The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-07-23

love with the JOY of rhythmic motion and
in love with this slender thing of fire in his
arms that moved with him like the en-
bodied JOY of music. And Molly was in
love; in love with her beauty and Pinky's,
in love with the Swaying lit of the waltz
and the sweet dreaminess of tune that en-
veloped her with Pinky's arms. Nothing
purer exists than this young madness of
the dance-when there is no Spielerl o.
Sweetheart" whispered Pinky, "I love
you! I've loved you all my life, only I
didn't know it, and I'll love you till I die"
Molly gave an ecstatic littlewiggle "You
dear!" she sighed, ooh, you dear, I'm So
happy, seems if 1 could die this minute!
I'll never love anyone like I do you'll"
When the waltz ended the two crowded
themselves into the narrow opening of the
window which swiveled inward The bit
ing night air felt good to their burning
faces. The window glass was crowded
with moisture, and behind this screen
Pinky kissed Molly's curving, uptilted lips.
"Gee!" said Pinky, "I'm so happy it
hurts mel"
For answer Molly slipped her hand into
his and the two looked down on Tenth
Avenue As they looked, horse trotted
slowly up the street bearing small boy
who waved red lantern. whats that
for7" asked Pinky.
That's the danger signal, replied Molly.
A train of freight cars'l be along in a
minute. It's dangerous place, Tenth
Avenue is" Poor little Molly, speaking
SO much more than she knew.
At this moment the Spieler found them.
The academy needed Molly and the roll
in Pinky's pocket, but the Spieler pided
himself on being good sport; no knock
out drops, just straight spending for him.
Say, old SPORT" he clapped Pinky on
the shoulder, "we're trying out new brand
of booze upstairs. Want some one that's
used to good dope to pass on it. Very
mild. You and your girl can stow away
two quarts of it and never know it. Bring
your faster upstairs minute
Pinky Strengthened his young shoulders.
There was a subtle fattery in being treated
like a seasoned man of the world that went
to his head like the dance music. Molly
followed the two as a matter of course. All
of the girls did this. 1t braced one up,
they said.
In the gallery the Spieler piled their
glasses nobly, while Pinky tossed out bill
after bill in a lordly manner. The wine
was insidious stuff One could drink
quantities of it without realizing it. AS
the first chords of two-step sounded from
below Molly cried, Lets not miss bit
of it, Pinky! Come on!" fa9
She got to her feet, then clutched the
little table, swaying Her pansy eyes
widened with fear. "Why!" she said,
"I'm as dizzy as loonl"
Pinky rose. He was steady on his feet
but he giggled foolishly. "Moll, sweet
you're-you're sousedl" He laughed again
Molly fairly screamed with anger. "I'm
not! My heads clear as bell! But you
are! You are as full as a goat or you
wouldn't laugh at me-" She turned to the
Spieler. "What va tryin' ia do to us, any
way? You tryin' to get US drunk? You
think I'm that kind Of girl, you Irish
mutt"
The spieler laughed good naturally
"Tush! tush! Molly! This amt no movin
picture scream. Forget it. va gotta keer
up with the other girls if you're goin' to b
) popular. Be good sport, Molly"
Pinky laughed uproariously. "That's it
III Be good sport! Gosh, Molly, but your,
"a beaut! Come on and two-step." HI
n put his arm about the girl, and she, ittl,
ashamed of her outburst and the laughins
comment Of the crowd about them, allowed
Pinky to lead her downstairs into tn,
dance.
The air was full of a golden dust tina
swirled to the swirling of the dancers. T,
Molly's feverish eyes the whole roon
seemed to sway to each throb of the music
She was very young, was Molly. Despit
the year In the mattress factory, the sophis
I tication of Tenth Avenue was still but skin
IN deep. She still believed in life, in love, i
her own right to happiness. She still KEEP
her innocent faith in the goodness of thos
she loved and still took for granted her owl
immunity from evil. Tenth Avenue viii
In the course of years, remove these tenet
OF faith But now, warmed by the wine
Molly moved in a misty joy, too swee
and ephemeral for words She had foun
her mate this night, and the future stretche
before her, vague way of dance music.
After the dance the little table in th
I'd gallery again, and the Spieler, fatterine
y. cajohng, deriding. After this intermissio
ly Pinky's head was quite gone and the Spiele
ne commanded him as he would. But th
er boy could still dance superbly. Molly
~ little frightened, yet still trusting til
en- Spieler and Pinky-no one had ever treate
her pretty self with. anything but kindne:
tn took but one tiny glass of wine. BIZ
III that was enough. The remainder of ii
uiUbf v-2c IL II,,I- r.