Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-03

What She Knew About Jim Blnnken-
ship and His Attractions.

| What She Knew About Jim Blnnken-
ship and His Attractions.
Jim Blankenship was the beau-gallant
| Of the Pine mountains" said a man who
has seen good deal of mountain life and
numbering to reporter Of The Star.
| "a moonshiner by profession, a shooter
by instinct, ard a saw-mill hand by adop-
tion he combined In his makeup all those
| qualifications which commended him to the
romantic ideas Of mountain womanhood.
| II had been paying Jim dollar day
| and found for the past six months as
helper about the mill. and on the day Of
which this chronicle narrates I was to
| meet him about ten miles up the river to
| look over q lot Of logs he had been collect
ing.
| thunder anybody stayed in that rough
| country who wasn't compelled to, l over
| took a woman on horseback. She was
rather better looking than the average,
and, what as somewhat unusual. she was
| quite 'sprightly,' and when / saluted her,
as is the custom Of the country. she re-
| sponeed in tone which suggested that
might continue my conversation without
| meeting with her disapproval.
1.-THE Lord knows the mountains are
| lonely enough even with companionsnip.
| and when 1 found some one to talk to l
didn't look my gift horse in the mouth. but
accepted with pleasure anything that the
gods gave.
"of course. didn't know who she was,
| but that cut no ice. and Immediately pro-
ceeded to let myself out.
'She was about thirty-five years Of age
and as sharp as a briar, and we found not
the slightest difficulty in having plenty to
| talk about
ct reckon she said. after we had got
| we'll under way, that you air the man that
| is with them timber people, amt your
Yes 1 replied, but why did you think
SOP
"I seed YOU down at the mill t'other
| day. and Jim Blankenship told me you wuz
| the boss
"'Oh, you know Jim, do your and
smiled.
I'm course she admitted, with a faint
| blush. everybody fiji these parts knows
| Jim. He was born and riz here.
Hes a fine fellow. is Jim.' I said ad-
miringly. Not many like him in the noun
tains, 1 fancy?
"Ain't none she corroborated, with
degree of positiveness which indicated that.
Notwithstanding Jim wasn't quite thirty,
he had been polite to the older as to
the younger women.
"'He's a great ladies' man. too 1 went
en- in2ccently.
$50 I've heerd. hain't seed much Nv
it myself. hut I've heern folks talk
81 think Jim is rather smooth in such
Matters l ventured.
"'How? ind she looked at me as IL she
| suspected something.
:" oh. nothing bad, of course I fastened
to explain. He is merely sensible enough
| rot to boast of his popularity
''Oh.' she said if my explanation
were extremely lucid and more or less sat
| isfactory. Have you ever heern Jim say
| much about the women folks round here?'
| she went on.
7 ga little only. and all of that very COM
| plimentary, indeed
Ibid you ever hear him say anything
about the Wilder Lewis?
Never
"'Well. heern he kinuer hankered fer
| her moren fer tother MS
90 She must be very fine woman If he
| does
II reckon she is. Leastways, I've heern
| him say So
81 shouldn't think Jim would tell one
| woman what he thought of another, If he
| thought well Of the other
We'll she hesitated. you see, I've
| khowed Jim long while
| Yes. New. what do you suppose the
| widow thinks of !im?'
Her face clouded, as If there were
| storm of Jealousy in sight.
-" She jist bankers after him powerful
| :he replied, briefly.
| "'You must know the Widow Lewis as
| well as you do Jim,' 1 said.
| - reckon l do, mister she answered
with Frightening face, I'm the Wilder
| Lewis"