The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-02-20
DAWES TRIUMPH.
CPRAWLING down one hill and half

~ way up another was little village.
AT the corner of its main street stood
the White Lion inn. The sun poured
yellow light through the bar windows
on to the sauded floor and on the fig
ures of two men who sat talking at
table.
Il 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 it2"
replied the other, in slow, heavy voice.
Josh Tuckett 'ull never see no darter
O. his married to 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.
said. Didn't his father die O. drink? 2"
"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 Dave2"
why, begore, he'll come to the like
sooner or later, mark my words if be
don't. He's a 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.
"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 I tell zee that he be
sweet on my cousin and her on him ?"
he answered, in sullen voice.
There was sound of footsteps, and
Dave entered, the old man taking his
departure al 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 Rods face receded, leav-
ing it ashen gray. He filed 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. at
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 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.
81 told zee I'd set nay mind on it."
Drink ba kindidling tempstone,"
Dave muttered, half to himself, as he
watched Rod fill two glasses with spir-
its. "Wull," he added, gulping down
the spirits with feverish impotence,
may zee git what zee want and more"
Rod looked at him moment, his lips
twitchiDg. $40 the damnation of Dave
Mint, body and soul!r he exclaimed,
and, draining the glass, flung it across
the bar at the wall opposite. For 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 bit O. fun" Rod an
swered, forcing a laugh.
"Ther amt mort speshil vantysheeny
(showy) in SIGH jokes" replied Dave,
and going out he left Rod alone. He
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 foot
path. 1t was autumn; the ground was
strewn with cones; overhead the wind
soughed with the sound of the sea.
Standing beside q broken stile was a
girl; her chestnut hair, escaping from
the kerehief that bound it, rippled and
curled about her neck and forehead.
Dave started when he saw her, and ad-
vanced more slowly. She came toward
him, and they stood together; she was
not tall; about as high as his heart.
"Wat's come to zee, Dave?" she ex-
claimed, in soft, cultural voice; ''it's
dree weeks since you've been a-nigh
me-"
He was Silent, averting his eyes as if
he were afraid to look into hers.
You made me love zee, you made me
love 'ee," she burst out, her voice trem-
bling, "and now"
phoebe, lass, tits better that bide
away"