The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-09-25

One night Lem WIS lister than unnni
getting In from the woods. Things had
gone wrong that day. A bitter wind HAD
blown all day, bearing little snow flurrfcs
that cut like steel. A peeyie had snapped
In two while he was rolling q log, causing
him to take heavy fall, which had bruised
and Jared him considerably and rufied
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 thb logs from the truck, as the
horse was unable TO assist the other topull
the load to the mill Then much time had
to be consumed attending the horso's
wounds before he could go to his supper.
The men were In tho dining room when
Lem entered the mems room. He won
dered at 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 to pause in bewildsrment upon the
threshold. Each man evidently tried to
tell him something, but laughter forbade,
and bowls and shrieks of mirth rent the
air tho like Of which had never been heard
at Carey's camp.
"What is the matter with yep Lem de-
manded angrily Of a man who sat near,
gasping and choking over mirth and
bacon.
ooh, Lem" he shrieked between the
paroxysms of laughter, "Sh-Sh- Shortys
gone with Annie Davis to git married"
For nm instant howl greeted the dis
closure which almost made the walls sink
out, then deathlike stiffness reigned.
The men fairly held their breaths, await
ing the explosion which was sure to fol-
low, for Lem could swear in the true lum-
berman's style.
Lem stared around for few seconds,
the embodiment Of ludicrous bewilder-
ment Finally he gasped in a low, halting
tone, as II for once the power Of speech
and, stranger yet the power to swear
had left him, ".Waal, I'll be everlastingly
goll durnedp' and turned slowly and left
the room.
Pandemonium could BIO considered quiet
compared to the uproar that followed
Benches were kicked over, men rolled over
the floor or slapped one another on the
back In the ecstasy Of their mirth. To
think that Lem had been cheated out Of
his girl and by Shorty of all personsl
Before bedtime Milt Flynn happened to
go down to the mill. In the engine room
he brushed up against Lem, sitting alone
in the darkness. By the light Of Ms Ian
tern Milt could see detected expression
on LENS face. A slight feeling of COM
miseration crept over him, and he sup
pressed the grin which had begun to over
spread his features He sat down and pro-
ceeded to give Lem the details Of the story.
Shorty and Annie had been lovers for
some time away back at their own homes
and this was only tho 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 1t
and approved Of her conduct all the way
through.
Poor LENS heart burned flercely against
her-not SO much at the loss Of his sweet
heart as at the thought of being duped as
he had been. And then to be beaten by
Shorty "Ef 1t had been any one but that
burned little runt, 1 wouldn't keer," he
groaned to Milt Flynn. "But that was
the gosh durndest trick ever played on q
Teller. But I'll git even with 'em yit, SEQ
Of DON'T" He did not stop to consider
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.
Aen MhrloW booK up inc puruen Oh lu6
again, feeling that he had been inclosed
and whitewashed In the bargain. But life
was uncomfortable for him at Carey 8 camp.
The men were merciless in their teasing.
Lem stood It awhile In logged silence uu-
til human nature could stand no more.
One night he hunted up old Isaac Carey,
settled his account and informed him hc
was going to leave next day. Then he
went Into the mems room and settled his
accounts with them there. The worm had
turned, and the men did not forget for d
long time the profanity and maledictions
poured out upon them. The next morn.
ing Lem NARROW left, and Carey's camp
saw him no more.-New York Advertiser.