The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-02-11

thought II = fine thing to do, but be
cause cnio. vi them.
well. my devotion 10 the young lady
] have referred to met with favor.
able response, and I was accepted. She
gave me TO understand, however. that
she had no fortune except what her
father might give her or leave her I'm
his will. aud II would he impossible for
her to marry me without his consent.
Their" would he no difficulty in Oh.
tanning II. and he had promised when
she married to settle third Of his
property upon her. All we had TO do
was to humor him until after the settle.
mcnt, which would occur simultaneous
| " with the marriage.
II passed six months of torture. |
| listened to the old mans stale Jokes,
rode out with him In summer under
furs and In winter with not even n lap
robe | enjoyed music which he de
tested, so ! heard none. | liked to 20
to the thcntcr. but NJ he condemned
theaters and actors did not dare show
my face In playhouse But the crown
Of dcprivntions was the giving up Of
smoking. My fanccc Informed me on
the first day of our engagement that TO
smoke In her fathers presence would
he like shaking = red rag before = mad
bull. TO show her how much | loved
her ! agreed not to smoke till after the
wedding. This she commended highly
and took the first opportunity to in
form her father that | did not smoke.
'Thc time spent without my beloved
cigars was maddening Nevertheless |
rcfraincd, and when my wedding day
came I was as free from nicotine Nc r
baby. When I awoke on that mo
mcntous day | admit my chief joy was
not that | was going to he married
though loved my fancec desperately,
but that as soon rs the settlements
were made, Che marriage ceremony
over and We were driving to the sta
tlon I would light cigar. 10 this my
bride 10 he had asscnted.
I'VE were 10 bc married at ~ noon in
presence only Of the family The ecccp
tric father had horror Of largo wed
dingS aud would consent only to u pri
Nh' 'il's WIN w IVY IiWbIl III w
o'clock To dress My toilet was com.
plctcd in half an hour and I had moth
Ing to do ill 30 had bought II boX
of the hest cigars | could find and they
were on my mnntrI. took out n mum
Der to put In my sntchcl and moments
rily held them under my nose.
Gentlemen. the fragrance of those
mir t,,,,.. 4.
cious, intoxicating. why not said
I have an hour here alone Al the
end of that hour the settlements will
he made. What risk is there IN my
smoking here alone | bit off the end
of the cigar scratched u match AMI
lighted it. Then threw myself into
the arms or IN easy chair and the arms
of delight 1T the same time.
II finished the cigar at LOO ana hrr-
ried away, reaching the house in TWEEN.
ty minutes. My father inlnw to be
called IN" into his study 10 explain
some points to he attended to in the
settlements.
"'rhc amount he said, that give
my daughter Is four hundred thou
sand He stopped short aud shifted
the air, who's been smoking IN this
ROOM
~ was terror stricken, but. control
ling myself, looked sympathetic. lie
went about poking his nose here aud
there till, coming very near me, he
took up my arm and SmcIlrd OF my
sleeve
What's thiSE he exclaimed. 1
thought you told mo You didn't
smoke
II tried TO stammrr an explanation.
but broke down.
"'Givc my daughter to II man who
has the vilrSt habit known To man not
good enough for beasts, NOT one Of
whom smokes Not L.
Il argued HAT the preparations had
gone too far 10 retreat.
1T Is never too late to retreat from
u bad bargain The marriage shall
not take place, or, If II does, my daugh.
ter shall 90 10 YOU prnmilcSs'
AS soon ms my hnnccr ana her moth
or received the startling news they he.
gan Il desperate effort with the lrate
man 10 induce him to give way. For
their SHkrS nc finally agreed 10 do so
on my promise never again 10 touch
tobacco in any form. This was finally
to extend only one year after
his death"
"lIc died n year ago today?"
some year ago tomorrow He was
walking in new building he was
erecting and fell through an elevator
shaft"
Were you in the building at the
tlme| asked tho host witt mock gray
ity,
Your question is not only in very
bad taste, but unkind However, am
happy ut being able 10 alluy your sus
piclOns hv assuring you that was
miles away"
The clock began to strike H. and Mr..
Josln lit'his cigar
ALBERT HUNT TALLER.