Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1895-09-26


uprearious chorus Of voices from the men
who had assembled before him.
oh say, Lem!' shouted Jim Bennett,
powerful man with a.voice In proportion
to his size, what do you think? Shorty
has been sparkin yer girl on the sly.
Gle had her out sleigh ridin last night.
He's been to sec her lots when yc warn't
round, exclaimed another, with excite
ment. ''Yo thought ye stood alone in that
section all right, but we've just found out
Shorty stands in, too, an has kept mum
about it. oh. he's n sly one, Shorty is. Ye
want to watch out. "
Lem turned away with an easy laugh.
"Bosh. J" he said good naturally. Dye
think she's goin to take up with that lit
tie sawed off? Most girls requires n man
to suit EN-. not half "a one like Shorty.
Shorty knows bcttcr'n to fool round me
none. Somebody might get hurt"
As Lem sauntercd out of the room with
a conceited smile on his face one OF the
men remarked, with spice Of envy: Lem
thinks every girl Is stuck on him. I'd give
my old hat If Shorty would cut him out. y
Lem had no fears of Shorty, and when
he asked an explanation of Annie she said
that Shorty had only been in u few times
to inquire about homo folks, as they were
both from the same place. So Lem dis
missed all fears and again baskcd in the
paradise which was lighted by Annie's
bright eyes and heated by her smiles
one night Lem WAS later than usual
getting in from the woods. Things had
gone wrong that day. bitter wind had
blown all day, bearing littlo snow lurries
that cut like steel. A peeyie had snapped
in two while he was rolling n log, causing
4 ~ l. I. a Il
and Jared him considerably and rutiied
his temper also Coming down with the
last load OF logs that night, one of his
horses stepped in hole in the plank road,
which tore the skin from the creatures leg
and famed him severely. Lem had to stop
and roll the logs from the truck, as the
horse WAS unable to assist the other to pull
the load to the mill. Then much time had
to be consumed attending tho horses
wounds before he could go to his supper.
Tho men We're in the dining room when
Lem entered the mems room. He Won
dcrcd ut the sound OF unusual commotion
which struck him before entering the din
ing room. Some unwonted excitement
had taken place he was sure.
AS he opened the door the roar Of laugh
ter which greeted his appearance caused
him 10 pause in bewidermont upon the
threshold. Each man evidently tried to
tell him something, but laughter forbade,
and howls and shrieks of mirth rent the
air thu like Of which had never been heard
at Carey camp.
What Is the matter with YEP" Lem dc
mandcd anerily Of man who sat near,
gasping and choking over mirth and
bacon.
oh, Lem" he shreked between the
paroxysms OF laughter, "Sh Sh- Shorty's
gone with Annie Davis to git married. "
For an instant n howl greeted the dis
closure which almost made tho walls sink
out, then a dea,hlke stiffness regned.
The men fairly held their breaths await
ing the explosion which was sure II fol-
low for Lem could swear In the true luIn-
berInau's style.
Lem stared around for n few seconds,
the embodiment Of ludicrous bcwi!dcr
mcnt. Finally he gasped in n low, hating
tone, rs II for once the power OF speech
and, stranger yet the power to swear
had left him, "Waal I'll be cvcrlastingly
COLL durnel" and turned slowly and left
the room.
Pandcnonium could be considered quiet
compared to the uproar that followed.
Benches were kicked over, men rolled over
back in the ecstasy Of their mirth. To
think that Lem had been cheated out Of
his -lrl, and by shorty of all persons!
Before bedtime Mill Flynn happened te
go down To the mill In the engine room
he brushed up against Lem, sitting alone
in the darkness. BY the light Of his Ian
tern Milt could sec "A detected expression
on Lens face. \ slight feeling Of com
miseration crcpt over him, and he sup
pressed the grin which had begun To OVER.
spread his features. He sat down and pro
Cccdcd to give Lem the details of the story.
shorty and Annie had been lovers fol
some time away back at their own homes,
and this WAS only the result that had been
intended when she came to visit her sister
She had simply smiled on Lem to throw
the other men off their guard and give
them surprise. Shorty had planned II
and approved Of her conduct all the way
through
Poor l.cm heart burned tlcrccly against
hcr-Hot 50 much at the loss OF his sweet
heart as at the thought Of being dupcd n
he had been And then to be beaten by
shorty, Fl it had been any one but that
burned little ruut l wouldn't kcor, he
groaned to Milt Flynn. =" But that Wa
the gosh durndest trick ever played on
Teller But II git even with EN- yit, see
If | don't He did not stop to conside.
that Shorty had only bided his time and
paid back with interest some of the prac
teal jokes Lem had always been so fond
Of playing on him.
Lem MARROW took up the burden of life
again, feeling that he had been incloscd
and WhteWashrd IN the bargain. But lif.
WIS uncomfortable for him at Carey camp.
Lem stood it awhile in doeecd silence I'm
til human nature could stand no more.
one night he hunted up old Isaac Carey,
settled his account and informed him he
was going to leave next day. Then he
went into the men room and settled Lis
accounts with them there. The worm had
turned, and the men did not forget for a
long time the profanity and maledictioHs
! ,L,L..