The Portland daily press., 1895-09-20
A COQUETTE IN CAMP.

A sensation stirred the forest bound
depths of Isaac Carey's lumber camp. A
newcomer had put in an appearance at
John Bailey's house. The men at work on
the landing had seen that day as the train
stopped at the station at the siding
female figure alight and come up the
switch which led from the main track to
the mill She was young, she was fairly
pretty, and she was a stranger who had
evidently come to visit John Bailey's fam
lily, and many conjectures were INDUCED
in by the busy workers all the afternoon.
Lem Marlow received a peculiar shock
that afternoon. Driving his team down
the road with a 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 one of the
most careful teansters at the camp. His
horses were not tired out but the resting
places were numerous and regular along
the route.
AS he stopped bis horses at this point on
this eyentful afternoon he was startled by
seeing q pair of bright eyes, which b.
longed to a strange face curiously watch
ing him. 4 hasty glance proved that the
facs was pretty, and to Lem o idea the right
sora Of face, and Immediately the heart
of the young teamstes went through a
curious revolution Lena MARROW had the
na1ne of being tie most susceptible youth
in camp, and many an envious companion
would declare thet che never seen the like
Nv that 'er lem NARROW fer gittin round
the gals"
Whore the 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
thae 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 them in the tone which teamsters often
adopt to the animals who are almost as
dear to them as human beings.
That night as the crew of workmen
gathered in the mems room of the big
boarding house after supper the talk nat
urally turned to the newcomer. Shorty
Black looked up with sudden interest
when her advent to the Bailey house was
mentioned.
"Was she real purity sort Nv gal,
with black eyes an hair an red cheeks?"
he inquired breathlessly in his thin, shrill
voice.
Yes the men could vouch for her being
pretty, some could assert to her red cheeks,
and one man could swear she had black
eyes and hair.
"Well, then, she's Annie Davis, Mrs
Bailey's sister l know her," responded
Shorty, with satisfied squeak in his voice.
'The dickens We do" responded jim
Bennett, with loud guffaw. The other
men laughed immoderately also at the idea
of Shorty Black knowing the pretty
stranger who had awakened an interest in
them ali.
Shorty Black was sort of butt for good
naturea satire at Careys camp, and sim
ply because he was SO small Shorty was
the only name he got. Indeed it was ques-
tionable whether the men knew any other
name He had the usual dull, uninterest-
ing features of the average backwoodsman
and was good natured, ignorant and plain.
Because of his short stature and thick,
stocky body Shorty was always laughlngly
used TO-; 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 more IN
tently to the conversation than to the
game after that aid finally threw down
his cards and q lowed he wouldn't play
any more that night.
"What, we're goin to the barnT' called
out jim Bennett as Lem set his cap Jaunt-
ily on one side of his head and sauntered
toward the door.
"Naw!" he responded. I'm jess goin
down to the blacksmith shop to see If 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
evening to discuss the affairs of the lum-
befing intererts. Ee was received With
hearty welcome by the host and given
seat by tbs kitchen fire, where the TWO
men fell to discussing the happenings OF
the day But all through the conversation
Lem cast furtiye glances toward the sle-
ting room, where Mrs. Bailey was talking
busilv to some overwhelmingly the IN
teresting stranger whose acquaintance
Lem so desired to make.
FINALLY after a short pause John Bailey
suddenly broke out with: "Oh, say, Lem,
come on in the room where the women
folks is. We've got visitor to our mouse.
Lem followed blindly and smiled army
on the young woman whom John oa,iey
introduced as my sister-in Flaw, VINO HAS
como up here in the woods to ketch a man.
Now, put in yer best ticks, Lem, ne aoo-
ed, ''fer ] reckon We stand as falr sho"