The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-07-25

decided to write TO her, to offer pressing
business as an excuse for not having writ
ten before, 10 sue for pardon for past neg
ligence, and to assert that his affections
were still unaltered and unalterable. 80
he unburied his face, and penned the ten
der missive full of fslsehoods and stale
love. which he dispatched with the fullest
confidence that Polly Ann would be very
happy to receive IL. But alas for poor hui
man expectations! Polly AIMS letter
came. II was brief; she told Blumble she
had heard of his attentions 10 the city
lady, that she had almost forgotten him,
and was going 10 marry Jerry Smike, the
village blacksmith, the next week. She
returned TO Tom his earliest efforts in
love-letter writing and lock Of his hair,
and requested him 10 return 10 her sundry
articles in that line that he had received
from her.
From that day Blumble announced him.
self TO the world as woman-hater. lie
had been false 10 one woman, and one
woman had tricked him. So he cried
down the whole sex. The time which
Blumble had heretofore divided between
love and business was now devoted TO
business, and In consequence he received
one promotion after another 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. L don't
believe he remembered that there was any
such person in the world as Hattie Elton
or Polly Ann, the first day the new sign
was raised.
1t was as the junior member of the firm
that Blumble had travelled through the
New England States two years ago last
fall with samples, receiving orders. Dur
! ing his tour he remained in the pretty viii
lage of p, n. H., one fine night in Octo-
Der. He sat i'm the bar-room after supper.
smoking his cigar. until il became filled
with villagers, discussing politics, smok-
ing their pipes. talking of their crops and
ogling him, all Of which was quite unin-
teresting 10 him, SO he concluded 10 walk
out and view the village by moonlight.
He had hardly stepped into the entry. and
before he could close the door, ere he
heard a voice inquire:
"Who Is that gentleman
"His name Is Blumble; he's from Bos-
TOM replied the landlord.
Blumble. from Boston," chimed in a
third voice. and then added, :" \ GU don't
say so :" followed by a long low whistle
of astonishment.
Blumble stepped on the piazza and
walked up the village street. He had scarce
walked twenty wards before he was aware
of being followed. Giving the matter
but little thought, however. he turned
from the road into pleasant lane that
wended its way toward some half-dozen
farm-houses until he came TO rustic seat.
upon which he threw himself and was
soon oblivious TO all the world excepting
the business affairs Of Hood. Silver &
Blumble." He sat until his cigar WAS
consumed, when he was aroused 70 the
! inn hx- fhn vii oil
striking out ten. Buttoning his coat
close 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 shoulder. and by the
coat-tails by at least a dozen hands. He
was rather too much surprised 10 speak.
even If he had a chance 10 do so: the
hands so closely clenched around his
throat would have prevented his speak
ing if he had not been so greatly sur
prised. Al he could not speak, he listened
very patiently TO some half dozen excla-
nations of Now we've got you."
Something desperate must be done:
so Blumble struck the fellow full in the
face that held him by the throat. knock
though he expected that this would be
the last chance he would ever have TO
speak:
What in the deuce arc you aboutg'
The striking question had miraculous
effect upon the numerous hands distrib-
uted about his person, and Blumble was
| free. He waited a few moments to regain
his breath then looking around him,
asked very energetically:
"What does all this mean ~
/" Ii means that if you don't promise TO
leave town and not go TO see Mary Gay
again, Wei just hide you, and then ride
you out of town on rail- said the young
man, the recipient Of the blow, who had
regained his feet.
Leave town. Mary Gays Why, |
do not understand what you mean" re-
marked Blumbie. considerably mysfified.
"Well, SIR interrupted another voice,
% we mean that you've come here from
Boston 10 court Mary Gay, and you mean
10 cut out Billy Highly here; now if you
don't give up Mary and leave town to-
morrow night, we II pitch you into the
mill-pond."
Hold on a moment" said Blumble !;
- think you have got hold Of the wrong
person, as have not the acquaintance Of
Miss Gay, nor. in fact. Of any other lady
in this place. But want you TO under
stand one thing distinctly, and that Is,
shall not leave town until get ready"
Something about BUNDLES manner
seemed TO convince the young men that
he was in earnest, for they uttered vari-
Gus expressions. such as, That's a
likely storyl- - He's gassing ~" don't
believe that etc. Men inval iaoly ex-
press doubts when being convinced of
something they had rather not believe.
For few minutes the whole party re-
manned in silence; then one Of the yong
denizens of p. broke the spell by asking :
"Ain't your name Blumbleg'
"Yes, SIR"
"And you are from Boston,
"Yes, SIR"
"And don't you know Mary Gay?''
- No girv