Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-03

II one promotion aILef announcer until he had
the pleasure of seeing his own name the
third ON the sign over the door, which he
had entered as an errand boy. don't be-
lieve he remembered that there was any
such person in the world as Hattie e ton or
Polly Ann, the first day the new sign was
raised. 7 as9
1t was as the junior member of the firm
that Blumb'e bad travelled through the
New England States two years ago last fall
with samples receiving orders. During his
tour he remained in the pretty village of P,
N. H, one fine night in October. He sat
in the bar-room after supper, smoking bis
cigar, until it became filed wi b the viIlag-
ers, discussing politics, smoking their pipes,
talking of their crops aud ogliDg him; all of
which was quite uninteresting to him, SO
he concluded to walk out and view t, vii
lage by moonlight. He hardly stepped into
the entry. and before be could close the
door, ere he heard a voice inquire:
"Who is that gentleman"
"His name is Blumble; he Is from Boz
ton," replied the landlord.
"Blumble, from Boston, chimed in a third
voice, and then added: "You don't say SOL
followed By long, low whistle of astonist-
| ment. --af
Blumble stepped offthe piazza and walk
ed I'D the village street. He had scarcely
walked twenty yards before he was aware
| of being followed. Giving the matter but
little thought, however, he turned from the
road into pleasant lane that wended It's
| way toward some half dozen farm houses
until he came to rustic seat, upon which
he threw himself, and was soon ob,iyious
of all the world excepting the business af-
fairs of Hood, Silver 81 Blumble. He sat
until his cigar was consumed, when he was
| aroused to the world around him by the
village clock strisiDg out ten. Buttoning
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 s"ftly seized by
the throat, by the shoulders, and by the
coat-tails, by at least dozen hands. He
was rather too much surprised to speak,
even if he had chance to; the hands so
| closely clenched around his throat would
have prevented his speaking if he had not
been so greatly surprised. As he could
not spf ak, he listened very patiently 10
| some half dozen EXPLANATIONS of snow
we've got you."
Something despera' e mustIbe done;soBlum-
BILE struck the fellow that held him by the
throat full in the face, knocking him down,
| and then cried out as though he expected
| that this would be the last chance he ever
would have to speak, -- 80
| "What the deuce are you about"
The striking question had miraculous
effect upon the numerous hands distributed
about his person, and Blumble was free.
| He waited few moments to regain his
breath; then looking around him, asked
theoretically:
"What does all this mean?"
sit means that if you don't promise to
leave town, aud not 60 to see Mary Gay
again, we'll just hide you, and then ride
you out of town on a rail-" said the young
man, the recipient of the blow, who had
regained his feet.
sLeave towr? Mary Gay? Why l do
not understand what you near" remarked
Bundle, considerable mystified.
swell sir" interrupted another voice,
ave mean that you've come here from
Boston to court Mary Gay, aud you mean
to cut out Billy Higdy here; now if you
don't give up Mary and leave town to-
night, we'll pitch you into the mill pond"
"Hold on a moment" said Blumble; 81
think yon have got hold of the wrong per-
son, IS have not the acquaintance of Miss
Gay, nor in fact of any other lady in this
place. But want you to understand one
thing distinctly, and that is, shall not
leave town until get ready"
Something about BUNDLES manner SEEM
ed to convince the young men that he was
in earnest, for they uttered various express
sions, such IS. "That's q likely story!"
s'He's gassing!" 81 don't believe that"
'etc. Men Invariably express doubts when
being convinced Of something they had
rather not Jeli3ve.
For 2feW momen's the whole party re-
NAMED in silence; then one Of the young
denizens Of P. broke the spell by asking;
saint your nameiBlumble ,"
ayes; SIR"
"And you are from Bcston?"
"Yes, sir."
Sand don't you know Mary Gay?"
"No, SIR"
"Wen, that's strange! She said his
name was Blumble, and that's your name;
he belongs to Boston, ard so do you; and
you've been light up by her house, and we
telievc you've been there to see her. Don't
we, Bill ?"
''Yes we do" replied Higdy. d.
"Wen, young man." said Blumb.e, eff
you don't believe me, so ask the young lady
| herself"
This PROPOSE ion WIS met with approval
by the whole party, so Blumble started
hack up the lane, accompanied By large
| escort before. behind, and on each side of
him. They fled into the yard, and crowded
on to the steps of a neat-looking farm house,
| and Highly knocked at the door. In few
| moments one of the chamber windows
were opened, and protruding head asked:
"Who's there?"
! 49, 1a
will your asked Bill.
"Why, what do you want?" inquired the
voice at the chamber window above.
"We want to see Mary minute" re-
piled voice from the ground below.
stWhy, she has been sbed these two
hours. Is it anything Important"
ayes; we want to see her just minute"
"Well, I'll speak to her,"
In few minutes Mary appeared at the
door. She was very good looking, n0tWith
standing her being called out of bed at such
an unreasonable hour-and go thought
BIunble. For scme moments the whole
company remained speeches.. At last
Blumble, til ing Of his CONSPICUOUS situation,
and the "nothine-tosay" spirit of the party,
broke the silence by asking the young lady
if she had ever seen him before.
"Not that l remember of" she replied.
81 only asked you to satisfy these young
men," said Blumble.
"Then he amt your city beau ?" asked
Highly.
"No! ~ as short as though it had been but
one letter.
"Then we are Mistaken" said voice in
the yard, and two or three Of the party sid
out at the gate.
81 am very sorry that have been the
indirect Gauss of this annoyance to you; but
it is no fault of mine. This gentleman"
pointing to Hidgy, sand his party seized
me and would not allow me to proceed to
my hotel until bad proved to them that l
had not been visiting you. l must now
leave them with you to make their own ex-
plantations, and bid you good evening"
"G0od evening" said the young lady in
very sweet voice.
Somehow Blumble didn't sleep very
sound that night; he was in very strange
place, and be kept constantly thinking of
his strange adventure, and of the cookbook
ing stran,e young lady; AMI the more he
looked, the more be wondered who she was,
and when at last he determined to inquire |
about her in the morning, be fell asleep and !
draaUnd Of hpr