The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-10-03

Az ltSl ne SlO0t Wltn ms Hoif nrlStunU
wildly, and burst into loud cchoing
| laugh. The closet door creal1ed, and he
shouted in reply
''Ay, come out come out | dread you
no more Yon're outwitted - and drag
gin@ Il valiSc from Il recess, he began to
hurl iii articles, making the most eXtrava-
| giant demonstrations of delight the while.
Was he crazy? No, but a solution of
his difficulty was presented. He would
marry some good girl Immediately, and
then what could they say? He paused
Tor nothing, except once or twice To glare
at the closet, until the yaliSe was packed
| and locked when he sat down upon it to
wipe the perspiration from his forehead
| and consider where he should 90. Then,
IN the quiet which ensued he realized the
| sacrifice he was about 10 make. His easy
chair so inviting, his dressing gown so
! comfortable, his tire-side 80 cozy. his be
longings SO conveniently scattered abont,
| his clnb meetings. his pleasant little dim
ners with n friend or two-all would
vanish like a happy dream. to be followed
| by what unknown, dreadful reality of u
hcreaitrri Well, wcll it must bc done
| He laughed no more a. he arose TO com
| plete his preparations. His honor was at
least at stake. He might sleep then AT
least. Tedious curtain lectures! These
might even he endured if he had his bnsi-
ness hours in peace; and Mr.. BuIbo's
| spirits aro again sufficiently to give the
! closet door n good Kick, and shake his
fist at it as he lett the room with the
| travelling gear.
The next afternoon he was walking
hastily ;tlung the quiet street Of Mieford
Nothing hut the urgency OF the case could
have kept him up during the journey. It
was dreadful step he had taken, but the
disease in this ease was worse than any
could be. and called for violent remedy
Mr.. Bulb0 WAS not 4 stranger in Mlctord,
having spent some Of his early years there
and he was soon warmly greeted in Mr..
kopp's kitchen. The farmer and his wife
hailed him rs Mr., George. Us they had
been in the habit of calling him in earlier
days, and Mr.. Bulho, glad to escape from
the name which had So annoyed him,
begged them not to mention his surname
Ills room looked out on Il quiet meadow,
and it was with Il feeling of intense relief
he missed the smoking chmncys of his
usual abode At tea he was met and was
waited upon by Mr.. kopp's niece, Polly.
She had such a flow of good spirits that
| he forgot duty, aud rntere into u merry
conversation, which he unwilingly ended
al her pointed suggestion Of hiS need of u
smoke. He joined Mr. Kopp on the YER
anda. and soon told him Of his orrand-
no' the cause, but the plain fact that he
was in search of 4 wife.
Il thought | couldn't do better than
come here" he said, trying to speak care
lessiy. "'rhr tact is I'm tired Of living
bachelor lie"
Oh, the miserable subterfuge. Mr.
Bulho hated himself for being obliged to
resort TO il. Nj. kopp pmentionel several
names, particularly recommending one
young lady whom Mr.. Rnlbo remembered
as a child, and offering 10 Introduce him
that evening.
"Won't YOU 90, Polly ?" he called into
the Kitchen
ono, thanks" and Mr. Rubo felt dis
appointed and half inclined to give up the
venture.
Bulbo made but short call, as he felt
weary, and aR he opened the kitchen-door
on his return Polly sat hy the window,
singing and pairing apples. A nice little
cot protected her finger from the stain
and she nodded Il smiling welcome Us she
put bit of apple between her rosy lips
Mr. Bulbo leaned on the chair to chat
and soon asked for n knife to help.
''Rni you'll have to wear a cot.'
''Pnt it on" he responded, stretching
out his hand
They are too small" she cried after
several mirth. provoking attempts to place
them
Cant something else do ?" he help
lcssly inquired; cant bear to be ide.''
Yes; III wind them up in rags" and
her den fingers soon bound his hands,
1t was late when they finished for Polly
insisted that The pairing should be per-
feet, and their aid was required in solving
matrimonial questions. Hers only formed
u Is, at which she was much provoked; !;
but Mr. Buloo's was very indefinite
''IS ii Il = on IN + ?" She asked, puzzling
over the letter. II declare its as much
| like an M as any thing"
| When ut last bedtime came, without
doubt Polly lighted his candle, and be-
tween them they dropped the snutlers three
times before he got fairly started. In the
morning he must see the farm and as Mr.
| kopp's work was urgent, Polly was i'm
pressed to do the honors On their return
| the sun was too hot To 90 ont. and il was
1
/ ter dinner came the fascinating sight of
| Polly with her sleeves rolled up. showing
such white arms-all stray locks ot her
| hair tucked behind her little ears and away
from checks where the color came and went
in y moment--that. the dishes might be
washed. Then when she disappeared n
moment Mr.. Bulbo thought he would make
n call, but when she appeared in fresh
! Il tl
somewhere for them 10 go
''Not bnt that | see enough that's charm
ing here"
Polly turned away with a little lrown,
and Mr.. Bnlbo was, as usual, upbraiding
himself, when u deepening red ON her neck
persuaded him that he had not made an
Irrevocable mistake They went to Lyn-
brook, and only got home in time for Polly
to get tea. After that Mr.. Kopp proposed
10 call on another yonng lady, bnt Mr.
Bulbo had discovered that Polly sang :;
and as music was his great delight, and
he made some attempts, though no pre-
tensions in that quarter he insisted on u
song. One followed another, their voices
harmonizcd finely, and another evening
was gone.
This was the example of many days,
Polly had read some new book that had
particularly pleased Mr.. Bulbo and she
| was so lively and piqnant it was delight
ful 10 talk to her She was remarkably
welleducateh, which surprised Mr.. Rulbo,
rs Mileford was but n country place.
"Ah, now, you'd like to ask questions"
she cried, us he let drop something Of that
kind. 81 was not brought mp here, and
that's all I'll say. Ladies only are privi-
legged to ask questions"
"Thcrc is one that gentlemen may ask"
softly said Mr.. Bulbo, leaning toward her;
but she sprang from her seat and ran up
stairs.
"Bulbo, you're q fool y was the gentle
mans mental comment. ''I'm afraid you're
in love-you are, by .Jove" he calculated,
as he seized the handkerchief Polly had
dropped. And pressing it to his lips, plac-
ed it in his inner pocket.
Il was to be feared that was the truth,
Mr. Bulbo had been five weeks at Mr..
Kopp's and had entirely forgotten the
cause Of his coming. He had made but
one call in search of the wife who was to
vindicatc his character in the virtuous city
of Brookley. but had fingered all this time
Inv tho side of n hri Inf -ava1 plumn LITTLE