The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
would not smoke once till the erpira.

O'Clock noon on the day We were to be
married. At first was so hungry for
a smoke that kept a few cigars In
bureau drawer where l could smell
them. but found 1t was like drunk
ard smelling liquor. l had to give 1t
up. kept a record of the days to be
passed before the wedding day and
scratched Off each day as 1t passed.
And when they began to dwindle ev-
cry day seemed a month-not before
the wedding. but before could smoke.
"a. last the day of my emancipation
came. had received my orders to
go west, and we were to take train
leaving at 8 D. m. The ceremony was
to take place at 8. l bought a thou
, sand of the best cigars could find to
have them ready and to take with me
where such cigars were not to be pro-
cured. On my wedding day l had my
luncheon served in my room, and aft
er had eaten and drunk l opened
box. The odor was delicious.
Then the thought came to me that
the time of my pledge had expired at
IL o'clock. An uncomfortable desire
seized me to smoke just one OF those
cigars. took one out of the box,
put 1t back, took 1t out again, smelled
of 1t and, as Ill luck would have 1t,
saw a box of matches within reach.
scratched the match. bit Off the end
of the cigar, resisted temptation till
the match was nearly consumed, then,
touching the fame to the cigar, drew
in a long breath of delicious smoke.
~ hadn't got the thing fairly going
before that old villain Jones opened
the door and came into the room"
The colonel grew so red in the face
at the memory of this second wreck
ing of his hopes by tobacco that | fear
ed he would have a stroke of apoplexy.
Finally his ire subsidized. and he con-
tnued:
"The old fool had come to my quar-
tiers to ask me to sign a paper con-
nected with the settlement. At the
sight of his intended son-in-law putting
clouds of smoke, the odor of which
made him SICK he turned and left the
room, banging the door behind him.
For half an hour acted like mad
man. Then, having quoted down a
bit, | went over to the house where
the Jones family were. | found a
commotion AS soon as | was shown
into the room where Amelia was and
the door was closed behind me she
stood looking at me, furious.
Fool? she exclaimed. You have
spoiled everything
"'What's the upshot?' | asked.
"'Father says that we can proceed
with the wedding If we like, but there
Is to be no settlement
"'Father is an old dragon, and I'd
rather not have dragon for father
in-law,' l snapped angrily.
"'And I'd rather have a man for
husband who Is not an idiot she re-
torted
"'An fdiotr | replied. West Point
doesn't graduate idiots
"'Will you oblge me by leaving
me?'
81 said something rnore-I don't re-
member what, though | do know that
1t was under the influence of anger of
the most painful standardization with
oneself. only succeeded In draw
ing more bitter retorts from the girl
was to have married, and | finally left
her."
The colonel was so worked upon by
the Renaissance that l was glad to
see him pause again for breath and
composure. Finally he went on:
There was no wedding. The old
fool was obdurate, the bride to be was
disguised with my weakness In yield
ing to temptation, and | was mad as
q March hare | went to my western
post alone, but before going I swore
a great oath that would never again
yield to the temptation of tobacco. l
would drink, gamble, dissipate In any
and every form, but never again would
| yield to the weed.
Il know what you wish to say to
me-" he continued. land you have my
consent, but you couldn't please me
better than by smoking yourself into
your grave. AS for me, a cigar Is an
excitant Of q kind of madness. To
bacco cost me promotion in the army,
and it deprived me of fortune. | do
not mean that | would exchange the
woman love, the mother of my chill
dren, for Amelia Jones, but l do mean
that | have never recovered having
lost a fortune by yielding to tempta-
ton.
"Now you understand why l would
not for the world stand toward you In
the position that old heather Jones
stood toward me. Smoke, smoke,
smoke, smoke to your hearts content"
He pushed the button again and or
dered another cigar for me. I protest
ed that never smoked two cigars. the
one following close upon the other, but
dreaded to oppose him lest he fly into
passion.
My application for his daughters
hand was perfunctory. Indeed, 1t was
an anticlimax | was accepted on the
condition that l never should stop
smoking
My father-in-law stood In very sin
gular position. He loved tobacco, but
could not use 1t without the past COM
Ing up in such force as to risk his very
life. | kept the secret that he had
confded to me, and to this day my
wife cannot understand why l am
more of u smoker than before she mar
rled me, and that, too, without any OPP
position whatever from her father.