Smyrna times., 1911-03-01

would not smoke once till the expira-
ton of the term, or, rather, till II
o'clock noon on the day we were to be
married. At first l was so hungry for
a smoke that kept few cigars in
bureau drawer where l could smell
them, but l found it was like drunk
ard smelling liquor l had to give it
up. l kept a record of the days to be
passed before the wedding day and
scratched off each day as it passed
And when they began to dwindle ev-
cry day seemed month-not before
the wedding, but before 1 could smoke.
"At last the day of my emancipation
came. l had received my orders to
go west, and we were to take a train
leaving at 8 p. m. The ceremony was
to take place at 5. l bought a thou
sand of the best cigars 1 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 1 opened a
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. l took one out of the box,
put it back, took it out again, smelled
of it and, as ill luck would have it,
saw a box of matches within reach.
l scratched the match, bit off the end
of h. far TOT All
the match was nearly consumed, then,
touching the flame to the cigar, drew
in a long breath of delicious smoke.
81 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 stroke of apoplexy.
Finally his ire subsided, and he con-
tinued:
"The old fool had come to my quar-
ters to ask me to sign 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 quieted down a
bit, / went over to the house where
the Jones family were. found a
J commotion. AS soon as 1 was shown
into the room where Amelia was and
. the door was closed behind me she
stood looking at me, furious.
"'Foolp she exclaimed. You have
spoiled everything
"'Whats the upshotT 1 asked.
r "'Father says that we can proceed
g with the wedding if we like, but there
q is to be no settlement
I "'Father is an old dragon, and I'd
= rather not have a dragon for a father
a in-law,' l snapped angrily.
f "'And I'd rather have a man for q
d husband who is not an IDIOT she re
n torted
/. "'An idiotp l replied. West Poin
d doesn't graduate idiots
"'Wil you oblige me by leaving
, meY
e 81 said something more-I don't re
IS member what, though do know tina
a it was under the influence of anger o
j. the most painful kind-irritation wit
oneself. l only succeeded in draw
n ing more bitter retorts from the girl
was to have married, and finally let
q her."
The colonel was so worked upon
"a the Renaissance that l was glad
,s see him pause again for breath an
7 composure Finally he went on:
"There was no wedding. The oil
>, fool was obdurate, the bride to be wa
disgusted with my weakness in yielC
=. ing to temptation, and 1 was mad 9
- - March hare. 1 went to my wester
81 post alone, but before going l swol
a great oath that l would never aga1
yield to the temptation of tobacco.
would drink, gamble, dissipate in an
III and every form, but never again wou
/ yield to the weed.
81 know what you wish to say
ng me-" he continued, "and you have n
an consent, but you couldn't please n
better than by smoking yourself in
so your grave. AS for me, cigar is ;
ear excitant of a kind of madness. 7
1t bacco cost me promotion in the arm
in and it deprived me of a fortune.
1 not mean that 1 would exchange t
woman 1 love, the mother of my ch
7as dren, for Amelia Jones, but do me-
in that / have never recovered havi
IN. lost a fortune by yielding to tempt
Be- ton.
7ed "Now you understand why wou
my not for the world stand toward you
the position that old heather Jon
iris stood toward me. Smoke, smol
18th smoke, smoke to your hearts content
me- He pushed the button again and
tier dered another cigar for me. prote
lne ed that 1 never smoked two cigars,
his one following close upon the other, /
tile dreaded to oppose him lest he fly il
vas a passion.
her Ny application for his daughte
40. Tpdood it VI