The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-05-26

81 ] p s %sIi much "s Ds siysn .t to
minding their own business, in the
sense which conveys total lack of in
terest in anybody else.
Long reaches of rough mountain
roads frequent torrents, which rushed
rudely wherever resistance was most
readily overcome, combined with SOM
Der stretches of dense forest to dis
courage sociability.
Nevertheless, when i became known,
in general why, that tho old tip
tilted log house-a house hoary with
aSe-about which the halo of romance
had never chung, was to be the seat OF
wedding, interest in it became vivid,
and visitors multiplied miraculously.
The house stood at the head Of the
Pass, and gave it its name. 1t was
Peter Lumley's daughter who was to
be married.
That piece of information percolu.
ted through Peter himself, one even
ing when he had fingered at the store
in Hogan's Gulch long enoloh to for
get his usual taciturnity and wax con
tidential with other late staycrs.
On that occasion Mr.. Peter Lumley
remarked, in general way that "wo-
men folks was n cussed lot of trouble
when they got marryin' in their heads,
nn' he was constable thankful that he
didn't have but one gal TO turn the
world upside down Just because u fell
low had asked her to change her
name"
This amiable nllusion TO his only
daughter, coupled with the fact that,
earlier i'll the evening, Mr.. Lum!cy
had openly invested in ten yards of
white "cross bar" muslin and "5cal.
loped" handkerchief, fastened tho inn
pending change Of name on Sue Lum-
ley.
Until that cross bar muslin and EN-.
broidered handkerchief were actually
transferred from Hogan's counter to
the gummy sack which already held
Peters supply of tobacco, seed pota-
eral public had laid no particular stress
upon Peters outburst.
Never before had que Lumley been
an object of even passing local inter
est. No one had ever associated her
name with n possible lover. She was
accounted rather n spiritless creature,
totally lacking in grit. Grit is n moral
quality in high repute with your
mountaineer.
Being motherless and sisterless, Sue
had grown up with even fewer femi-
nine accomplishment than fell to the
lot of other Lumley Pass girls.
wedding presupposes n man. 1t
was n long time before local gossip
fastened upon the right man for "Sue
Lumley's beau" When it did, curl
osity was merged into amnZcmont Dor.
dering on indignation.
"Was Brad Martin bent on THROWN
hisself clean away? Had Brad Martin
turned plum idiot?" were questions
which everybody was asking but no.
body answered.
Bradley Martin was what might DO
called q newcomer, having only lived
in tie neighhorhood OF Lumlcy's Pass
-four or five years, None of his for
bears had ever titled the rocky acres
he called his own.
He was n handsome fellow, with
broad shoulders and strong, swiftlegs,
which carried him over the steep
mountain path with the surefootedncss
Of the CONT
There wasn't girl within twelve
miles of Peter Lumlcy's old gray house
that would not have lent willing eur
to Bradley Martin if he had como n
counting. But Sue Lumley, of all the
Pass girls
Martin and Sue n'ono knew the
very beginning OF the love affair whosD
imminent culminatiou was ngitating
the scattered settlers of Lumloy's
Pass
They had first seen each other when
the Pass lay IN the shadows of even
ing, which cam3 early and fingered
long in the mountained. walled clear
ing.
She was sitting alone on tho rough
Pine slab that did duty for frOnt-door
step. Her Jap was full Of corn and OF
corn cobs. a pilo of unshelled corn
was stacked on tho slab within easy
reach. With fine disregard for her
own cuticlo, she rubbed the grains
free from tho cob with the roldcuol
ball OF her right thumb.
When all the corn shouli be shellcd,
she would lift up her voice shrilly, and
countless fcathcred pensioners would
make glad response. BOOSTERS. forget
ting to be stately, Guinea fowls grown
suddenly greglrious, pigeons swoop-
ing from aloft 60 share IN tho liberal
lar2css, would all come, huttering,
flying, scrambling, hurrying, each
filled with genuine human greed, striv-
ing 10 got ahead of its fellows.
Sue rather liked "feed time" TO
come, II broke up tho dreadful mo.
notony Of her day, and introduced
cheerful olamor into profound silence.
She was left very much alone during