The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-26

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who lad assembled before him.
"Oh, say, l.em!' shouted Jim Bennett,
powerful man with u voice in proportion
to his size, ''wha,t Ito you think? Shorty
has been sparkin yer girl on the sly"
lie had her out sleigh ridin last night
He's been 10 ste her lots when We warn't
round, F" exclaimed another with exotic
mcnt. "Io thought We 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 a sly one, Shorty is. 40
want 10 watch out. "
Lem turned away with an easy laugh.
"B"sh." he said good naturcdly. "D'yc
think she's goin To take up with that lit
tie sawed Off Most girls requires u man
to suit EN-, not il half Il one like Shorty.
shorty knows bcttcr'u to fool round mo
none. Somebody might get hurt"
AS Lem sauntcrcd out of the room with
n conccitcd smile on his face one of tho
men remarked with Il spice of envy: Lem
thinks every girl is stuck OH him. I'd give
my old hat If Shorty would cut him out"
Lem had no fears of Shorty and when
he asked an explanation of Annie sho said
that Shorty had only been in n few times
10 inquire about homo folks as they werc
both from the same place. So Lem dis
missed all fears and again baskcd in tho
paradise which was lighted by Annie's
One night Lem was later than usual
getting i'll from the woods. Things had
gonc wrong that day. \ bitter wind had
blown all day, bearing little snow Gurries
that cut like steel. y pccvic had snapped
in two while he was rolling Il log, causing
him To take II heavy fall, which had bruised
and Jared him considerably and rufllcd
his temper anlso. Coming down with tho
last load of logs that night, one of his
1Nf,,.L l,..I,
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 bc consumed attending tho horses
wounds before he could go to his supper.
The men were 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 unwontcd excitement
had taken place he was sure
AS he opened the door the roar of laugh
ter which greeted his appearance caused
him to pause in bcwildcrmcnt upon tho
threshold. Each man evidently tried to
tell him something, but laughter forbade,
and howls and shriclls of mirth rent tho
air the like of which had never been heard
at Carcy's camp.
What is the matter with veg Lem de-
mandcd angrily of u man who sat near,
gasping and choking over mirth and
bacon.
ooh, Lem" he shrickcd between the
paroXysms of laughter, "Sh Sh -Shorty's
| gone with Annie Davis to git married"
For an instant Il howl greeted the dis
| closure which almost mado the walls sink
| out, then dcnthlikc stiffness rcigned.
| The men fairly held their brcaths, await
| ing the explosion which was sure to fol-
| low. for Lem could swear in tho true lun-
| bcrnnn's style.
Lem stared around for Il few seconds,
the embodiment of ludicrous bcwildcr-
mcnt. Finally he gaspcd in II low halting
| tone rs if for once tho power of speech
and, stranger yet, the power to swear
had left him, 'Waal, I'll be cvcrlastingly
| COLL durncd!" and turned slowly and left
| the room
| Pandcmonium could be considered quiet
compared to the uproar that followed
| Benches were kicked over, men rolled over
tho floor or slapped one another OH tho
back in tho ecstasy of their mirth To
| think that Lem had been cheated out of
his girl, and by Shorty of all pcrsons
Before bedtime Milt Flynn happened to
! go down to the mill. In the engine room
he brushed up against Lem, sitting nlono
in the darkness BY the light of his Ian
tern Milt could sec "a detected expression
on LENS face. y slight feeling of COM
miseration crcpt over him, and he sdp-
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 for
some time away back ut 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 it
| and approved of her conduct all the way
through.
Poor Lens heart burned ficrccly against
| hcr--not so much at the loss of his sweet
heart as mt the thought Of being tlupcd as
| he had been. And then to he beaten by
Shorty! EFF it had been any one but that
burned little runt, | wouldn't kcer" he
groancd to Mit Flynn But that was
tho gosh durndcst trick ever played on a
feller But III git even with 'cm yit SEQ
CT DON'T He did not stop to consider
that Shorty had only bidcd his time ard
PAID back with interest some Of the Drac
teal jokes Lem had always been so fond
of playing on him
Lem NARROW took up the burden Of lifo
| again, feeling that he had been incloscd
and whitcwashcd in the bargain But Nfe
was uncomfortable Tor him at Carcy'S camp
The men were mcrciless in their teasing.
Lem stood it awhile in logged silence un-
| 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 mems room and settled his
| accounts with them there, Tho worm had
| turned, and the men did not forget for q
| long time the profanity and malcdictions
| poured out upon them The next morn