Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1898-06-11
DAWES TRIUMPH.

CPRAWLlNG down one MIL ana nall
y way up another was little village.
At the corner of it's MAIN street stood
the White Lion inn. The sun poured
yellow light through the bar windows
on to the sanded floor and on the tig~
ures of two men who sat talking at n
table.
81 tell you he's sweet on my cousin,
Phoebe, hang him!" exclaimed the
younger man, bringing his fist down on
the table.
"And what's that got to say to it?"
replied the other, in a slow, heavy voice.
"Josh Tuckett 'ull never see no darter
o. his married to a drunkard."
"Dave amt no drunkard. He takes
his glass and goes out. Dang him, l
wish he wor."
The elder man leaned forward and
caught hold of the button of his COM
panion's coat
ANSWER me this, Tummas Rod" he
said. didn't his father die O. drink?'
"Ay, sure"
"And his grandfather afore him?"
"Ay, certain"
"Bain't his three brothers lyin' in the
churchyard at this very minet, reg'lar
soaking the place WI spirits? The
grass niver growed casual over their
graves the same as it did over t'other
folks"
whats that got to do wi DaveP"
'Why, begore, he'll come to the like
sooner or later, mark my words if be
don't. He's drunkard now-at heart.
Scores o. times I've reckoned to hear
his throat split and crack when the
drink drizzles down it."
A heavy flush rose to Rods face.
sand may it; the sooner the better" he
said.
"You and he wor thick anuff as boys"
replied the old man, rising and regard
tng him curiously.
Rod turned away and went back to
the bar. Didn't 1 tell zee that he be
sweet on my cousin and her on him?"
he answered, in a sullen voice.
There was sound of footsteps, and
Dave entered, the old man taking his
departure at the same time. Rod
glanced with quick scrutiny at the new
comer's gaunt but boyish face, as, drop
ping his bag of tools, he flung sixpence
on the counter.
"a half-and-half, Tom," he said. "My
throat ba reglar dring'd (squeezed up)
with thirst"
The flush on Rod s face receded, leav-
ing it ashen gray. He filled a small
glass to the brim with spirits and
pushed it across the bar. Dave swal-
lowed the contents at gulp and stood
lingering the glass nervously.
"Take another nip" said Rod.
''Naw, wan be anuff, thank 'ee."
Dawes thin white face Redeemed. 81
dursn't," he said, turning away and
picking up his bag of tools.
The innkeeper burst into a rough
laugh. "You puts me in mind Of 6
maid before her first kiss, terrible
afraid, but wonderful willing" he re
piled. "Come," he urged, unsteadily
'drink me success to something I've Sc
my mind on"
There was silence moment.
sS "Ba it summat pertikler speshil? !?
Dave asked, at length.
, II told ZEE I'd set my mind on it."
Drink ba kindidling tempstone,
Dave muttered, half to himself, as h
watched Rod fill two glasses with spiI
its. "Wull," he added, gulpipg dow
the spirits with feverish impatienct
''may zee git what zee want and more.
{. Rod looked at him a moment, his lip
Switching. "To the damnation of Dav
r 1Vlint, body and soul!" he exclaimed
and, draining the glass, flung it acros
the bar at the wall opposite. For mC
ment the two men regarded each othe
In silence; then Dave turned on his hee
halted a moment at the door an
glanced back. Ibid zee mean the
wuds ?" he said.
"'Twor mort but q bit o. fun," Rod al
swered, forcing a laugh.
ether amt mort speshil vantysheeI
(showy) in sich jokes" replied Dav
and going out he left Rod alone. I
made his way through the street and L
the hill behind the village, where Il
pine trees stood massing the blue sl
like heavy blue-green clouds. Leavir
r. the road, he. entred the woods by a foo
: path. 1t was autumn; the ground w
Btrewn with cones; overhead the wiz
soughed with the sound of the Sc
Standing beside broken stile was
girl; her chestnut hair, escaping fro
the kerchief that bound it, rippled al
curled about her neck and forehea
~ Dave started when he saw her, and a
yanced more slowly. She came towa
him, and they stood together; she W
not tall; about as high as his heart.
"Wat's come to zee, DaveP" she e
claimed. in soft, cultural voice; ST
dree weeks since you've been a-nii
me-"
He was silent, averting his eyes as
he were afraid to look into hers.
"You made me love zee, you made l
love 'ee," she burst out, her voice trel
bling, "and now"
"Phoebe, lass, tits better that I bi
away"