The Port Gibson reveille., 1908-04-02
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MOLLY
BY w. H. KoebeI.


Mangaru station. The advent of one
who held the gastronomic destinies OF
it's inhabitants in the palm of her
hand was an event of Importance. AS
the neat figure of a girl upon a bright
bay horse cantered up the pine shaded
avenue, eyes peered forth curiously
from the windows of the bungalow It
self as we'll as from those of the
mems quarters.
She was a handsome, clear complex
ioned Irish girl, with bearing that
lacked the coarser movements OF her
class. When, freed from her riding
gear, she introduced herself within
the bungalow, the brows Of the fe-
male portion of the community went
skyward at the sight of her while drill
skirt and white blouse. But the fears
lest such adornment should prove in
compatible with the work expected
from a domestic upon a sheep run
proved groundless from the outset.
Molly disposed of her allotted tasks
with the ease of CHEEKY contempt.
smile was her birthright; but there
lurked a gleam in her somewhat dar-
ing eyes that betokened a force wor-
thy of respect.
The previous cooks Of the Mangaru
Station had been noted for rough
tongues rather than for smooth
cheeks. The advent of this Venus OF
the pots shook the traditions of the
shepherds and stockmen to their very
foundations New born emulation rose
within their pastoral breasts. Hith-
erto a single rusty spur upon a mud
covered heel had suff1ced. Now, on
either boot, shining with unaccus-
toned blacking, flashed 'resplendent
appendage of steel. Rents, long COM
placently regarded, became eyesores
to be tended with needle and thread,
while clotheslines bent beneath
mightier load Of drying shirts than
they had ever known,
In fact, the station was in danger OF
becoming too "dressy." The very
rouseabout was discovered one morn
ing in the act of bathing in neigh
boring stream. His replies to the cross
examination that ensued were vaguely
profane. Yet no doubt was possible
that Molly was the direct cause OF
this amazing departure from his roI5
tine.
In her spare moments Molly would
Iecli1e in a chair beneath willow
that dropped near by the kitchen door.
Here Of an evening the men would
gather about her. The wooden chair
had become a throne, but she held her
court with easy tolerance. The strain
entailed by glib speech and boiled"
shirts she took as matter OF course.
Her couuetry was of the passive or
der, and, indeed strictly methodical.
She gave out with emphasis that her
cheek and waist were virginia. and
would remain thus-until-the tre-
NOR that wavered round the circle
of her hearers filled the pause.
At this period visitors to the sta
ton we're received with uncomprom-
ising reserve. Brother shepherds, who
rode in on social bent, found them
selves escorted by chilling body
guard away from the neighborhood of
the kitchen door. Only once was the
Gordon pierced. Jim Parker, rising
young blacksmith, arrived one eve
ming. at an hour when the watch for
such as he had slackened. He lit
directly upon the charmed circle be-
meath the willow tree-a bolt from the
blue!
An introduction to Molly was un-
avoidable. The frank surliness Of its
performance excelled even that of the
greeting. But. the sword Of Nemesis
fell upon the reluctant hosts. For
Molly, indignant at the unseemly re-
ception, smiled with all the greater
sweetness upon the visitor. Further in
censed, the rest, Joining in common
cause, lent to the intruder the role
of an Ishmael. But Jim Parker, bask-
ing in Molly's smiles, cared nothing
for this.
It was in vain that the enraged sta
ton hands loosed frequent volleys of
sharp pointed hints. Jim Parker
stayed on. The verbal missiles Slid
harmlessly from the steel armor OF
his determination. And Molly con-
tinued to smile. When at length he
withdrew, the wonted platitudes con-
corning his speedy return remained
frankly unspoken.
At a subsequent council Of war 1t
was decided that the repetition OF
such an untoward occurrence should
be avoided at all costs. Jerry Maine,
the head shepherd, voiced the COM
mon sentiment in a speech.
This contrack we've took on amt
as easy as shellin' peas. In fact, boys,
it doesn't look unlike as if gettin' on
the right side of likely lookin' wom-
ans harder than mastering scrub
sheep. All the more reason to shut
out fresh entries-just when w're get
tin a bit blown, maybe. AS we've
begun it we'll finish it, whichever way
it goes!"
The rouseabout alone had retired
from the contest. He had Joined In
the rivalry, spurred on rather by the
sporting instinct that lay within him
than by the faintest hope Of winning
the prize. But the void induced by the
quenched love had been filled by pas
sion of resentment. His Offices Of draw
er of water and newer of wood
brought him under the direct author
ity of his divinity. His leisurely hab-
its met with criticism unsparing
enough to goad him to efforts hither-
to undreamed of in his most pessimis-