Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-08-06
HENNIKER'S OLD PIPE


rendered at discretion from tie very first
that Hennikcr should not be divorced from
his pipe. Mrs Henniker that was to be bad
noticed Henniker's bricr, and she said that
she liked a pipe, and on several occasions
she actually urged Henniker 10 smoke 1t.
This is undeniable. There were witnesses
10 it.
Altogether she is one Of the most charm
ing Of women, and although Henniker has
been married to her now for nearly six
months he seems to be as devoted as ever.
Perhaps even more 80.
The brier was really a gem from a
masculine point Of view. 1t was old, OF
course, 80 old that Henniker almost for
gets how many years he had it; but he
clearly recolects that its original cost wa,
rs cents, and he knew that no money would
tempt him to part with it.
Therefore il was quite blow 10 Henni-
ker when his wife said, one evening: Isn't
that pipe getting a little strong. Tom"
He looked at her a moment, hardly up
derstanding 81 don't mean that ! mind
il, she pursued Don't think that meant
that II seemed to me that it was getting
sort OF worn out"
81 guess its good for awhile longer,
said Henniker, with an attempt at cheerful
ness. 1T seems to burn the tobacco all
right"
That's just like YOU" cried Mrs. Hen
mixer, with sweet fervor "You always try
TO make the best Of everything and never
complain. You would go on smoking that
black old thing forever and never think oi
buying new one as long as it held together
and burned tobacco"
Il guess that's 40, said Henniker, dryly
4 few days after that il was Henniker' !
birthday, and he sat down 10 breakfast with
a radiant face.
well, said Mrs. Henniker, why don't
you look at your plate instead Of looking at
me"
Henniker looked at his plate, and beside
II was a square package with an inscription.
II doesn't matter what the inscription was.
but il 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 a
white, shiny meerc aum pipe.
lIenniker acted very well. His expressed
rapture was beyond cayil and he went
straight to his tobacco jar and could hardly
be prevailed upon 10 wait until he rad eate
his breakfast before he smoked his present.
When be did hi. wife stood by his chair and
watched the filling and lighting with breath.
less interest With the first puff Of smoke
Henniker eXhaled sigh Of supreme salts
faction.
Then you like it, dear"
Like H." exclaimed Henniker "Well"
81 wasn't sure whether you would, be.
cause, Of course, | never did such a thing
as to buy pipe before but | knew any
way that whatever | got il would be an
improvement on that old thing ny poor
boy has been smoking"
Ienniker sighed again. This" he said,
"is pipe as Is pipe"
II burned his tongue and Il made the
tobacco taste like wood shayings, but he
might have been smoking a choice brand
Of hasheesh to all appearances When he
started for the office he filled the pipe
again and smoked it until he was out Of the
house. Then he put it carefully in its ease
and filled the old brier.
II was not very hard for him to begin
smoking that meerschaum again when he
returned that evening If it had been, Mrs
Henniker's delighted smile would have
been compensation enough. But it was
rather hard to have to smoke 1t in the biz
armchair after dinner. That was the par.
ticular time Of all times when the old
brier was dearest to his soul. Presently
bright idea occurred to him,
'Milly," he said 81 have thought
want to sort Of consecrate this beautiful
pipe Of yours 10 this day. 1t il 10 be my
birthday pipe. shall smoke it only on the
anniversary Of this day. ! shall put 1t
away in my treasure drawer for the rest
of the year and on my birthday shall take
it out and we will sit together and remem.
Der this evening as ! smoke IT, | won't
take any risk OF breaking it by smoking it
on ordinary days. It's too fine for every
day"
Nothing is too fine for you. Tom. said
his wife. ut was beautiful thought, and
just like you, but shall feel hurt II you
don't smoke it all the time
OF course, there was nothing to be said
after that
One day as lIennikcr was filling the meer
,chaum it, shining surface slipped through
his fingers and it fell. with a quick move
ment he stopped aud caught 1t before It
reached the ground, but he trcmblcd t,
think OF the ncarness Of the Disaster What
Il he had broken ltl
The thought kept recurring to him. What
Il he had broken a. After awhile it did not
seem so terrible and he found himself say
ing half aloud "l wish. by the great horn
spoon, that had broken IL " and blushed
as well he might,
A day or two after that--for crime is not
always OF mushroom growth Henuikct
dropped the meeschaum again and picked
It up with slight dent In the side. Il wa,
= week before he had the courage to try It
again, aud then 1t dropped ON a cement side
walk Another hruis, was the only result
Il was sad ending Hcnuikcr was re-
turning home after a bona hdc late session
with the books at the office lie lives in
4 northern suburb and his house IL quite d
distance from the railway station II va,
very dark ON this particular night. hui
Hcnnlkcr is courageous, aud was not in th,
least alarmed When the figure ot man
emerged from the gloom and stopped be
fore him,
beg y'r pardon, mister, snld the figure
but haven't YOU got little tobacco abouu
YOU walked from Waukegan to-day an
| haven't had bite 10 cat amt hun
gry, but I'm dead lor a smoke"
II was a touching appeal Hennkcr felt
in hb pocket. and hi, hand closed on IN,
pipe WAY should he not make this poor
lorlorn fellow creature happy Could
pipe, even wiics gift, be devoted TO d
uobler holicr purpose
81 haven't another cigar, he said, kind
ly "hut here's a pipe that you can have II
you like Help yourself to tobacco
The tramp half cmpucd the pouch and
returned u to llcuniker with proiwc cx
pressions ol gratitude
That's 40 right sand Henuikcr Got
matches All rEHt. then. Goodnight"
After he had ratyu his supper for whici
his conscience allowed him little appetite
Mrs lleuu.kcr sand "Now. Tom. where
your pipe Poor fellow. You must be tired
60 death
Hcnmker felt himself gov'g Rot al
over lie cleared his throat 10 ..r hc Z,
come, and CROPPED boo his po .' ~. loo,
there lie tried another or. m'.lg oui
something. stared at 1t siupIdN
Il was not the hTler lt r., tAr mter
schaum Chicago Daily New.
tate Normal SChoo