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

the man who polished my tloor. Ihose
brave men, rs though they had dl-
vined my desire, made every effort to
diminish my chance ofsuccumbing. The
great day arrived at last. [ had spoken
to the mayor. 1t had been agreed
that should go to the house for Gene
We've at l o'clock. That morning l
rose early. put on my new black
frock coat, made for the occasion. Al
ter l was entirely ready, after having
retwisted the ends of my mu,tache, l
looked at my watch. 1t was high
noon. I had still an horr to wait.
An hour! I had waited six months
before knowing whether l would ever
see Geneyieve again. [ had waited
six weeks from the time had been
accepted for the moment when might
marry her. An hour? md 1 burned
with impatence: I walked up and
down my room. I sat down. l 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. My friends, the janitor,
the man who polished my floor, had
all done we'll. One lone cigar l
took il up mechanically. 1t was long,
round in the middle and tappering to
d point that seemed to call for pen
knife. I pressed it between my fingers
close to my ear it cracked as though
we'll dried. 1t was neither too dark
nor too light. In a word, it was
cigar of the first class. [ threw it
back quickly into the box and closed
my eyes to escape the temptation.
Fifteen minutes past twelve. Still
more than three-quarters OF an hour
to wait. l returned to the mantle,
took up the cigar (every one has mo-
ments of folly now and them and cut
it with my teeth. l lighted it and,
sitting. down in my armchair, COM
menced smoking. 1t was delicious.
Was the odor OF the cigar too strong,
or was it because [ had lost the habit
of smoking? AT the end of few mo-
ment my head fell back, [ partly
closed my eyes and gave myself up to
the luxury of that sensation neighbor-
ing upon a slumber, at the paint where
thoughts ends and dreams begin.
Suddenly I awoke by the odor ol
, something scorching. 1 got up ano
looked about the room. Nothing.
!. went 10 the curtains, to the draperies'
; Nothing. I felt my coat, my vest
Nothing.
"Bah it was only an idea, thought
I, and 1 am mistaken. looked at my
watch. 1t was twenty-five minute:
past one. I grabbed my hat and my
: gloves. I flew down the stairs foul
at time and jumped into the carriage
, Shat was waiting for me. The janito1
was there standing on the door-sill
, On seeing me- pass no burst out laugh
ing, and so did the coachmau. They
are laughing at me because l am late.
thought l.
"When I reached my father-in-I laws
l 1 was up the steps in one bound an
rang the bell. AS John, the domestic
{ who opened the door, caught sight O
me he started as though he had re
ceived Ssudden 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, if Monsieur came, that he should
, go to the Mayors Office. I have givel
the message to Monsieur.
"And the entire time he was rereat
ing his eternal Monsieur he was try
$ ing to repress an irresistible desire tt
t laugh.
< Are you laughing at me like that
@ my boy? said I.
D "'Monsieur knows very we'll that
would not allow myself, IN the pres
Y ence of Monsieur, and, after all, ever.
t one is free, is he not, Monsieur
t Monsieur must know we'll what please
Mademoiselle, and if Mademoisell
likes it like that
| "But had not the time to try t.
: understand him, and struggling m.
g shoulders 1 descended the steps NOR
rapidly than had gone up. All tn
@ servants in the yard ranged in tw'
t rows forming q lane. Although l ra
0 the gauntlet quickly, [ could, never
@ theless, hear the smothered b0ysts O
J. laughter.
4 "'Decidedly,' growled I, st seem
e that they have never seen bride
0 groom late.
e 81 rushed the coanhman and at
= quarter of two we were at the Mayor
Y Office.
r "'rhe room for marriages. de
=. manded of the usher.
y " The room for marriages. he re
: Piled. 1T is not for you, perhaps"
n yes, it is for me-
"For you? All? that is good Oh
Y but that is rich!' And he fell into
b chair, holding his sides as he shoe
:. with laughter. I don't know whO
!. kept me from boxing his ears. How
o ever, was able to control myself. an
/ in q tone that admitted of no delay
d demanded, will you, yes or no, shoV
! me the marriage-room"
"He got up and with emphatic ger