The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-01-23
For a Pinch
OF Snuff
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

ucul at hlHSS tuOW SOiumDldD COlleSe,
was crossing the campus, situated In
the lower part of New York, not far
from the city hall, when he met Ger
trude Springstead. the daughter of a
the Battery. The two were lovers and
expected to be married after young
Watherspoon's graduation, which was
to occur I'm the following June. Before
seeing his fiancee coming he took his
snuffbox from a pocket in the volumi
nous skirt of his coat and, placing a
pinch between his thumb and finger
crammed 1t up first into one nostril
then into another. shifting Justify.
"Oh, Walter" said the girl when
they met. 'if father knew you snuffed
1t would be all up with us! He detests
the habit and would force me to break
with you"
''In that case, Mistress Gertrude" re-
piled Walter, II must not let him see
me snuffing."
But suppose he hears that you
snuff?"
"You are right. | must drop the hab
1t till at least after we are married"
Taking lacquered box from his
pocket, he handed 1t to Gertrude, tell
ing her TO keep it till after the we'd
ding. at the same time promising her
that he would not buy another or more
snuff till they had been married.
Now. Watherspoon was poor as a
church mouse and was obliged to work
his way through college, which he did
by giving so much of his time as he
could spare from his studies to Il tai
low chandler. Gertrude, on the con-
trary, was the only child and heiress
to what was then large fortune. Nat
urally the young man was 10th TO lose
| his sweetheart and did not relish losing
the fortune she would bring him.
Watherspoon worked hard all winter
both at his studies and pouring melted
| tallow into candle molds. After few
weeks he found that he could get on
very well without snufiing and assured
Gertrude that there would be no trou-
| BILE for them on that score He even
declared that taking tobacco into ones
nose was filthy habit, and he would
never resume il, which was, of course,
I, very pleasing to her.
| A new convert is always an enthusi-
astic convert. Walter having thrown
off the shackles of bad habit, called
the attention of his friends to its dis
agreeabeness to others than the snuff
er. Why should one pause while chat
I ting with another to cram a nasty pow
dered weed into his nose, making dis
gusting noise through his nostrils and
leaving his nose smeared with tobacco
His friends listened deferentially to
his protests, but paid little attention to
them, not infrequently taking out a
snuffbox, Offering 1t to him, then TAX
ing a pinch while he was speaking.
Walter kept his promise to his fan
Gee, nobly refraining from the habit he
had eschewed. In due time he was
graduated from college, and his father
in-law to be had consented that he
should go into his counting room on the
street facing the East river and begin
preparation to take position as mana
ger Of the business when Mr.. Spring
stead retired. While learning the busi-
ness Walter was to draw q nominal
salary.
Walter was the envy Of all the young
men in town. Engaged to a lovely girl
and heir to fine business. Surely
providence had favored him.
The wedding day opened bright and
beautiful. Walter. after breakfast,
went to the Springstead home and was
placed in front room which faced the
bay to await the hour for the cere-
mony. The sun glittered on the wave
lets. The islands to the left, the right
and in the distance stood out clear and
green. Directly In the foreground was
| the old fort about which the city had
| grown and prospered. Walter was su-
premely happy.
The door opened and Gertrude came
in bearing the snuffbox he had given
her months before.
'T can't leave this here" she said.
After | have left mother will go
| through my room. and 1t win be dis
covered.
"Give IL to me-" said Walter. II will
take it away with me and get rid of 1t
ON our wedding trip"
Gertrude handed him the box and
hastened away to be robed In her we'd
ding garments. Walter opened it and
held it under his nose. What deli
cious fragrance! How pleasant 1t
would be to take just one pinch! TAX
ing little of the snuff between his
thumb and finger, he held it near his
nostrils. Then he thought Of the risk
he would take If he INDUCED and put
ii back In the box. But he took an
other pinch. and again the aroma
! greeted his nostils.
Mr.. Springstead, passing through the
ball, heard a violent sneeze. Opening
the door of the room from which 1t
seemed to come, there was Walter with
an open snuffbox in one hand and bis
I ta1