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

mr.? I:I} /,bHi./, pcarmnce at John
t:l:ASsSsggtj iii At;i[r Bailcy's house.
S@'S>N"ts t;>ss'F's'"-- The men nj work
on tho landing
had seen that day, as Tho train
stopped ut the station nt tho "sid-
ing, II female figure nlight and como
up the switch which led from the
main track To the mill. She was young,
She was fairly pretty, and she was Il
stranger who hal evidently come To
visit john Bailey's family, aud many
cunIecturcs were INDUCED in by the
busy workers all the afternoon.
Lem NARROW received II peculiar
shock Tint afternoon. Driving his
team down the road with Load of
logs, which he was hauling from tho
woods, lie hal TO pass John Bnilcys
house. AZ this place the horses were
always stopped TO resi-, and Lem Mar
low WAS considered ono of the most
careful transfers nt tho camp. His
horses were not tired out, but the
resting places were numerous and reg
ulnr along the rontc.
As he stopped his horses Mt this
point on this cycniful afternoon he
was startled by seeing pnir OF bright
eyes, which belonged ton strange face.
cnriousiy watching him. A hasty
glance proved that the face was pratty,
and TO LENS idea the right sort of II
fncc. And immediately tho heart of
the yonng tcnmstcr went through II
curious revolution. Lem MARROW had
Tho reputation Of being tho most sus-
coptiblc youth in camp, and many IN
cnvious companion would declare that
che never seen the like nv that 'cr
Lem MARROW fer gcttin' round the
gals.
Where tho fair unknown cano from
Lem did not know. But he could
easily find ont from John Bailey.
Suffice it 10 say She was there and
watching him, and that necessitated
recognition OF his own graces, ut least.
His horses needed all sorts of attcn-
ton Immediately, pntting and strok-
ing their glossy sides anil talking to
them i'll the tone which tonmstcrs
often adopt 10 the animals who nre
almost rs dear TO them us human be-
ings.
That night rs the crew of workmen
gathered in the mems room of the biz
boarding house after supper tho talk
naturally turmoil to the newcommnr.
Shorty" Black looked up with sud
den interest when her advent TO the
Bailey house was mentioned.
owns she n real purity sort NV enl
with black eyes m hair nm rel
checks !" he inquired, breathlcssly, in
his thin, shrill voice.
Yes, the men could voucl for her
being pretty, some could assert to
her red cheeks, and one man could
swear she had black eyes and ha;r.
"Wall, then, she's Annie Davis
Mrs. Balley's sister. / know her, y
responded Shorty, with II satisfied
squeak in his voice.
"The dickens yo do" responded
Jim Bennett. with n loud guifaw.
The other men laughed immoderntcly
also at tho idea Of Shorty Black know.
ing the pretty stranger VINO had
awakened IN interest in them NIL.
Shorty" Black was Il sort OF butt
Tor goodnatured tire ut Cnrey's Clmr
and simply because he was so small
SHORTY was the only name ho got.
Indeed, 1T WAS questionable whether
the men knew any other name. He
had the usual dull, uninicrestinn
features Of the average backwoodsmnn
and was goolnaturcj, Ignorant and
plain. because of his short stature
and thick, sticky body Shorty was nj.
ways lau9hingly used for an illustra.
tion for diminutive substances.
Lem MARROW looked up suddenly
from tho game of seven up in which
he was taking part when Shorty dis
closed bis interesting intelligence. He
listened more intently TO The CONVEX.
sation than to the game after that and
finally threw down his cards and
- lowed he wouldn't play any more
that night"
''What, ye going to the barn p"
called out jim Bennett, ms Lem set his
cap jauntily on one side Of his head
and sauntered toward the door.
'Naw!" lie responded. "I'm icss
goin' down to the blacksmith shon 70
sec If Bill Rogers has fixed TINT sled
'A"' ttoU oIoac tO-uny.
Once out of sight of the quizzical
gaze OF his companions Lem struck
ont toward the residence of John
i'ailoy. 1t was nothing unusual for
him to drop in of an evening to dis
cuss the affairs OF the umbering inter
ests. lie was received with hearty
welcome by the host and given seat
by the kitchen fire, where the two
men fell to Discussing the happenings
OF the day. But all through the con
versation Lem cast fnrtive glances to-
ward the sitting room, where Mrs.
Bailey was talking busiiy to some one
undoubtedly the interesting stran-
ger whose acquaintance Lem SO de-
sirea to make.
Finally after a short pause John
Bailey suddan1v j,roI,o ~ I'LL