The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-07-05
TALE OF TWO PIPES.
He Liked the Meerschaum, But the
Old Brier Was Best.

cleveland Plain Dealer.)
1t was definitely arranged and settled
not stipulated, for Henniker was
never in any condition to make stipu-
lations; he, surrendered at discretion
from the very first-that Henniker
should not be divorced from his pipe
Mrs. Henniker that was to be had no
ticed Henniker's brier, and she said
that she liked pipe, and on several
occasions she actually urged Henniker
to smoke it, This is undeniable. There
were witnesses to it.
Altogether she is one of the most
charming women on the whole north
side, and although Henniker has been
married to her now for nearly six
months, he seems to be as devoted as
ever. Perhaps even more so.
The brier was really a gem from a
masculine point of view. 1t was old,
of course, so old that Henniker almost
forgets how many years he had it;
but he clearly recollects that its origi-
nal cost was rs cents, and he knew
that no money would tempt him to part
with it.
Therefore it was quite blow to Hen
mixer when his wife said one evening:
Isn't that pipe getting a little strong,
Tom?"
Tom looked at her moment, hardly
understanding. Il don't mean that
mind it, she pursued. Don't think
that 1 meant that. 1t seemed to me
that it was getting-sort of worn out. "
Il guess it's good for a while longer"
said Henniker with an attempt at
cheerfulness. 1T seems to burn the
tobacco all right"
That's just like you cried Mrs.
Henniker, with sweet fervor. You al
ways try to make the best of every
thing and never complain. You would
go on smoking that black old thing
forever and never think of buying a
new one as long as it held together
and burned tobacco"
Il guess that's So said Henniker,
dryly.
A few days after that it was Henni-
kers birthday, and he sat down to
breakfast with a radiant face. In some
families it is the custom to give the
person whose birthday is celebrated as
many slaps as he has lived years, but
Mrs. Henniker had an Improvement on
this custom. That was why Henniker's
face was radiant, and Mrs. Henniker
had even more color than was usual.
Well" said Mrs. Henniker, why
don't you look at your plate instead
of looking at me-"
Henniker looked at his plate, and be-
side it was a square package with an
inscription. 1t doesn't matter what the
inscription was, but it assured him
that the package was his. He opened
it. and after unrolling a large quantity
of tissue paper discovered nice light
green pipe case and within the case
q white meerschaum pipe.
Henniker acted very well. His ex-
pressed rapture was beyond cavil, and
he went straight to his tobacco jar,
and could hardly be prevailed upon to
wait until he had eaten his breakfast
before he had smoked his present.
When he did, his wife stood by his
chairand watched the filling and light
ing with GREATNESS interest. With the
Tirst puff of smoke, Henniker exhaled
a sigh of supreme satisfaction.
Then you like it, dear?"
Like it," exclaimed Henniker.
Welt"
Il wasn't sure whether you would,
because, of course, 1 never did such
a thing as to buy a pipe before; but
knew anyway that whatever l got, it
would be an improvement on that old
thing my poor boy has been smoking"
Henniker sighed again. This" he
said lis pipe as is pipe"
1t burned his tongue, and it made
the tobacco taste like wood shavings,
but ne might have been smoking