Since he lost all his property by fire--"
"The result of his pernicious habit, though he illogically persists
in charging it to me," interrupted the Judge.
"Since then," continued the young girl, "he has endeavored to break
himself of the habit. He tells me that he has substituted the
stalks of the Indian ratan, the outer part of a leguminous plant
called the smoking-bean, and the fragmentary and unconsumed
remainder of cigars which occur at rare and uncertain intervals
along the road, which, as he informs me, though deficient in
quality and strength, are comparatively inexpensive." And,
blushing at her own eloquence, the young girl hid her curls on the
Judge's arm.
"Poor thing!" muttered Judge Boompointer. "Dare I tell her all?
Yet I must."
"I shall cling to him," continued the young girl, rising with her
theme, "as the young vine clings to some hoary ruin. Nay, nay,
chide me not, Judge Boompointer. I will marry John Jenkins!"
The Judge was evidently affected. Seating himself at the table, he
wrote a few lines hurriedly upon a piece of paper, which he folded
and placed in the fingers of the destined bride of John Jenkins.
"Mary Jones," said the Judge, with impressive earnestness, "take
this trifle as a wedding gift from one who respects your fidelity
and truthfulness.
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