The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-09-25
A COQUETTE IN CAMP.

ubpblio Vi Apt.tto NtAtcJ AuihbtA tAAaRs -
newcomer had put In an appearance at
John Bailey's house. The men at work on
the landing had seen that day as tho train
stopped at the station at the "sidihg"
female figure alight and come up the
switch which led from tho nuin track TO
the mill. She was young, she was fairly
pretty, and she was q stranger who had
evidently como to visit John Bailey's fam
lily, and many conjectures were INDUCED
In by the busy workers all the afternoon.
Lem NARROW received peculiar shock
that afternoon. Driving his team down
the road with load Of logs, which he was
hauling from the woods, he had TO pass
John Bailey's house. At this place the
horses were always stopped to rest and
Lem NARROW was considered ono OF the
most careful teamsters at the cninp. His
horses were not tired out, but tho resting
places were numerous and regular along
tho route.
As no stopped his horses at this point on
this eventful afternoon he WINS startled by
seeing pair OF bright eyes, which be-
longed TO strange face, curiousiy watch
ing him. A basty glance proved that the
face was pretty, and to Lem 3 idea the right
sort OF q face, and Immediately. the heart
Of the young teamster went through q
curious revelation. Lem NARROW had the
namc OF being tho most susceptible youth
In camp, and many an envious companion
would declare that she never seen the like
NV that 'er Lem MARROW fer gittin round
the gals
Where tho fair unknown came from
Lem did not know, but he could easily
find out from John Bailey. Suffice it to
say she was there and Watching him, and
that necessitated recognition OF his own
graces, at least. His horses needed all
sorts Of attention Immediately, patting
and stroking their glossy sides and talking
to thein in the tono which teamsters often
adopt to the animals who are almost as
dear to them as human beings.
That night as the crow Of workmen
gathered In the mems room of the big
boarding house after supper the talk nat
urally turned to tho newcomer. Shorty
Black looked up with sudden interest
when her advent to the Bailey house was
mentioned
"was she a real purity sort nv gal,
with black eyes an hair an rcd cheeksP"
he inquired breathlessly 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 she had black
eyes and hair.
.'Well, then, she's Annie Davis, Mrs.
Bailey's sister. / know hor responded
Shorty, with a satisfied squeak in his voice
"Tho dickens 20 d." responded Jim
Bennett, with loud guffsw. The other
men laughed immoderately also at the idea
Of Shorty Black knowing the pretty
stranger who had awakened an interest in
them ALL
Shorty Black was n sort Of butt for good
natured satire at Carey's camp, and sim
ply because he was SO small Shorty was
the only name he got. Indeed it WINS ques-
tionable whether the men knew any other
nnmo. He had the usual dull, uninterest.
ing features of thenverage backwoodsman
and was good natured, 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
esting intelligence. He listened moro in
tently to tho 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're goin TO the barn9" called
out Jim Bennett rs Lem set his cap jaunt-
| lily on one side Of his head and sauntered
| toward the door.
"Nawl' no responded. I'm jest goin
| down to the blacksmith shop to see IL Bill
| Rogers has fixed that sled runner that got
broke today"
Once out Of sight of the quizzical gaze
Of his companions Lem struck out toward
| the residence of John Bailey. 1t was
| nothing unusual for him to drop In of an
49, atu~ H. I,,...
bering interests. He was received with q
hearty welcome by the host and given a
seat by tho kitchen 1re where the two
| mon fell to discussing the happenings Of
tho day. But all through the conversation
Lem cast furtive chances toward the sit
ting room, where Mrs. Bailey was talking
| busily to some one-undoubtedly the in
teresting stranger whose acquaintance
| Lem so desired to make.
Finally after a short pause John Bailey
suddenly broke out with: ooh, say, Lem,
como on In the room where the women
folks is. We've got visitor to our house. II
| Lem followed blindly and smiled airily
on tho young woman whom John Bailey
introduced as "my sister-in-law, who has
como up here In the woods TO ketch a man
Now, put in yer best licks Lem" he add
ed, "fer reckon ye stand as fair a show
as any
The girl blushed and laughed a little
but seemed In no wise displeasod at thu
look of admiration which the young mar
took no pains to disguise. A coquette car
be found in any sphere, aud certainly An
ME Davis could shine in that capacity al
Carey's camp.
1 Lem went home that night feeling frs
rate over his venture. The girl was evi
IDENTIFY struck with bis appearance ant
conversation. It seemed plain sailing now
for the enamored youth to get what hi
ambitious heart most oravod-"a GIRL
at amt best to let her know at frs
how I'm stuck on her, =" he unused as h,
climbed the hill to the boarding house
"Girls Is queer critters. Now, Of 1 let OF
to her that don't keer nothin bout he
for spell an that hev lots Of girls rount
through the country she will think 1t will
pay heap more to be good to me-"
Things progressed very satisfactorily TO
Lem from that on. Miss Annie was gra
cious when Lem considered he was no
unbending his dignity too much TO pa.
her the attentions which were oonsidere'
necessary toward the girl who was t,
keep stiddy comp'ny" with young man
Ono night as Lem entered the boarding
house before supper he was greeted by al
uproarious chorus Of voices from the mel
who had assembled before him.
ooh, say, Leml" shouted Jim Bennett
a powerful man with q voice in proportion
to his size, "whnt do you think9 Short.
has been sparkin yer girl on the sly"
"Ho had her out sleigh ridin last night
He's been to see her lots when ye warn
round" exclaimed another, with excite
ment. aye thought ye stood alone in tina
section all right, but we've just found on
Shorty stands in, too an has kept mum
about it. oh, he's a sly one, Shorty Is. Y
want to watch OUT
Lem turned away with an easy laugh
"Bosh, no said good naturally. "D'y
think she's goin to take up with that Ii;