Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-08-28


feet upon his listeners, but no one mo-
ticed that the Letter was following
every word of the narrative.
Il suppose l was unconscious for a
long time, for the next thing l can rec
ollect was the fact that L was very
fine leaf of tobacco, and although
marked with many others, high
grade" l was thoroughly cured OF my
conceited manners and green ways.
Not many days after this L TAX
en- to a factory, where a very pretty
dark-eyed girl wrapped me about a
number of tender tobacco shoots. and
then packed me, with others of like lk,
in gaudy, but very handsome box.
There were only 25 of us all told, and we
were known as the Reina family. So,
you see, gentlemen, that L have every
right to be proud of my strain.
My time grows very short, or would
go more into detail-but suffice 1t to
saw, l, like my esteemed friend, the
Pipe, underwent the horrors of a sea
voyage, and after knocking about
bit, was exposed for sale at high fig
ure, in the store of fancy cigar dealer,
whose shop was situated in the city of
Washington; the place of presidents,
senators and other tomfooleries."
Quite right broke in the Whist
Pack; you can always pick up a choice
set of knaves there. This know"
well, l was ultimately sold to SEN
ator, who bought our whole box and
took US home to his rooms. In the
short time L was destined to stay there
l saw so much deviltry and intrigue
that 1 was glad to be smoked. 1 ulti-
mately met this fate in the mouth of a
secretary, who almost consumed me
at the poker table, where he lost great
deal of money. I was glad of this, for
| hate gambling-oh, / beg pardon, Mr..
Chip quite forgot"
Not at all, Cigarette" said the Poker
Chip, cheerfully; Il am used to abuse"
The Letter smiled sadly at the inter
ruption, but no one noticed, and the
Cigarette took a fresh start.
THE next morning, although
wreck, I was carefully picked out of
the cuspidor, and, although half con-
sumed, suffered the degradation of be-
| ing almost finished off by the senator's
colored servant. I found my way to the
street at last, only to be picked up by
an italian and hurried away to be sold.
1 was one of a choice collection of stubs
of various degrees of consumption, and
a sorry spectacle compared to what
had been in my PALMER days"
| "Cut along, old chap; it's getting
Late" said the Pipe, and nodded his en-
1 ccura cement.
'.Why bring up to you, friends, these
sad days. 1 never can think of them
| without a shudder. 1 will let you i'm
agine all my sufferings and skip along.
One fine day I blossomed forth into a
cigarette, and, packed in a dainty satin
lined case, was purchased by the love
Hest girl 1 ever saw-wasn't she beauti-
= -
to that person, who was now sniffin g
audibly.
Perfectly sweet" sobbed the Case.
land she wore such loves of hats
Thus corroborated, the Cigarette
took up his tale.
"Of course you knew her longer than
L did, but 1 found out that, although
her face was beau tiful, her heart was
full of black deceit. No one knew this
but me and the master, and he-but
anticipate"
At this point the Letter made move
ment as if to speak, but evidently
thought better of it and remained ST
lent.
ssShe gave the entire box of us to him
on his birthday. and all my brothers
who have gone before considered it a
pleasure to be smoked by him, especial
ly if it was in her presence.
''The rest is soon told, gentlemen:
my yarn is about finished. Tonight
the woman gave the master back his
love, and, although 1 was inside the
Case 1 heard it all and found out how
weak and wicked a woman can be.
'sShe told him that she was about tc
marry that gray-haired old reProbate
of a senator that owned me a cigar
This broke the masters heart-I'm sure
from what 1 know that she will be am
: ply punished. My life is over, gen
tlemen-I am very glad to go; may You
lot be happier than mine has proved tt
be- and the Cigarette was silent.
"Queer tale, that" said the Wits
Pack, at last breaking the silence.
A new voice was heard from the man
tel piece that said, sadly: 81 can testi
fly that the Cigarette has told nothing
but the truth 1t was the Letter.
Military Gazette, Chicago.
Curious Religious Custom.
= A curious custom prevails in Bull
2 garia. All newly-married women ar