SHE JUST HAD TO SMOKE.

North Otago Times, 5 December 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

SHE JUST HAD TO SMOKE.

;-* - . 'J.TI 10 PKiCTTY -VIENNESE - WITH 11 Ell' AKTKII-1)1 N N Ell CICAII- ' ETTE.

! Very self-possessed was a bcautiiu Viennese, who called one evening 01 the purser of" one of the Americai line bonis, when- that gentlcnmn having closed his affairs for the dny was smoking a cigar in his ollice, I Of course, it is against the rule: to smoke b.clow decks, but the pur set' and the;shi|)'s doctor are usual l,v privileged characters in this re sped,- while many of the'passengers smoke iir their cabins so long a: they'conceal''the fact. , The Viennese, however,'.who wui accustomed to a cigarctto after lie i meals, was either unwilling, to (It this, or lacked the courage, amLwhei she sought. ' the.smoking i'oom sh ound tlmt the company barred ladic rom this apartment. Several m.t'J complained that Hie presence of thi young woman, in fetching toilette and with a gold-tipped cigarette be tween her teeth, interfered with th masculine freedom of speech am conduct, This tlic purser explainci to her ns diplomatically as,ho c'ould "But wli'jre shall T go, m'sieur ?' she asked, helplessly. ''l canno smoke in comfort on deck because o the wind. It is forbidden that. ' smoke in my cabin, or in Ihc salon and it seems that I am not desirei in the salon des fumeurs, Will yo' l)C so good as t» tell me where i is (hat 1 may take my cigaretti nfter tho diner?" "I regret to say that the compan; seems to Jiave made no provision fo ladies who smoke," said the trouble* [jurser. ' ■ "Your regrets are easily voiced m'sieur," purred the lady. "I trtis that you will be as readily able ti suggest a remedy." Hut then her' gaze chanced to fal upon the cigar, which he had- laic jsido to receive her, and her face brightened. "It seems that you arc privileged jeyotid most of us, m'sieur. You iinoko in this cabin ?" "0, I-cr- !" he stammered, flushno: like a schoolboy before the merry sparkle in her eyes. "Sometimes, roii krfow, I—cr! Well, yes," he included defiantly. "1 smoke liere ivory evening after my work is done. )f course, I am more than usually :areful about fire." "Vraiment?" she said, naively j aking a cigarette from her jewelled :ase, "I will profit bv the example. M very .evening- after' I have dined I hall come here for my cigarette, or, of course, if .you may smoke. iere, so may I.' Arid' soon we shall row (o Ire great comrades, is it not o, m'sieur ?"

| She was as good as her word, 100, for she (lid come every evening and lounged-.prettily 011 the sofa berth, while the purser sn\v to it ihat the cabin door stood wide open to 'let tho perfumed smoke out and the gnZc of the inquisitive in.