The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-12-13
DAWES TRIUMPH.

IL 1AOA Ahhs 4AN " ROaANA
yellow light through the bar windows
on to the sanded floor and on the fig
ures of two men who sat talking at a
table.
II 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, /
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?"
SAY, certain"
"Bain't his three brothers lynn in the
churchyard at this very minet, regular
soaking the place WI spirits? The
grass niver growed casual over their
graves the same as it did over t'other
folks"
What's that got to do wi Dave?"
why, begore, he'll come to the like
sooner or later, mark my words if he
don't. He's a drunksrd 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.
"And may it; the sooner the better" he
said.
you and he wor thick anuff as boys
replied the old man, rising and regard
ing him %curiously.
Rod turned away and went back to
the bar. Didn't l tell zee that he be
sweet on my cousin and her on him?1
he answered, in a sullen voice.
There was a sound of footsteps, and
Dave entered, the old man taking his
departure at the same time. Rod
glanced with quick scrutiny at the new
Corners gaunt but boyish face, as, drop
ping his bag of tools, he flung sixpence
on the counter.
"a h~alf-and-half, Tom, he said. "My
throat ba reglar dring'd (squeezed up)
with thirst"
The flush on Rods face receded, leav-
ing it ashen gray. He filled a small
glass to the brim with spirits and
pushed it across the bar. Dave swat
lowed'the contents at a gulp and stood
lingering the glass n%ervously.
Take another nip" said Rod.
Nav, 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 n rough
laugh. You puts me in mind of a
maid before her first kiss, terrible
afraid, but wonderful willing" he re-
piled. Come" he urged, unsteadily,
drink me success to something I've set
my mind on"
There was silence a moment.
"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 be
watched Rod ill two glasses with spir-
its. "Wull," he added, gulping down
the spirits with feverish impatience,
may zee git what ZEE want and more
Rod looked at him a moment, his lips
twitching. ITO the damnation Of Dave
Wlint, body and soull" he exclaimed,
and, draining the glass, flung it cross
the bar at the wall opposite. For a mo-
ment the two men regarded each other
in silence; then Dave turned on his heel,
halted a moment at the door and
glanced back. Did ZEE mean they
wuds?" he said.
"'Twor mort but q bit o. fun" Rod an
swered, forcing q laugh.
"Ther amt mort speshil vantysheeny
(showy) in SIGH jokes" replied Dave,
and going out he left Rod alone. lie
made his way through the street and up
the hill behind the village, where the
pine trees stood massing the blue sky
like heavy blue-green clouds. Leaving
the road, he entred the woods by a foot
path. 1t was autumn; the ground was
strewn with cones; overhead the wind
soughed with the sound of the sea.
Standing beside a broken stile was a
girl; her chestnut hair, escaping from
the kerchief that bound it, rippied and
curled about her neck and forehead.
Dave started when he saw her, and adj
vanced more slowly. She came toward
him, and they stood together; she was
not tall; about as high as his heart.
WAITS come to zee, Dave?" she ex-
claimed, in a soft, cultural voice; "it's
dree weeks since you've been a-nigh
me-"
He was silent, avertirg his Eyes as if
he were afraid to look into hers.
"You made me love zee. you made me
love ZEE" she burst out, her voice trem-
bling, "and now"
phoebe, lass, tits better that 1 oide
away"