Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1901-190?, 1902-04-22
Graduate
TIL e
BY {. w. HARTLEY.
pyricht 1902, by DAILY story Publishing Coz

He was stroiing along very CON
tentedly by the side Of Miss Page How
ard, with hor fluffy parasol swinging
from his hand. They made the usual
West Point THO.
There was every reason why stanton
should be contented that summer after
noon. II was one day within the end
OF his graduation week and he had
managed to pull through so far In pret-
" 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 It was perfect
day in early June and the path they
had taken was the prcttiest one the
Point affords.
In the midst Of SO many pleasant
things, Stanton was perhaps an un-
grateful fellow to feel discomforted
But the truth was he had fierce de
Sre to smoke He waited until they
we're we'll along in the thick Of the
path. and then he turned to little Miss
Howard desperately,
Il say" he asked would you care
a bit If | smoked a cigarette
She turned her chin up and looked
at him. Miss Howard's head was ex-
actly the height of the third shiny but
ton below his shoulder. That button
was Just over his heart.
Il certainly shouldn't mind" she
said, smiling but can you? Is it al
lowed?"
Well to he candid" he answered,
taking of his cap and carefully pull
ing an Egyptian cigarette out from un-
der the inside band. lit isn't. That's
why have to carry them in such an in
convenient place. But you know he
added there are some things a man
has to have whether they're allowed
or not"
Miss Howard gave a little laugh.
"Such weakness" she said, half con-
temptuously.
y1he man blew big puff out into the
still air with momentary burst of
inpatience.
t"Confound IT," he said. "A girl cant
understand what it means to a 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, titful, no good for work
Then, hang 1t all | went and smoked,
BeHg caught and punished as though
ia committed a crime was disgraceful,
of course, but | was more resigned to
II because I'd had my smoke"
What did they do to your inquired
Mss Howard
20, guard house and demerits and
things" 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
ty dement's between January and June
is enough to retire to civil life the most
promising aspirant to military glory.
Mr. Stanton" queried the girl, tell
me. please, how many demerits you've
won since the first of the year"
stanton looked down at her with a
twinkle in his eye.
Well" he replied, banteringly, Il
counted up this morning, just for fun.
and | found score of exactly eighty
- eight"
"Oh!" said the girl with an indignant
storm of EXPLANATIONS. Il have no pa
tience with you! You are to graduate
tomorrow You've been shut up here
four years waiting and working for
that day. And at the last moment you
can risk it all for foolish bit of self
indulgence like this! A fine soldier
Won nrei 4 snlendid nNnmnle OF dla-