The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-08-26
Jim D,on't Anow Mary.

Jim DIDN'T know Mary.
We were winding down one of the
mountain roads of Tennessee in a
cart drawn by a mule. The land
was barren, the cabins no better than
novels, and il was query how peo-
pie made bare living or were con-
tent to stay. By and by we came
TO a turn in the road where there
was a trough to water horses and the
cabin Of settler. This cabin was
the poorest Of all, and nothing
around it indicated that the owner
made any attempt to cultivate the
soil. We reached the place Just in
time to witness tableau. A wo-
man, poorly dressed, and her face
bearing the look of one who had
seen much worry and suffering,
stood near the trough, and a satchel
filled with clothing sat on the ground
beside her. Five feet away stood
her husband, a burly, tough-faced
mountaineer, and he held a switch
in his hand. Neither minded us as
we drove up, and it was full min
ute before the husband said;
Mary, I'll wollop yep
Jim, ye dasn't" she replied.
Mary, ye can't leave me, mo-
how"
Jim, I'm gwine ter do it. I've
starved and suffered till I'm clean
gonel I'm going home"
Mary, If We don't take up that
satchel and march in, III waliop ye
good and stout"
There were two of US besides the
driver. The woman looked up and
scanned our faces, as if to judge how
far she might count on our help and
the driver said : Isl
faint trouble for strangers TO
mix in, Mary, and Jim's got knife
and would kill somebody. Better
60 in"
Neverl she hissed.
If you don't, said the husband,
as ne came step nearer, I'll make
the fur fly. Take that
With a swish he brought the
switch down across her shoulders
and raised it again. She stood stock
still for a minute and looked him in
the eye, and then walked into the
hovel.
Rayther peart, but the gad will
cure her, grinned the husband, as
be drew the switch through his
fingers.
His triumph was short-lived. In
sixty seconds Mary re-appeared. She
had the mountaineer's heavy rifle in
her hands. and as she came out she
raised it on linee with the mans
heart.
jim, l want We to git
Mo-
Sartinl
Shool Can't do it,
Click click
Mary, what We gwine ter do?
Kill We like wolf in yer tracks
if We don't walk away.
Whar to?
Nobody keers Go sumwhar-I
keep goin-dont never cum back
Hurry up, fur I'm going down on
the stage.
He looked into her eye and saw
the change. Poverty and brutality
had come to an end. Love had
turned to disgust, and in place of
fear was such a bravery as he would
not have looked for in man on the
road. He saw shoot in her eyes,
but he still hesitated.
Mary, drop the rifle, he whis-
pered.
Jim, git If you are here when l |
have finished counting twenty l !
will kill You as sure as there is u
God in heaven !
He began backing away. When he /;
had gone twenty feet he turned and |
walked. When he had gone hun
dred feet he halted, wheeled about, |
and, after a long look, he NUT
tered
Wall, by goshl Mary, let US
make up
Keep a-gittin, Jim, she replied,
as she still covered him with the
rifle.
In five minutes he was out of
sight up the road. The woman
placed the gun and satchel in the |
cart, walked into the hovel to be
gone two minutes, and when she |
came back to the cart and took a |
seat with us, flames were seen creep
ing through hundred crevices be-
tween the dry logs. Without word |
she climbed in, and only once
during the five-mile ride did she ut
ter a word. At bend in the road
she looked back at the pyramid of |
smoke and flame wrought by her
hands, and said, as If to herself:
Jim didn't know Mary, Jim |
didn't