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

the table, aud soon returned with
box decorated with many inscriptions,
containing large cigars, each envel-
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, took one nnd offered the
box to my neighbor, who, gently push
ing it aside, said: "Thank You, / do
] not smoke J"
"You don't smoke ~ cried the host
ess, ia astonishment.
"And where, pray, did you form
that habit?"
at is not habit, but q punish
ment," he replied.
"a punishment? / do not under
stand" said she, in mystifed tone.
"Ol course you cannot understand.
/ It is n romance"
"a romance Tell us about it,"
Evidently my neighbor wanted moth
ing better than request for his little
romance, and with an inclination of
the head, which seemed TO say, "Oh.
willingly. | wait only for the word
from you," commenced by saying:
81 am low fifty years old, madame,
and | carry my age-but that does not
matter However, / have not always
been that old. Twenty-Five years ago
/ was-at least people tell me so-a
young man, not unp-cpossessing tall,
with hair and pretty blonde mus.
tache, thick and heavy in the middle
and tapering ut each side into fine
points, turned hHughtily upward. My
friends pretended that 1 prickled all
hearts with my mustache. Evidently
they exaggerated. l did not believe
them entirely, although l did pierce
several. | smoked great deal at that
time, and friends, when they met me
in the evening with lighted cigar,
cried; There is Phillip, Illuminating
his mustache." To be brief, my mus
tache caused great deal OF jealousy,
aud l was very aid, of it. One beau
iifal in day ~ HO9e e.rS beautiful FL even SsI
ling and i!d Ghhesthssa Ghe thssa three '&altzts with
an adorable young girl. Ny heart was
taken during the first waltz. 1 made
inquiries in regard to the beauty who
had made such deep impression upon
me, aud learned the was the daughter
OF millionaire merchant, of most
honorable family that she would have
Il dowry of50O, 900 francs ;,that her par.
ents were hard to please they desired
IL son.iu.lau distinguished, intelligent,
rich. In word, pearl. A pearl? |
was too modest to hope to meet their
ideas, and as l possessed but q small
fortune, | be,ieyel 1t my duty not do
take part in the race, and retreated in
disorder. When one is in love it is
very rare that one is able to hide it.
My friends soon discovered my secret.
People discussed me. Some pitied ne,
some tormeutod me. Finally the fact,
in passing from friend to friend, from
pirlor TO parlUr, came to the ear OF Mile.
Geneyleve, nud she learned one day that
there existed IN the world n young man
with Il blonde mustache who was Ian.
gushing for her. Was she touched by
my discreet passion? Had l already
made an impression upon herr"
Perhaps your mustacho had, in
terrupted
"Yes, no doubt is was my mustache, y
he replied. "At any rate, whatever it
was, Geneyieve informed her father she
wished to marry me. The father OBJ
iected, but the young girl was tenacious
and gained the day. Our engagement
was six weeks long. Those were six
delightful weeks for me, for Genevieve
was adorable. We were left alone in
, the parlor during the evenings and had
long talks. From day to day l grew
more fond of the girl, who also fell
her love for me increase. We bull,
many air castles and promised our.
selves happiness Tor our entire lives.
| In regard to everything we agreed
, maryelously; were always OF one ac-
cord, and | could not see in our future
a single shadow that could later lead
t to the slightest discussion. Therefore
) how could we quarrel? Was l not
ready to do anything i'll the world to
please my GenevioveP 1t was quite
sufficient that she said to me one even,
! ing, on seeing me light my cigar, q
Q beg OF you, my lover, not to smoke
8 any more. That would give me 50
much pleasure And / threw aside
my cigar ut once, with the determine
ton never to smoke again. How very
: agreeable her gratitude was to me foI
b. this privation / had imposed upon my
f. self. Said she: III YOU only knew
how much love you for thus crafty.
:, ing my desirev And / replied: Il am
only too happy in obeying YOU.
= 81 was sincere. was very happy
to please her, happy in parting with
my cigars. had abandoned the box.
II was there on the mantel in my room
When | returned home after spending
Z the evening with Geneyieve stepped
dp 10 it before going TO bed ant
? sttetched out my hand. But my word
ah. but il was hard.to resist the temp