsieur, although
Mademoiselle Genevieve did not seem
. satisfied. She told me to say to Mon
sieur, II Monsieur came, that he should
60 to the Mayors Office. have given
! the message to Monsieur.
, "And the entire time he was repeat.
. ing his eternal Monsieur he was try.
5 ing to repress an irresistible desire to
/ laugh.
+ "'Are you laughing at me like that,
Q my boy?' snid /.
/ Monsieur knows very we'll that ]
| would not allow myself IN the pres.
' ence OF Monsieur, and, after ali, every
I one 10 free, is he not, Monsieur !
I Monsieur must know well what pleases
Mademoiselle, and if Mademoiselle
likes it like that
| "But had not the time to try ia
= understand him, and Struggling my
. shoulders ! descended the steps more
! rapidly than had gone up. All the
. servants in tho yard ranged in two
/ rows forming n lane. Although ran
, the gauntlet quickly, I could, never
Q theless, hear tho smothered bursts OF
: laughter.
| "'DecidedIy,' Growled I, 1T seems
Q that they have never seen bride,
} groom late
Q al rushed the coahhman and at n
. quarter of two we were at the Mayor
? Office.
r "'rhe room for marriages." do
: manded | OF the usher.
: "'Ihe room ior marriages = he re-
= Piled. 1T is not for you, perhapsp'
q "'Yes, it is for me-.
For you? All? that is good Oh,
, but that is richp And he fell into a
b chair, holding his sides rs he shook
. with laughter. ! don't know what
kept me from boxing his ears. How
z ever, was able to control myself, and
I in tone that admitted of no delay /
demanded, viii you, yes or no, chow
! me the marriage'room?'
= "He got up and with emphatic ges.