The Portland daily press., 1871-07-08
SELECTED STORY.
Next Door to Bulllman's

ilsANt ldhtil was HcNcf CuTlSttDcus II hoo
been called by various names, each man who |
came TO it giving it new appellatIon. | pre-
fer to have local habitaton without name
The post of honor is a private station,
tb at is my motto; bills are therefore sent as
due from "Next door to Bulliman's," and they
are duly paid.
Bulliman's is ladies' school. There is no
Diaie'BUlliman. There was one, who, says
his mild relict, "was an officer in her maJestys
forces" Officer is 4 wide word. Thrre are
officers in her maiestys customs, and III lne
local police-a folce which, though very enl'
cieUt, has the benefit of being totaliy coihpos'
I'd Of officers. But the deceased '"uillman-
meek fellow, with tremendous Deard, q weak
head, and consumptive chest-was neither
in the police, nor in the customs, nor in the
pos;-ofiice Neither was Bulman an officer
in any regiment He served, however in the
Crimea: and his grateful country has pen
stoned bis widow in SO insufficient a way that
Mrs Buiman is iain to keep school, TIE
truth is that William Bulliman was in the
commissauat department; and being of
tender conscience as we'll as having soon
sumptive chest" he, after the terrible revela-
tons about our starving troops and famished
horses, took lip and died. "He was len
der hearted fellow, and never ought to have
been called Bulman," said his widow, as if
there was something terrible Ia the name.
creature, as any one might see; but she had
two little children as different from herself
and the deceased officer as well could be.
Her theory abont the matter was, that they
favored grandfather; and from the stories
told about him, think they must have done
so. Grandfather Bulliman-a fine, dashing
fellow-had been parson, and was an officer
in a very different army. From the story OF
his life, one might have supposed that the
Reverend Bulliman acted up tohis name, and
that his sons spirit Was thereby crushed. BY
the rule of contrary he had married very
meek, but tall creature, whose nature had
been bequeathed to the "officer;" while the
ferceness and dash of the gallant drill-ser-
geant in the ranks of the "Onety-frst regi-
ment was given to his grandchildren, Dick
and Katey. Happily, toward their moth er
these children showed nothing but tender
ness and love.
Dick had been well educated as the chill
dren OF most genteel widows are. Poor crea-
lures, how they do pinch and screw for the
result; and sometimes, how poor a one it is
Dick, however, did all in his power to make
his mother happy; came out well in his ex-
aminations, went in for chemistry, and was
soon decently employed in the analysis of
water, sewage, and other pleasant matters.
The British public, year or two ago, had a
scientific craze; aud Dick was lucky in taking
advantage OF it. He was not at present high
ly paid, but he delighted in his work, and was
full of hope. Katey helped her mother in
the school, and was rather high church. She
affected the sermons of the Rev. Pinehel
wills, who vacIllated between evangelical
preaching and an ornamental ritual; was rit.
ualistc in his service, and evangelical in his
sermons; and who consequently pleased nei
ther party. Katey read st. Augustine and St
Thomas-a- Kempis, went SO far as to date
son the eve of st. Michael" and always pre-
fixed 49," before the names of the apostles, as
if each was named Samuel; and was very par
tcular in turning to the east. Her CHIEF love
for ritualism was, however, seen liz the deco
rating the miserably ugly brick and stone
church of Boxley Down, built in the style OF
the celebrated 1910 Gothic.
Dick Bullimans dash, courage, good humor
and fun, made him great favorite; so much
SO, that, when he came to Boxiey Down, he
had to sleep at far-distynt cot from the SEM
mary, where he smoked like iime-kiln, and
kept, it was supposed, unearthly hours. As
however, he was found, winter and summer
splashing in huge washing tub-an extern
porized bath--at six in the morning, these wild
reports are to be put down as exageerations
Katey defended Dick in any of his excuses
and against all enemies; and the dozen or so
young people at Bulliman's-who were in
structed IN prlmness, preciseness, piety, and
pretty ways by Mrs. Katey Bulliman-all
agreed that schoolmstresses' sons were gen.
orally Doors, but that Mr.. Richard was a fine
young fellow.
