The Savannah morning news., 1903-06-14

The remainder of the evening was
enjoyable. Some features of it would
scarcely have impressed a refined East
| erner favorably, for these were rough
men, with crude tastes and passions.
Once having accepted the girl as one
of themselves, they lapsed to some ex-
tent, though not entirely into their ac-
customed manner. 1t is a little diff
cult sometimes to interpret the West
in terms of the East. An act which
in the older country would be signif-
cant of too licensed freedom, on the
| frontier is a matter of course. Every
thing depends on the point of view and
! the attitude of mind.
| Around Molly Lafond seethed con-
stantly changing group of men. They
| joked boisterously at one another and
at her. The standard of wit was the
saying of insulting things with laugh
! that showed that the remark held in
| itself something of facetious sarcasm.
Through thinner skins it would have
! bitten cruelty. Behind this lively
| group sat another, more silent, smoking
the amused pipe of contemplation, all
| alert to the chances of conversational
battle, ready to jump up and enter the
lists whenever a bright idea suggested
itself. In the corner just behind the
/ bar, lurked Black Mike, keeping sin
= lister eye on Frostys diSpensations. The
| faro dealer called his cards imperturba-
| bly, over his scantily patronized game.
| Occasionally some one, glowing with
the good-natured excitement of jest
| ing, would break away from the laugh.
| ing group and. standing the while,
would stake a few red chips on turn
| or so of cards.
Peter, obsessed of some sudden and
| doggish affection, ceased his restless
wanderings. He took up his position,
resting on one hip both hind legs to
one side, directly beneath Molly's feet.
| There his shaggy head was of such
hight that the girl could just reach
it with the point of her shoe. From
time to time, when the exigency de-
manded such a pose, she looked down
prettily, and stirred the animals but
ton ears with her little foot On such
occasions Peter gravely rolled his eyes
upward and wriggled his stump of
tail.
A young fellow by the name of Dave
| Kelly stood nearest her. He was a
handsome young fellow, with a laugh
ing boyish face. AS time went on, he
became more and more eAted and sure
of himself. Occasionally, when the
press of men behind would push him
forward, he would reach across the girl
to regain his balance. Once he put his
hand lightly on the point of her Shout
der. He paused, with a strange de-
licious thrill at the feel of the round
young arm under the loose stuff Of
the gown which slipped beneath his
grasp to emphasize the smoothness of
the skin. Aware of the touch, she
looked toward him for minute, laugh
ing. Somehow it gave him a strange
feeling of intimacy with her, inexplica-
Bile, subtle. Without knowing why
he did so, he felt his own shoulder IN
derneath his loose flannel shirt. 1t
gave the same impression, only rough
er, coarser.
There suddenly sprang into his mind
sense of physical kinship between
himself and her. He took frequent OPP
portunities of repeating the contact, al
ways lightly, always with the same de-
licious thrill. At each touch the girl
turned to him for vaguely smiling in
slant. She was absorbed in the men
about her. The youth at her side had
fallen silent, but her good nature ex-
tended to everybody.
Later in the evening somebody sug-
gested that Frosty had been singular
ly unemployed. Glasses were filed.
Molly's was handed to her.
Il don't want any," said she.
It'll do y good,'' TRY her." Jaw,
come on!" urged a dozen voices.
She slipped a little. 1t tasted to her
like liquid fire, with a strange gagging
property as it reached the region CT
the epiglottis. She sputtered and
choked.
"Ugh!" she shuddered. ugh! 1
couldn't get a glass of that stuff down
If 1t killed me-" She shut her eyes
and shivered with a pretty disgust. II
simply can't" she repeated.
"Ain't We got anything else. Fros-
typ" they cried, reproachfully. THAT
stuff's purity rank fer lady, that's
ri LIT aioh
what y kin discover"
Frosty skirmished around, and final
ly bobbed up, red-faced, with a bottle
of light wine. Molly drank this slow
ly, with little more satisfaction. Some
people never care for the taste of any,
thing with alcohol in it, and the cheap
wine had more than the suspicion of
a wire edge. But she liked the warm
glow that followed, and she found that
In a moment or so she was much pleas
ed with herself.
! "Give me another of those" she smil-
ed to Frosty. holding out the empty
glass. The men chuckled. This was
something like.
Molly drank the other glass. In a
few minutes she felt sleepy. I'm GO
ing to turn in" she said. abrutly, and
slid down on the unsuspecting Peter
They disentangled the trouble with
merriment. Molly consoled Peter. The
| TOOTH Wdb luli Oh HOlSe ana nknL.
May l take you over?" Kelly was
| asking in her ear. She nodded assent
. The other men looked chagrined. II
had not occurred 10 them.
Dave Kelly and Molly stepped gayIy
, from the heated garish saloon into the
still night. The contrast made them
/. feel yet gayer. They remarked on the
stars and the moon, 10 do which Il be-
came necessary TO look upward and
slacken their steps. He was very close
. TO her. He slipped his arm about her
waist. his great hand resting hrmly
beneath her small bust and they STUN
bled on together IN breathless silence.
lie felt very bold and eiated and hap
I ~.
Suddenly she looked down with an
AIR Of mock surprise. What ls this ~
she cried, lifilng one Of Dawes ln-
gers ana letting u fall why. h looks
like your hand"
That's s0i" Rrnned Dave
= wonder how that could have cot
fheFei"
Dave. nnainE himself unequal 10 per.
NlCMEe, made 40 reply. Nha naaftaS