Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-03
...ss.s..........s.ss
MOLLY

BY w. n. Koebel.

u held the gastronomic destinies OF
,,babitants in the palm OF her
ia was an event of Importance. AS
.ss neat figure of a girl upon bright
horse cantered up the pine shaded
.r.nue. eyes peered forth curiously
~, the windows Of. the bungalow it
~ as well as from those OF the
mems quarters.
che was a handsome, clear complex
- Irish. girl, with a bearing that
800 the coarser movements OF her
Les When. freed from her riding
- she introduced herself within
sss bungalow, the brows Of the fe-
IL norton of the community went
..vward at the sight Of her while drill
ss;-t and white blouse. But the fears
-, such adornment should prove in
.omnatible with the work expected
s-ora a domestic upon a sheep run
.soved groundless from the outset.
ro,Iv disposed of her allotted tasks
.,,,b the ease Of CHEEKY contempt. A
.mile was her birthright; but there
,rrted a CLEAN in her somewhat dar-
Ing eyes that betokened a force wor-
thy of respect.
The previous cooks Of the Mangaru
c,ation had been noted for rough
,oryuss rather than for smooth
.nseks The advent Of this Venus OF
,hs nots shook the traditions OF the
.hsnberds and stockmen to their very
foundations. New born emulation rose
witbin their pastoral breasts. Hith-
s,to a single rusty spur upon a mud
sovered heel had sufficed. Now, on
s,,her boot. shining with unaccus-
toned backing, flashed a respondent
.noendage of steel. Rents, long COM
rlacently regarded, became eyesores
n he tended with needle and thread,
While clotheslines bent beneath
m,ehtier load Of drying shirts than
they had ever known.
In fact, the station was in danger OF
hscoming too "dressy." The very
rouseabout was discovered one morn
ing in the act of bathing in a neigh
horing stream. His replies to the cross
examination that ensued we're vaguely
nrofane Yet no doubt was possible
that Molly was the direct cause OF
this amazing departure from his rou-
tine. -,
In her spare moments Molly would
recline In a chair beneath a willow
that dropped near by the kitchen door.
Here of an evening the men would
rather 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 a matter OF course.
Her coquetry 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 ire
NOR that wavered round the circle
4. Of her hearers filled the pause.
At this period visitors to the sta
ton were received with uncomprom-
lsing reserve. Brother shepherds. who
rode in on social bent, found them
selves escorted By a 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. ut an hour when the watch fol
such as he had slackened. He III
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 1t:
performance excelled even that Of the
greeting. But the sword of Nemesis
fen upon the reluctant hosts. Fol
Molly, indignant at the unseemly re
ception, smiled with all the greater
swestness 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 Mollys smiles, cared nothing
for this.
1t was in vain that the enraged sta
ton hands loosed frequent volleys o.
sharp pointed hints. Jim Parker
stayed on. The verbal missiles slid
harmlessly from the steel armor o
his determination. And Molly con
tinued to smile. When at length HI
withdrew, the wonted platitudes con
corning his speedy return remained
frankly unspoken.
At subsequent council of war l
was decided that the repetition o
such an untoward occurrence shoul'
be avoided at all costs. Jerry Maine
the head shepherd, voiced the com
mon sentiment in a speech.
This contrack we've took on ain
as easy as shellin' peas. In fact, boys
1t doesn't look unlike as IL gettin' OF
the right side Of likely lookin' won
ans harder than mastering scru
sheep. All the more reason to shu
out fresh entries-just when wire gel
TN a bit blown, maybe. AS view
begun 1t We'll finish 1t, whichever wa
II goes!"
The rouseabout alone had retire
irom the contest. He had joined Il
the rivalry, spurred on rather by tn
sporting instinct that lay within hir
than by the faintest hope of winnin
the prize. But the void induced by tn
quenched love had been filed by a pas
sion OF resentment His Offices Of draw
OF OF water and newer Of WOO
brought him under the direct author
ity OF his divinity. His leisurely hat
its met with a criticism unsparin