The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-11
THE GRADUATE.
BY c. W. HARTLEY.

BY c. W. HARTLEY. Copyright. 1902. by Daily Story Pub Col He was strclling along very content with her fluffy parasol swinging from Point trio.
 There was every reason why Stanton noon. It was one day within the end of his graduation week and he had man aged to pull through so far in pretty good shape. His far,'iy had come up t1 sec him leave the Point and mad brought with them the winsome hitic pi3re ol the South who was his compa iloa It the moment. It was q perfect day in early June and the path they had taken was the prettiest one the Point affords In the mids. of so many pleasant things. stanton was perhaps an ungrateful fel- low to feel discomforted. But the truth was he had a fierce desire to smoke. He waited until they were well along in the thick of tn. path. and then he turned to little Miss Howard desperately.
 T say" he asked. would you care a Dit if l smoked a cigarette?'
 She turned her chin up and looked at him Miss Towards head was exactly low his shoulder. That button was just over his heart.
 T certainly shouldn't mind" she said. smiling. "but can you? Is it allowed?'.
 Well. to be candid he answered. talk ing off his cap and carefully pulling an inside band. ''it isn't. That's why have to carry them in such an inconvenient 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 weakness!' she said. half contemptuously
 The man blew a. big puff out into the still air with momentary burst of im- patience.
 ''ConfQund it," he said. "A girl can't understand what it means to a fellow that longing to feel tobacco between his lips. to taste the little bite that 1t leaves o9 his tongue. and to have the smell it's my besetting sin. my. one vice. I've done without 1t here until 1t seemed as if I'd go mad for it. Got restless, grouchy. fitful. no good for work. Then hang 1t all! went and smoked. Being mitted a crime was disgraceful. of course. but I was more resigned to it because I'd had my smoke
 What did they do to you?" inquired
 70. 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 t. Everybody knows that a record of ninety demerits between January and June is enough to retire to civil life the moct promising aspirant to military glory. ..
 Mir. Stanton" aueried 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.
 We'll" he replied. banteringly. T counted. up this morning. just for fun. and I found score of exactly eighty eight.
 "oh!'' said the girl with an indignant storm of exclamations. 'I 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 1t all for a foolish bit of self-indulgence like this! A fine soldier you are! splendid example of discipline! You don't deserve to belong to the army! think I'll re. port you myself!'
 stanton laughed lazily over her sudden wrath She was 50 little that 1t always seemed funny to him to see her enthusi- astically angry.
 '.It's too hot to get excited, Miss Tenn pestuous," he said. "Of course, I'm de- lighted over your anxiety for my well fare, but really, I'm not running such e risk as you think. If we should meet and hold his nose then. see my cigarette refiectiyRly., most of them would. But if he did see me he'd have to report mo. and them
 You would deserve it," said the girl
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