The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-02-20
would happen next.

him that he'd got something on his
going to be counsel for both sides
Il talked as fast as could on other
things. for I've found that the longer
you keep folks away from what they've
come a-purpose to talk about, the
more they'll say when you do let
'em get at 1t.
Finally pause came, and then
PAUL spoke up.
Aunt Senath, I'm in an awful
scrape.'
"'Why, what's the trouble says
HE laughed sort o sheepish. 1t
sounds funny, but it amt he says.
'Margaret's taken to smoking.
Smoking | says.
Yes, smoking, he says. 1 don't
wonder you're astoHshed | was my
self. tried to get her of the notion.
but she won't give it up. She said
she thought it would be 80 sociable to
gether, and she wanted to like all
the things | did | told her it would
make her as sick as horse, but she
said she'd got real mild tobacco, and
anyway she guessed everybody that
learned to smoke was sick some.
She said l must teach her how to do
it, and II you'd believe me she
brought out her tobacco and some
pipes she'd bought. Well, | saw she
was set on doing it. and | thought the
quickest way to cure her was TO let
her have her way. but | tell you |
was on netties all the time for fear
some of the neighbors would drop in
during the lesson, as she called II.
She took a few whiffs, and then she
turned as white as chalk, and | had to
carry her to the sofa and open all the
windows to air out Well | thought
that would be the last OF it, but the
next night when l went to take my
usual smoke. she had to go through
the same performance. She says she
thinks she'll get the hang OF 1t pretty
for she held out longer this second
time
He stopped and set there looking
down at the floor, as moody and trou-
bled as could be. | had hard work
to keep from laughing,
We'll, says, your great.aunt Jane
used to smoke, and don't knows It's
worse now than twas in them days.
And there was old Mrs. Plummer-'
Great Scott, Aunt 'Senath, he
broke out Do you think | want my
wife to be like those old smoke dried
specimens?'
" Perhaps We can think up some
way out Of the trouble says, sOoth
ing like.
I've tried everything ! can think
of to make her change her mind. Per
haps you could do something with
her he says
Il don't believe much In mixing
up In married folks troubles, ! says.
and besides, why shouldn't she smoke
If she wants to? OF course | don't
see why she should want to. but then,
| don't see why you should, either
Pretty soon he stopped tramping
suppose il | should give 1t up, she
would he said.
"A night or two after that see hiEi
again for minute or two. Mar
garet's stopped smoking he says with
a grin.
How'd you do it.? | says Have
you give it up too?'
Margaret thinks | have he says.
and he looked sly. | was disgusteder
than ever with him, and discouraged,
too. There our plan was going Ill to
pieces, and Margaret and | were both
beat
But the next day | found out we
want quite 50 beat Every Thursday
Thursday afternoon Margaret come,
bringing her work in bag She
looked kinder white and miserable.
and | see she knew as we'll as | did
that Paul was smoking on the sly
We didn't say word about 1t. but
an hour or 50 before supper-time she
folded up her work and put her hand
into her bag and took out a clay pipe
and some tobacco
For the land sakes,' says, what
are you doing?
Paul thinks I've stopped, she says,
and she tried to look sly. | never give
Margaret credit for seeing into things
SO far till that minute. She filed her
pipe and went and got a match and
lit It.
II thought ! hated tobacco before
she says as she begun to smoke. but
| never did till | began TO use It. How
long before I'll like it, ! wonder?' and
she laughed I'm "A way that made me
want t. cry. ! didn't realize even then
what she was trying to do, and that
she was playing her trump card
She got whittier and whittier, till |
was pretty well scared. and then she
put down the pipe with shaking hands
and helped her to the old lounge
There she lay with her eyes shut.
! didn't see how twas ever coming
out right, and II worked on my feel.
ings so | most dropped tears into the
supper,
When Paul come In, he looked 50
healthy and handsome that declare
! almost hated him for minute. He
saw Margaret and scared look came
into his face. What's the natter he
cries.
She's sick.' saws as shnri AZ |