Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1908-08-15

MS nrSt taste OF BOnclnla, tlle KIM
that won't stand the hOraX and formal
dehyde tests
They had two furnished rooms and
little kitchen. TO Jess. accustomed to
the mild but beautiful SAVIOR of Il coun-
try town. the dreggy bohemia was
sugar and spice She hung fish scinc'
on the walls Of her rooms and bought
rakish looking sideboard and learned
to play the banjo. Twice or thrice
week they dined at French or Italian
tables d'hote in cloud of smoke and
brag and unShorn hair. Jess learned to
drink a cocktail in order to get the
cherry. At home she smoked CiSa-
rette after dinner. She learned to pro
nounce Chlanti and leave her olive
stones for the waiter to pick up. Once
she esSaycd to say la, la, la. in crowd,
but got only as far as the second one.
They met one or two couples while
dining out and became friendly with
them. The Sidcboard was stocked with
Scotch and rye and a liqueur They
had their new friends in to dinner,
and all were laughing at nothing by
a. NJ. Some plastcring fell in the room
below them, for which Bob had to pay
$3.50. Thus they footed it merrily on
the ragged frontiers of the country
that has no boundary lines or govern
ment.
And soon Bob fell in with his cronies
and learned to keep his foot on the lit
tie rail six inches above the floor for
an hour or so every afternoon before
he went home. Drink always rubbed
him the right way, and he would reach
his rooms as jolly as a sandboy. Jessie
would meet him at the door, and gencr-
ally they would dance some insane
kind of a rigadoon about the floor by
way of greeting. Once when Bob's
feet became confused and he tumbled
headiong over a foOtStOol Jessie laugh
ed so heartily and long that he had to
throw all the couch pillows at her to
make her hush.
In such wise life was speeding for
them on the day when Bob Babbitt
first felt the power that the giftic gi'ed
him.
But let us get back to our lamb and
mint sauce.
When Rob got home that evening he
found Jessie in Il long apron cutting
up Il lobster for the newburg Usually
when Bob came in mellow from his
hour ut the bar his welcome WIS hilari-
Gus. though somewhat tinCturcd with
Scotch smoke.
BY screams and snatcheS of song
and certain audible testimonials to do
nestle felicity was his advent pro
claimed. When she heard his foot on
the stairs the old maid in the hall
room always stuffed cotton into her
ears. At first Jessie had shrunk from
the rudcncSS and flavor of these spir-
itual greetings, but as the fog of the
false Bohemia gradually cncompasscd
her she came to accept them as loves
true and proper greeting.
Bob came in without word, smiled,
kissed her neatly, but nOiSclcSsly, took
up Il paper and sat down. In the hall
room the old maid held her two plugs
of cotton poised filled with anxiety.
Jessie dropped lobster and knife and
ran to him with frightened eyes.
whats the matter, Bob? Are you
il?"
Not at all, dear"
"Thcn what's the matter with youT
Nothing"
Uearken, brethren. When She-who-
haS-a-right-t -to-aSk interrogatcS you con
cerning Il change she finds in your
mood answer her thus: Tell her that
you in a sudden rage have murdered
your grandmother; tell her that you
have robbed orphans and that rcmorse
has stricken you; tell her your fortune
is swept away; that you are beSet by
enemies, by bunions, by any kind of
malevolcnt fate, but do not, if peace
and happiness are worth as much as a
grain of mustard seed to you-do not
answer her "\Othing."
Jessie went back to the lobster in
silence She cast looks of darkest Sus-
picion at Bob. He had never acted
that way before.
When dinner was on the table she
set out the bottle of Scotch and the
glasses. Bob declined.
Tell you the truth. Jess" he said.
i've cut out the drink Help your
self, of course. If you don't mind I'll
try some of the seltzer straight
you've stopped drinking:' she said,
looking at him steadily and unsmiling-
ly. What for?"
1T wasn't doing me any good" said
Bob. Don't you approve of the idea"
Jessie raised her eyebrows and one
shoulder slightly.
Entirely" she said, with IL scuIp-
tured smile. Il could not conscicn-
tiously advise any one to drink or
smoke or whistle on sunday"
The meal was finished almost in 81
lence Bob tried to make talk, but his
efforts lacked the stimulus of previous
evenings. He felt miserable, and once
or twice his eye wandered toward The
bottle, but each time the Srath.ng
words of his bibulouS friend sounded
in his ear and his mouth set with de-
termination.
Jessie felt the change deeply. The
essence of their lives seemed to have
departed suddenly. The restless fever,
the false gaycty. the unnatural excite
ment of the shOddy Bohemia in which
they had lived had dropped away in
the space of the popping of a cork.
She stole curious and fOrlorn glanceS
at the detected Bob, who bore the
guilty look of at least a wife beater
or family tyrant,
After dinner the cOlOred maid who