The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-08-19

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 waa
rather hard to have to smoke it in the big
armchair after dinner. That was the par
ticular time of all times when the old
brief was dearest to his soul. Presently
a bright idea occurred TO him.
'Milly," he said. 81 have q thought.
want to sort of consecrate this beautiful
pipe Of yours to this day. 1t il to be my
birthday pipe. l shall smoke it only on the
anniversary of this day. shall put il
away in my treasure drawer for the rest
of the year and on my birthday shall take
it out and we will sit togetheran and remem-
Der this evening as l smoke it. I won,
take any risk of breaking 1T by smoking ii
on ordinary days. It's too fine for every
day"
Nothing is too fine for you, Tom," said
his wife. ct was beautiful thought, and
just like you, but l shall feel hurt if you
don't smoke it all the time"
Of course, there was nothing TO be said
after that.
One day as Henniker was filling the meer
schaum it's shining surface slipped through
his fingers and it fell. With quick move
ment he stopped and caught it before it
reached the ground. but he trembled to
think of the nearness of the disaster. What
if he had broken it!
The thought kept recurring to him. What
if he had broken it! After awhile it did not
seem so terrible, and ne found himself say
ing, half aloud: II wish, by the great horn
spoon. that I had broken it," and blushed
as well ne might.
A day or two after that-for crime is not
always of mushroom growth-Henniker
dropped the meerschaum again and picked
it up with sight dent in the side. 1t was
a week before he had the courage to try it
again, and then it dropped on cement side
walk. Another bruise was the only result
1t was sad ending. Hem iker was re-
turning home after bona-fide late session
with the books at the office. He lives in
a northern suburb and his house is quite a
distance from the railway station. 1t was
very dark on this particular night, but
Henniker is courageous, and was not in the
least alarmed when the figure of man
emerged from the gloom and stopped be-
fore him.
beg y'r pardon, mister" said the figure,
"but haven't you got little tobacco about
you, l walked from Waukegan to-day an
l haven't had a bite to eat. L amt hun
CRY, but I'm dead for smoke"
It was a touching appeal. Henniker felt
in his pocket, and his hand closed on the
pipe Why should he not make this poor,
forlorn fellow creature happy Could a
pipe, even wife's gift, be devoted to a
nobler. holier purpose?
81 haven't another cigar" he said, kind
ly, "but here's a pipe that you can have if
you like. Help yourself to tobacco"
The tramp half emptied the pouch and
returned it to Henniker with profuse ex-
pressions Of gratitude.
That's all right" said Henniker. Got
matchest All right, then. Good night"
( After he had eaten his supper, for which
his conscience allowed him little appetite,
Mrs Henniker said Now, Tom, where 5
your pipe? Poor fellow, you must be tired
to death"
Henniker felt himself growing hot all
over He cleared his throat for the lie to
come. and CROPPED in his pocket. Nothing
there He tried another and, pulling out
something, stared at it stupidity.
1t was not the brier. 1t was the meer-
schaum-Chicago Daily News.