Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-08-14

B\ same time nOddeu 10
- ' i Q, her husband. He left
the table, and soon returned with q
box decorated with many inscriptions,
containing large cigars, each envei,
oped IN silver paper, and having all
the luxury due to their high price.
AS the case, passing from hand to hand
came to me, I took one and offered the
box to my neighbor, who, gently push
ing it aside, said; "Thank you, L do
Lot smoke !"
'You don't smokel" cried the host
ess, in astonishment.
"And where, pray, did you form
that habit?"
at is not habit, but a punish
ment." he replied.
ga punishment 1 do not under
stand" said she, in mystifed tone.
"Of course you cannot understand
1t is romance.
ga romance! Tell us about it. D."
Evidently my neighbOr wanted moth
ing better than request for his little
romance, and with an inclination OF
the head, which seemed to say, ooh,
willingly. I wait only for the word
from vou," commenced by saying;
81 am aow fifty years old, madame,
and carry my age-but that does not
matter. However, l have not always
been that old. Twenty-Five years ago
was-at least people tell me so-a
young man, not unprepossessing; tall,
with hair AMI pretty blonde mus
tache, thick and heavy in the middle
and tapering at each side into fine
points. turned haughtIly upward. My
friends pretended that [ prickled all
hearts With my mustache. Evidently
they exaggerated did not believe
them entirely, although 1 did pierce
several. 1 smoked great deal at that
time, and friends, when they met me
in the evening with lighted cigar,
cried: "There is Phillip, illuminating
MS mustache." To be brief, my mus
tache caused great deal OF jealousy
and was very proud Of it. One beau
tiful day, above all beautiful even
ing, [ fell in love. 1t was ct ball
[ had danced three waltzes witt
an adorable young girl. My heart wa
taken during the irsS waltz. L made
inquiries in regard to the beauty whC
had male such deep impression upol
me, and learned she was the daughter
of a millionaire merchant, of mos
honorable family; that she would have
dowry of 800, 900 francs ;.that her par
ents were hard to please they desired
n son-in Law distinguished, intelligent
rich. In word, pearl. A pearl?
was too modest to hope to meet thel
ideas, and as l possessed but small
fortune, I believed it my duty not d.
take part in the race, and retreated Il
disorder. When one is in love it /
very rare that one is able to hide 1t
Nv friends soon discovered my secret
People discussed me. Some pitieI me
some tormented me. Finally the fact
in passing from friend to friend, from
parlor to parIor, came to the ear of Mile
Genevieve, and she learned one day tina
there existed in the world a young NAL
with blonde mustache who was Ian
gushing for her. Was she touched b.
nv discreet passion? Had l alread.
made an impression upon herr"
perhaps your mustache had" l in
terrupted.,
"Yes, no doubt is was my mustachc,
he replied. "At any rate, whatever /
was, Genevieve informed her father sh
wished to marry me. The father oh
jected, butthe young girl was tenaciou
and gained the day. Our engagement
was six weeks long. Those were 81
delightful weeks for me, for Geneviev
was adorable. We we're left alone i
the parlor during the evenings and ha
long talks. From day to day 1 gre
more fond of the girl, who also fel
her love for me increase. We bull
many mir castles and promised our
selves happiness for our entire lives
In regard to everything we agree
marvelously; were always Of one az
corl, and l could not see in our futur
n single shadow that could later lea
to the slightest discussion. Therefor
how could we quarrel? Was NO
ready to do anything in the world t
please my Genevieve? 1t was quit
sufficient that she said to me one ever
ing, oa seeing me light my cigar,
beg OF you, my lover, not to smok
any more. That would give me S
much pleasure And threw asid
my cigar at once, with the determine
tlon never to smoke again. How yer
agreeable her gratitude was to me fo
this privation had imposed upon my
eff. Said she: IF you only kne
how much love YOU for thus crafty
ing my dcsirep And 1 replied: Il al
only too happy in obeying You.
''I was sincere. 1 was very happ
to Please her, happy in parting wit
my cigars. I had abandoned the boz
1t was there on the mantel in my room
When l returned home after spendln
the evening with Genevieve l steppe
up to it before going to bed an
sttetched out my hand. But my word
Az but it was haEd,tO resist. the tenn