The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-03-02
HeGaveUp
A Fortune
Because He Couldn't Walt q Few
Hours For q Smoke
By JAMES p. WALKER
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

tn I ulleu Suites iuldhliy uuu nav
ing been referred to her father, |
wrote him a note asking when | could
see him alone, there being an impor-
tant matter about which | desired to
confer with him. or course he knew
what that matter was. In reply | re-
ceived an invitation to dine with him
at his elub-the Army and Navy. We
dined in private room. | purposely
waited till the dinner was finished and
the colonel had drunk his share of the
wine. | was about to open the sub
ject for which we had met when he
stopped me by laying his hand on my
arm. Then, reaching back of him, he
pushed u button. a waiter appeared,
and the colonel ordered him to bring
one first rate cigar.
Now, Genevieve had posted me on
one matter about which must be
very careful. On no account was
to let her father know that used
tobacco In any form. The colonel de-
tested even the word tobacco.
Thanks. colonel" l said. Il never
smoke"
"Oh, you dont?" he replied. Then,
turning to the waiter, he repeated the
order. The cigar was brought land
placed before me. You either smoke
that cigar" said my host, "or the OBJ
ject"-
He paused. | knew what he meant,
ha al1r of ha
end, lit it and began to smoke
Before entering upon any other sub.
ject" the colonel continued, Il have a
story to tell you. My family knows
that there is something about tobacco
that exeites my ire. If they knew the
between me and my wife. But won't
tell the yarn wrongside foremost; I'll
begin at the beginning.
when / went to West Point the OBJ
ject of my ambition was not to take
high grade In my studies. but to be a
cadet officer. | was very careful not
to get dement's and kept my equip
ments well polished. | was made a
corporal, which put me In the line of
promotion, and l confidently looked
forward to being a cadet captain when
| became first class man. Immedi-
ately after my promotion l strolled
into the room Of one of my classmates,
where | found several cadets smoking.
1t was then against the rules Of the
academy for cadets to smoke. l was
offered q cigar-I had never touched
tobacco in any form-and, like fool,
took one"
The colonel grew red in the face, and
there was an irritated look In his eye.
well, colonel?" l said, blowing q
cloud.
IAN inspecting officer walked in and
caught US all smoking. My chevrons
were stripped from my arm, and |
served the rest of my term private"
THAT was too bad" remarked sym
pathetically.
ut was nothing compared with what
followed. That one Whit of the weed
gave me a taste for tobacco that
have never got over"
But you don't smoke"
mo, l don't, and il you'll be patient
you'll learn the reason"
GO on, colonel"
From that time forward, feeling
that l might as well be hanged for an
old sheep as lamb, smoked like a
ferryboat. / was caught smoking so
often that my dement's came very near
preventing me from graduating. AS 1t
was, was put into the infantry in
stead Of the engineers, where, when |
entered, hoped to come out.
1.-The course laid out for myself was
this: / vowed | would not remain in
the army, marry and bring up a fam
lily of children ON an officers pay. Be
ing poor as a church mouse, resolved
to marry rich girl and make the army
a lifelong profession.
after tackling a good many girls
who supposed had money met with
success with one whom will call Anne
liza Jones. She was the only daughter
of old Jones, who had made fortune
in a patent Of some kind. and his
daughter told me that he would settle
half million on her the day she was
married, provided he approved of her
fance. Just as soon as l proposed to
Amelia and was accepted she told me
that when I came to meet her father
l must stop smoking till after the wed
ding. The old man was violently OPP
posed to tobacco
Singular" I interrupted. that the
same thing is repeated In the case of
your daughter"
mot so singular as you suppose
when you have heard me out.
amelia said that after the prom.
Used settlement had been made could
blow a cloud In the old buffers face II
l liked-or words to that effect-for he
couldn't take back what he'd given.
Since / was to get a nice girl and $25.
BOO year with her l thought could
manage to stop smoking during an en-
gagement. especially since l was due
to be ordered west in three months
and we were to be married before the
change came.
THAT was the hardest three months
to get through in my life. I've serv-
ed ON alkali plains and in a wilder
ness, but could smoke and didn't suf-
fer. l had promised my flance that
would take no risk-indeed, that l
Do you know that of all the minor
ailments colds are far the most dan