The Quare Women: A Story of Kentucky Mountains
9781465684486
213 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
Aunt Ailsie first heard the news from her son's wife, Ruthena, who, returning from a trading trip to The Forks, reined in her nag to call,— "Maw, there's a passel of quare women come in from furrin parts and sot 'em up some cloth houses there on the p'int above the courthouse, and carrying on some of the outlandishest doings ever you heared of. And folks a pouring up that hill till no jury can't hardly be got to hold court this week." The thread of wool Aunt Ailsie was spinning snapped and flew, and she stepped down from porch to palings. "Hit's a show!" she exclaimed, in an awed voice. "I heared of one down Jackson way one time, where there was a elephant and a lion and all manner of varmints, and the women rid around bareback, without no clothes on 'em to speak of." "No, hit hain't no show, neither, folks claim; they allow them women is right women, and dresses theirselves plumb proper. Some says they come up from the level land. And some that Uncle Ephraim Kent fotched 'em in." "Didn't you never go up to see?" Ruthena laughed. "I'll bound I would if I'd a been you," she said; "and but for that sucking child at home, I allow I would myself." "Child or no child, you ought to have went," complained Aunt Ailsie, disappointed. "I wisht Lot would come on back and tell me about 'em." Next morning she was delighted to see her favorite grandson, Fult Fallon, dash up the branch on his black mare. "Tell about them quare women," she demanded, before he could dismount. "I come to get some of your sweet apples for 'em, granny," he said. "'Peared like they was apple hungry, and I knowed hit was time for yourn." "Light and take all you need," she said. "But, Fulty, stop a spell first and tell me more about them women. Air they running a show like we heared of down Jackson way four or five year gone?" Fult shook his head emphatically. "Not that kind," he said. "Them women are the ladyest women you ever seed, and the friendliest. And hit's a pure sight, all the pretties they got, and all the things that goes on. I never in life enjoyed the like." Aunt Ailsie followed him around to the sweet apple tree, and helped him fill his saddlebags. "Keep a telling about 'em," she begged. "Seems like I hain't heared or seed nothing for so long I'm nigh starved to death." "Well, they come up from the level country—the Blue Grass. You ricollect me telling you how I passed through hit on my way to Frankfort—as smooth, pretty country as ever was made; though, being level, hit looked lonesome to me. And from what they have said, I allow Uncle Ephraim Kent fotched 'em up here, some way or 'nother, I don't rightly know how. And they put up at our house till me 'n' the boys could lay floors and set up their tents."