In the deserted cottage with no name. a
large and productive garden, fine view at
tue back, and rOOmy interior, in which
lived, had for my companion Jack Romilly
OF the -th, crack regiment, almost equal to
the celebrated Onety-frst, and has all the vic
tories of Great Britain inscribed upon it's
flags. Jack was rather stupid than other
wise at college; had come away thence with
out distinction; but having something to do,
he, with that tremendous resolution which
dull people have, went in and did it. He pro-
ceeded to the school of the most celebrated
crammer 10 town or county, at Croydon,
worked like horse upon system, and came
out at the very head of the direct commission
examination with the enormous and utterly
incomprehensible number below. There you
see his name:-
Romilly, Johh-Private tuition, 2O3, 456.
Wasn't he a clever fellow? Jack never, to
this day, knew how he did it; and, after his
success, presented a gold watch to Captain
otufem, his crammer, and relapsed into his
stupidity.
He had one other noticeable element in
him, this Jack Ron.ily. He was jealous He
was jealous of me, his old school and college
chum; jealous of his dog Gyp, black Pome-
ranian, of distinguished family After smok.
ing pipe in a friendly manner, and dining
with great good nature, his Jealousy would
suddenly boil up, and Jack would say
you seemed to be precious glad toIsee
Smith,"
II was that" wouldKanswer
Another puff, and
you are precious fond of Smith,
mot more than you are of that word me-
cious. Yes-I like him."
do youp l think he's eonceited pup.n
mo you don't. Jack Romilly. You should
near how well he spoke of you! He's a good
iellow; only he had just run down from town,
had little while to stay, and 1 made him
welcome"
ITO the utter exclusion of me. had to
saunter about this cussed town. at your
heels" -"
says"
Then would tune up
"Tel me, We jealous-pated swains'
"Now, don't be fool, Tompkinsp' such,
dear reader-do not despise me-is nv farci-
cal name-"Don't be fool! Don't cali me
Jealous-pated swain; and will make it up."
Simple fellow! In five minutes we were the
best friends. With all his duiDness, and the
immense weight of marks upon him and I'D
on his conscience liked to talk to handsome
Jack Romilly better than to many more
brilliant man. He had good heart and a
the sense; and his talk had soothing, wise
method about it that was very pleasing Yet,
every now and then this sensible, good fellow
was disfgured with gusts of jealousy even, as
said, with his dog.
"Gyp, you little flirt," he would say, Ego to
your master-there he is; his name is TOmp-
kins."
Upon this, Gyp would look sadly into bis
race and put one paw up, as if to plead with
him.
Just like your SEX" be would SAY, spite
fully. Don't you love him, Gyp?"
Upon which the poor brute would whine,
and would break out with my song !
"Tell me, ye jealous-pated swains!"
The reason why Jack RomilIy came and
>dwelt at Boxley was two-fold. / fondly be-
lieve that he came down to Boxley to see me
partly, of course. There was another rea-
son. He was in love with young lady Of
what he called-"a charming exterior, and
good workmanship, admirably finished, and
thoroughly well furnished" l gethered from
this, that Lucy Spofforth was Well-built. and
had good education; and was not mis-
taken.
Clear hazel eyes-very keen, very merry
and honest-an oval face, and what lack
termed an Austrian chin; a small, capable
forehead, the hair brought down somewhat
low and worn very plain; a clear, fair com
plexion, and dark chestnut hair; throat
very white. and beautifully set upon we'll
formed shoulders; height of five feet four:
and movement at once quick, graceful, and
dignlhed, distinguished Miss Lucy. But more
imam these, her sweet manners; her open,
frank ways; her sweetly resonant and limo,
cent voice; her addresses kindly that it put
everyone at his or her ease, yet so ladyiike
and distinguished that none eyer took or
Thought OF taking liberty with her. Sncb