The National tribune., 1885-08-06
THE WORM WILL TURN.
Jim Thought He ERew, Sary. bat She Convinced
Him that He Didn't.
IDetSSi FREQ PressI

(DetsSa FREQ Press.1
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 it wasla query how people made a
bare living or were 'contant to stay. By and by,
we came to turn in the road where there was
q trough to water horses and the cabin of a
settler. This cabin was the poorest of all, and
nothing around il indicated that the owner
made any attempt to cultivate the soil. We
reached the place Just in time to witness tab
leau. A woman, poorly dressed, and her face
bearing the look ofone WHO had seen much worry
and suffering, stood near the trough, and a
satchel filed with clothing sat on the ground
beside her. Five feet away stood her husband,
a burly, tough-faced mohntaineer, and he held
a switch in his hand. Neither minded US as we
drove up, and it was q full minute before the
husband said:
Mary, I'll wollop vel"
" Jim, We dasn't!" she replied.
Mary, ye can't leave me, nohow."
Jim, Pm gwine ter do it! I've starved an
suffered till Pm clean gone! Pm going home. y
Mary, if you don't take up that satchel and
march in I'll wollop ye good and stout!"
There were two of US besides the driver. The
woman looked up and scanned our faces, as ii
to Judge how far she might count on our help.
and the driver said:
"'Taint rulable for strangers to mix in,
somebody. Better go in"
"Never!" she hissed.
If you don't" said the husband as he came
step nearer, "Pll make the fur fly. Take
that!"
With swish he brought the switch down
across her shoulders and raised it again. She
stood stock still for minute and looked him
in the eye, and then walked into the hOvel.
Rayther peart, but the CAD will cure her !"
grinned the husband as he drew the switch
through his fingers.
His triumph was short lived In go seconds
Mary reappeared. She had the mountaineers
heavy rifle in her hands, and as she came out
she raised it on line with the mans heart:
Jim, want ye to git!" --.~..-
"N-o!"
"Sartin!"
"Shoo! Can't do it!"
Click! click!
Mary, what ye gwine to dor"
Kill We like wolf in yer tracks if ye don't
walk away"
"Whar to?"
"Nobody keers! Go sumwhar'-keep goin'
don't never come back! Hurry up, fur I'm
going down on the stage!"
He looked into her eyes and saw the change.
Poverty and brutality had come to an end.
Love had turned to disgust, and in place of
fear was such bravery as he would not have
looked for in q man on the road. He saw
"shoot I" in her eyes, but he still hesitated.
Mary, drop that rifle" he whispered.
Jim, git! If you are here when I've finished
counting 90 I'll kill you as sure as there is
a God in Heaven
He began backing away. When he had gone
90 feet he turned and walked. When he had
gone hundred he halted, wheeled about and
after long look muttered:
wall, by gosh! Mary. let's make up"
Keep a-Sittin', 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 seat with us, flames were seen
creeping through hundred crevices between
the dry logs. Without a word she climbed in,
and only once during tho five-mile ride did she
utter a word. At 4 bend in the road she locke
back at the pyramid of smoke and flame
wrought by her hands, and said, as if to her.
self: N D
"Jim didn't know Mary, Jim didn't"