The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-04

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stepped into the entry, aud before he
could close tho door, ere he heard q
voice inquire;
.Who Is TINT geutlomau y
"Hls nameis Blumble. he's from Bos.
ton, replied the landlord.
Blumble, from Boston y chimed in
a third voice, and then added, You
don't say SO p followed by long low
whistle Of astonishment.
Blumble stepped of the piazza aud
walked up the village street. He had
scarcely walked twenty yards before he
was aware OF being followed. Giving
tue matter but little thought, however,
he turned from the road into pleasant
lane that wendedits way toward some
half.dozen farm-houses, until he came to
| q rustic seat, upon which he threw him
self, and was sooE obliyious to all the
world excepting the business affairs of
"Hood, Silver & Blumble." lie sat
until his cigar was consumed, when he
was aroused to the world around him by
the village clock striking outteu. But
| toning his coat closely around, him, he
hurried down the lane toward the hotel ;
as he turned from the lane into the great
road he was suddenly and not very softly
seized by the throat, by the shoulders,
and by the coattails, by at least n dozel
hands, He wns rather too much sur
prised to speak, even il lie Ind a chance
To-; the hands so tightly clenched
around his throat would have prevented
his speaking II ho had not been SO great.
IL surprised. AS he could not speak he
listened very patiently To- some half
dozen exclamations OF "Ndw we've got
you y
Something desperate must be done.
so Blumble struck the fellow that held
him by tho throat full In the iace, knock
ling him down, and then cried out Ms
though he expected that this would he
the last, chance he ever would have to
speak.
What the, deuce you aboatS'
The striking question had q miraculous
effect upon the numerous 'hands dis
tributed about his person, and Blumblt
\ was free. He waited a few moments L
regain bis breath, then looking around
him, asked very energcticaliy;
"What does all this mean?"
at means that II you dos't promise
to leave town aud not go to see Mary
! Gay. again, we'll just hide You, and ther
ride you out oftown on Q rail, " said the
young man, the recipient Of the blow
who had regained his ieet. tAt I.
HLeaye town? Mary Gay? Why,
do not understand what you mean,
remarked Blumble, consilerably mysti
A'' Swell, tit,e interrupted anothe,
voice, 1--WE mean that you've come hert
from Boston to court Mary Gay, and yot
moan to cut out BILLY Higdy here nov
liz you don't give up Mary, and leave
town tonight we'll pitch you into the
mill.pond.n .a5i.t,
"Hold on moment, . said Blumble
"I think you must have got hold OF the
Il wrong person, as / have not the acquain
lance Of Miss Gay, nor in fact OF any
other lady inthis place. But ] want yot
\ to understand ono thing distinctly, ant
that is, I shall not leave town until / gel
ready.m oi aes
Something about Blumble's mannel
seemed to convince the young men tha
lie was in earnest for they uttered var
ious expressions, such as, HThats q like
| ly story r. nHe's gassing.l" "T.don't be
IIlieye that, ,netc. Men inyaribly express
doubts when being convinced Of some
thing they lad rather not believe;
Fora few moments the. whole part,
remained In silence; then one OF th'
Young denizens OF P. broke the spell b,
asking: l5.,.s
"Ain'tyonr name Blumble'n
eyes, SIR ask a'st
"And you are from BostonN
eyes, sir"
"And don't know Mary Gay2'
"No, sir.n
"a Well, that's strange Size said lii
name was Blnmble, and that's your name
he belongs to Boston, and so do you
now you've been right up by her house
and we believe you've been there to SCI
her. Don't we, Bill2 ~
ayes, we do, y replied Hiedy.
"Well, ,oang men," said Blumble
"if you don't believe me. go ask til,
\ young lady herself y
This proposition was met with ap
proval by the whole party, so Blumbl,
started back up the lane, accompanied
by q large escort before, behind, and OF
each side Of him. They'tilcd into th,
yard, and crowded OH 70 tho steps Of
neat looking farm hodse, aud HigdN
. knocked at the door. Ina few moment
one Of the chamber windows was open
| ed and protruding head asked
"who's there?pa q. % i5si
tnCome downto the doora minute
Squire. will you?" asked Bill.
aWhy, what do You want r. inquire,
j the voice in the chamber window above
! q We want TO see Mary q minute, re
plied d voice from the crowd below.
I" Why, she has been abed these tw
i hours. Is It anything important ?"
/ nYes, we want to see her Just q min
ute.n 14
swell, III speak to her.
In few minutes Mary appeared at I'll
. door. She was very good looking, moi
withstanding being called out Of herbe
{ al such an unreasonable hour-and 3
] thought Blumble. For some moment
!, the whole company remained speech
Q less /; al last Blumble, tiring Of his con
spicious situation, and the q nothing.tC
say" spirit ut theparty, broke tho silcnc
by asking the young lady II shc had eve
seen him before.
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