The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-12-27
WHAT SHE KNEW.


EsP2c ally To the Widow
",tim B,ankenship was the beau-gal-
laut of .hc Pine mountains" said a
Ian VINO raH ,eel good deal Of noun
tain lie and numbering, in North Caro-
lima.
~ moorshlncr by profession, shoot
er ty instinct. and a saw-mill hand by
adoption, he combined in his makeup
all those qualifications which commend
Cd hin TO the romantic ideas of noun
tGil wonlanhood.
"t had been paying Jim a dollar
day and found for the past six months
az helper about the mill, and on the
Gay or which this chronicle narrates.
I was to look over lot of logs he had
been collecting.
As | rode along, wondering why In
thunGcr anybody stayed in that rough
country who wasn't compelled to,
overlook a woman on horseback, She
was rather better-looking than the
average, and, what was somewhat
unusual. she was quite sprightly,' and
when saluted her. she responded In a
tone Which suggested that might con-
TIME my conversation without meet
ing with her disappruval
THE Lord knows the mountains are
| lonely enough, even with companion
| ship, ard when I 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.
| "Uf course didn't know who she was
| but that cut no ice, and l Immediately
| proceeded to let myself out.
she was about thirty-five years OF
| cgc. and as sharp as briar and we
| ourd not the slightest difficulty in hav-
ing plenty to talk about.
| II reckon she said, that you air the
| man that is with them timber people,
amt you?'
Yes I replied. but why did you
think so?'
"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 I
smiled.
I'm course she admitted. with a
faint blush, everybody in these parts
| knows jim. He was horn and riz here
Hes a fine fellow. is Jim,' l said.
admiringly. Not many like him in the
mountains, 1 fancy?
"'Ain't none she corroborated, with
degree of positiveness which indicat-
ed that notwithstanding Jim WASH t
| quite thirty ne lldu bGtll do POiiNN ~
the older as to the younger women.
Hes a great ladies man. too, I
went on, innocently.
$50 I've heerd. / amt seed much
NV it myself, but I'VE heern folks talk
at think Jim is rather smooth in
such matters l ventured.
How and she looked at me as II
she expected something.
| ho Of I has,
tened to explain. He is merely sensl-
bic enough not to boast of his popu-
larity,'
"'Oh, she said, as If my explanation
were extremely lucid and more or less
satisfactory. 'Have you ever heern jim
say much about the women folks round
| here?' she went on.
"a little, only, and all that very
complimentary indeed
Ibid you ever hear him say any
thing about the Widder Lewis?
Never
"'Wel I heern he kinder hankereG
fer her more'n for t'other ms
"'She must be a very fine woman II
he does.
~ reckon she is. Leastwise. heerr
him say So
"I shouldn't think Jim would tell one
woman what he thought of another, Il
= he thought well of the other
, "'Wel.' she hesitated, you see, I've
known Jim a long while
Eyes. Now, what do you suppost
the widder thinks of Jim?'
Her face clouded. as if there was G
storm of jealousy in sight.
"'She jlst bankers after him power
c full she replied, briefly.
| "'You must know the Widow Lewis
f cs well as you do Jim 1 said.
~ reckon do, mister she answered
with a Frightening face; I'm the Wild
= der Lewis"