Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1895-10-25

Lem followed blindly and smiled
airily on the young woman whom
John Bailey introduced rs "My sister.
in-lnw, who has come up here in tho
woods To ketch a man. Now. put in
yer best licks. Lem" he added, "fer
| reckon ye stand rs fair show us
any"
Tho girl blushed and laughed lit
Tie, but i'll no wise displcascd Mt tho
look of admiration which tho young
man took 10 pains to disguise. a CO.
qnette can be found in any sphere,
and certainly Annie Davis could
shine in that capacity ut Cnrey's
Camp.
Lem went home thnt night feeling
first rnto over his venture. Tho girl
was evidently struck with his appear
anco and conversation. 1t seemed
plain sailing now for tho enamorcd
youth TO get what his ambitious heart
most crayed-''a girl"
cit amt best to let her know ut first
how Pm stuck on her." he unused, rs
he climbed the hill TO tho boarding
house. Girls is queer critters. Now.
CT | let on to her that l don't kecr
nothin' bout her for n spell, an that
| hev lots of girls round through the
country, she will think it will pny
heap moro to DC good to me-"
Things progressed very satisfactorily
for Lem from that on. Miss Annie
was gracious when lem considered he
was not unpcnding his dignity too
much to pay hor tho attentions which
were considered necessary toward the
girl who was 10 keep stiddy COM
p'ny" with n young man.
Ono night us Lem entered the
boarding house before supper he was
greeted by mn mpIoarious chorus of
voices from the men who had assembled
before him.
sob, say, Lem !" shouted jim Bon
nett, powerful man, with voice in
proportion to his size, "What do yc
think? Shorty has been sparkin' yer
girl on the sly"
Gle had her out sleigh ridin' Inst
night. He's bccn to SEQ her lots
when yc warn't round" exclaimed
another, with excitement. .Yo
thought yc stood alone in that section
all right, bnt wc'vo just found out.
Shorty stands in, too, an has kept
mum about it. Oh. he's sly one,
Shorty is. Ye want TO watch out"
Lem turnel away with au easy
laugh. "Bosh," he said, GOOD
nulnrodly. "D'yo think she's gcin'
to take NJ with that little sawed omP
Most girls require Il man to suit 'cm,
not IL half q one like Shorty. Shorty
knows hctter'n to fool round me
mono. Somebody might get hurt"
AS Lem snuntcrcl ont of tho room
with IL conceitcd smile on his fncc ono
OF the men remarked, with spice OF
envy, Lem thinks every girl is stuck
on him. I'd give my old Int if Shorty
would cut him out"
Lem hal no fears of Shorty, and
when he asked M explanation of Annie
she said Shorty had only been in few
times TO inquire about home folks, rs
they were both from the same plnco.
SO Lem dismissed all fears and again
baskod i'll tho paradise which was
lighted by Annio's bright eyes and
heated by her smiles.
One night Lem was later than usual
getting i'll from tho woods. Things
Ind gone wrong that day. A bitter
wind had blown nil dry, bearing little
snow ilurrics that cnt like steel. A
pecvic had snapped i'll two whilo he
was rolling II log, causing him to take
II heavy fall, which had bruised and
iarrcd him considerably, aud RULED
his temper also. Coming down with
the last load OF logs that night one of
his horses stepped i'll II hole in the
plank road, which tore the skin from
tho creatures leg and lamcd him
severely. Lem hal to stop and roll
the logs from the truck, rs tho horse
was unable TO assist the othor to pull
the load 60 the mill. Then much time
had to be consumed attending the
horses wounds before he could 20 to
his supper.
The men were in the dining room
when Lem entered the mems room.
He wondered ut the sound of unusual
commotion which struck him before
entering the dining room. Some IN
wontcd excitement had taken place
he was sure.
As he opened the door tho roar of
laughter which greeted his Appearance
caused him to pause in bewildermcrt
upon the threshold. Each man cvid-
eatly tried to tell him something, but
laughter forbade. aul bowls and
shrlelIs of mirth rent the mir tho like
Of which had never been heard at
Carcy's Camp.
"What is the matter with ye?" Lem
demanded ansrily of man who sat
near, gaspins aud choking over mirth
and bacon.
cob, Lem" he shric&cl, between
The paroxysms Of laughter. "Sh-sh
-Shorty's Como with Annie Davis to
sit married"
For an instant how. greeted the
disclosure which almost mado the
walls sink out, then death-likc still
ness rcigned. The men fairly held
their brenihs. awaiting tho explosion
which was sure to follow, for Lem
could swear in the true unborn ans
style.