Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1902-04-11
THE GRADUATE

Copyright, 1902. by Daily Story Publishing Coz


He was strolling along very con
tentedly by the side of Miss Page How
ard, with her fluffy parasol swinging
from his hand. They made the usua
| West Point trio.
There was every reason why Stanton
should be contented that summer after
noon. 1t was one day within the end
of his graduation week and he had
managed to pull through so far in pref
ty good shape. His family had come up
to see him leave the Point and had
brought with them the winsome little
piece of the South who was his COM
| panion at the moment 1t was a perfect
day in early June and the path they
had taken was the prettiest one the
Point affords.
In the midst of SO many pleasant
things Stanton was perhaps an I'M
grateful fellow to feel disconnected.
But the truth was he had a fierce de-
sire to smoke. He waited until they
were well along in the thick of the
path, and then he turned to little Miss
Howard desperately.
81 say" he asked, would you care
a bit If l smoked a cigarette?"
She turned her chin up and looked
at him. Miss Towards head was ex-
actly the height of the third shiny but
ton below his shoulder That button
was just over his heart
81 certainly shouldn't mind" she
said, smiling, 'but can you? Is it al
lowed?"
well, to be candid" he answered,
taking off his cap and carefully pull
ing an Egyptian cigarette out from un-
der the inside band, sit isn't. That's
why have to carry them in such an in
convenient place. But you know" he
added, there are some things man
has to have whether they're allowed
or not"
Miss Howard gave a little laugh.
"Such weaknessl" she said, half con-
temptuously.
The man blew big puff out into the
still air with a momentary burst of
Impotence.
"Confound it," he said. "a girl can't
understand what it means to fellow
that longing to feel tobacco between his
lips, to taste the little bite that it
leaves on his tongue, and to have the
smell of the smoke in his nostrils. I'll
admit it's my besetting sin, my one
vice. I've done without it here until it
seemed as if I'd go mad for it. Got rest
less, grouchy, fitful, no good for work.
Then, hang it all! I went and smoked.
Being caught and punished as though
I'd committed a crime was disgraceful,
of course, but 1 was more resigned to
1t because I'd had my smoke"
what did they do to your inquired |
Miss Howard.
20, guard house and dement's and |
he answered, lightly. But I've
been careful not to exceed the limit
that the law allows an offender"
He smiled to himself as he said it.
Everybody knows that record of nine
~ dement's between January and June
IS enough to retire to civil life the most
aspirant to military glory
'Mr. Stanton" queried the girl, tell
ne. please, how many dement's you've
won since the first of the year"
Stanton looked down at her with a
Wrinkle in his eye.
WELL" he replied, banteringly, 81
counted up this morning, just for fun,
Ind l found a score of exactly eighty
eight"
"Ohi" said the girl with an indignant
torn of EXPLANATIONS Il have no pa
fence with youi You are to graduate
o-morrow. You've been shut up here
our years waiting and working for
hat day. And at the last moment you
an risk it all for foolish bit of self
Indulgence like this! A fine soldier,
ou arei A splendid example of dis