The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-09-26
A COQUETTE IN CAMP.

sensation stirred tho forest bound
depths of Isaac Carcy's lumber camp. A
newcomer had put in an appearance at
John Bailry's house. Tho mon Mt work on
the landing had seen that day rs the train
stopped at the station ut tho "siding" n
female figure alight and como up the
switch which led from tho main track to
tho mill. She was young, she was fairly
pretty, and sho was q stranger who had
evidently como to visit John Bailcy's fam
lily, and many conjccturcs were INDUCED
in by tho busy workers all tho afternoon.
Lem NARROW received n peculiar shock
that afternoon. Driving his team down
the road with u load of logs, which he WAS
hauling from the woods, he had to pass
John Bailcy's house. At this place the
horses were always stopped to rest, and
Lem NARROW was considered one of tho
most careful tcamstcrs at the camp His
horses We're not tired out but the resting
places were numerous and regular along
the route.
AS he stopped his horses at this point on
this eventful afternoon he was startled bv
sccing pair Of bright eyes, which be-
longcd to II strange face, curiously watch
ing him. y hasty glance proved that the
face was pretty, and to Lem s idea Tho right
sort of face, and immediately the heart
OF tho young tcamstcr went through q
curious revolution. Lem NARROW had the
name of being the most susceptible youth
in camp, and many an envious companion
would declare that che never seen tho like
NV that 'er Lem NARROW fer gittin round
the gals
Where the fair unknown camo from
Lem did not know, but ho could easily
find out from John Bailey Suffice it TO
Sln thnrn md Ivntp,i N I,
that ncccsstatcd recognition of his own
graccs, Mt least. His horses needed all
sorts of attention Immediately, patting
and stroking their glossy sides and talking
To thcm in the tone which tcamstcrs often
adopt to tho animals who arc almost as
dear to them rs human beings.
That night as the crew of workmen
gathered in the mems room of the big
boarding house after supper tho talk nat
urally turned tn the newcomer. Shorty
Black looked up with sudden interest
when her advent to tho Bailey house was
mentioned
Was she "A real purity sort NV gal,
with black eyes an hair an rcd chccks:"
he inquired brcathlcssly in his thin shrill
voice
Yes, the men could vouch for her being
pretty, some could assert to her red checks
and one man could swear sho had black
eyes and hair.
well, then, she's Annie Davis, Mrs.
Bailcys sister I know her, ;" responded
Shorty, witha satisfied squeak in his voice
Tho dickens yc do responded jim
Bennett, with loud guffaw. The other
men laughed mmodcratcly also at the idea
of Shorty Black knowing the pretty
stranger who had awakened an interest in
them all.
Cnrtn f ht1tt fnr Il
naturcd satire at Carcy's camp, and sim
ply because he was so small Shorty was
tho only namc he got. Indeed it was qucs-
tionablc whether the mon knew any other
namc. He had the usual dull, unintcrcst.
ing features of tho average backwOodSnnn
and was good naturcd, ignorant and plain
Because of his short stature and thick,
stocky body Shorty was always laughingly
used for an illustration for diminutive
substances.
Lem NARROW looked up suddenly from
| the game OF seven up in which he was TAX
ing part when Shorty disclosed his inter
| csting intelligence. He listened more in
| tcntly to the conversation than to the
| game after that and finally threw down
| his cards and " lowed he wouldn't play
| any more that night
"What, ye'rc goin to tho barn." called
| out jim Bennett as Lem set his cap jaunt-
| lily on one side of his head and sauntcrcd
| toward the door.
"Naw! he responded. I'm jest goin
down to the blacksmith shop to sec if Bill
| Rogers has fixed that sled runner that got
| broke today"
Once out of sight of the qlizzical gaze
| of his companions Lem struck out toward
the residence of John Bailey 1t was
nothing unusual for him to drop in of an
evening to discuss the affairs of the lum-
boring interests. He was received with a
hearty welcome by the host and given Il
seat by the kitchen fire, where the two
men fell To discussing tho happenings of
tho day But all through the conversation
Lem cast furtiyo chances toward the sit
ting room, whore Mrs. Bailey was talking
busily to some overwhelmingly tho in
tcrcsting stranger whose acquaintance
Lem so desired To make
Finally after Il short pause John Bailey
suddenly broke out with: ''Oh, say, Lem,
come on in the room where tho women
folks is. We've got visitor to our house. 4"
Lem followed blindly and smiled airily
on tho young woman whom John Bailey
introduced rs my sistcr-inlaw, who has
como up here in tho woods to kctch man.
Now, put In yer best ticks, Lem, he add
cd, for reckon yo stand as fair n show
as any"
The girl blushcd and laughed little
but seemed in no wise diSplcascd at tho
look of admiration which the young man
took no pains to disguise. y coqucttc can
be found in any sphere, and certainly An
mic Davis could shine in that capacity at
Cnrcy'S camp.
Lem went homo chat night feeling first
rate over his venture. The girl was evil
IDENTIFY struck with his nllpparnucc and
conversation 1t seemed plain sailing now
for tho cnamorcG youth to get what his
ambitious heart most cr;Ncd-''a girl"
Q. ..i..,t l....t -. LII L...,.