The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-10-01
Gbe Gintes, Neu BLOOMFIELD, 1Da.
mind made up to bring Mary to or blow

ner OuJ Ol Jue Wdbers ... .-.ff
When 1 got down to the crossroads,
there was Mary, her chores all done up, o
settin' on the Deacon's front steps, lookin'
as peart and clipper as Portegee man-o'-
war. She somehow seemed to be expectin'
somebody, and when she caught sight of
me comm in the gate she give a little jump
and sort of squealed like, so that my heart
went bump agin the roof Of my mouth, for
l thought somebody'd told her that.the
Abbey Brown was hum, and that she had
got herself up to meet me.
"Well, Mary" says l, kinder settin'
down and snuglin' up to her, "I've got
back"
$50 see," says she, mighty short like,
and hitchin' herself off. u'
"Ain't you glad to see me, Mary9" says
l, and sort of looked az her out of one
eye, tender and beseechin' like.
81 don't know, Mr.. Davis" says she,
"that it makes any partic'lar difference to
me whether you're at home or at sea. Did
you come down to see Sally AnnP Cause
if you did she's gone home" Sally Ann
was Mary's cousin and who had about as
much good looks as clam, and the temper
of a crab.
"No, Mary" says ], 4" didn't come
down to see Sally Ann, and that you know.
come down to see you, Mary, and Mary,
you know Mary,-you know that for years
and years. '''
"What are you tryin' to git round tu ?"
says she, as short as pie-c-ust.
"Mary," says /, and give great gulp,
like as if was bringin' up my dinner,
"Mary, will you be Mrs. Cap'n Davis ?"
Then, havin' got it out, kinder kerflum-
ixed around and tried to get hold of one of
her hands like. She riz up just if there'd
been pin where she was sittin', ,and gittin'
as red as billed lobster, she says: "You
slab-sided BOBBY! amt you heard the news
Pm married ~
If Mary'd jumped as if a pin had gone in
her, went up like as if the pint of mar
lin spike had come up through the steps.
"Married p says /. Married, Mary? Do
you mean that you have ever been and
gone and hitched yourself fast to that SOUP
per-mouthed, blear-eyed, chuckle-headed
owl of Ahab Corbin p"
She got pretty mad while was bringin'
out the compliments, but when finished
with Ahab's name she bust out laughin.'
"Ahab Corbin !" says she, "why you
don't think I'd ever married him, do you ?
fit had been either of you two, George,
that I'd be compelled to jine tu, it wouldn't
have been Ahab, can tell you. I'm mar
ried to Nehemiah Lane"
If ever had the wind taken clean out of
my sails, it was just at that particular
time and place. Nehemiah Lane, heard,
just afore started for Fernandiny, was
expected home from three years. whailin'
cruise. But the thought of his steppin'
into my boots so sudden as this had never
crossed my mind. l blowed my nose a
little, thinkin' the thing over, then says
"If SO be you two's made fast tu each
other, it aint no good tall1in' about it,"
"Not Bit" says Mary, interruptin',
"the sooner you git the better, for ex-
pect Nehemiah hum every minute.''
"Good bye, Mary" says /, holdin' out
my hand. "Good bye" says she, takin'
it, "and next time you want agirl, George,
don't fool around her like sick clam, but
just tell her what you're after and have
done with it." Then come away. r'ig
/" 1t was an orful blow tu mo-" said
Uncle George as he concluded and gazed
sadly out to sea. lI oar dl -
Sand so you have remained true to hel
all these years, and never got married
Uncle George ?" swell, no." replied the
ancient mariner rather sheepishly, 81 bur-
led my third pardner last spring"