Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-08-28


to rustic seat, upon which he threw
himself and was soon oblivious to all
the world except the business affairs of
Hood, Silver & Blumble. He sat until
his cigar was consumed, when he was
aroused to the world around him by the
village clock striking out ten. Button
ing his coat closely around him, he hur-
ried down the lane toward the hotel
As he turned from the lane into the great
road he was suddenly and not very soft
ly seized by the throat, by the shoul-
ders 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 is he had not been SO great
ly surprised. AS he could not speak he
listened very patiently to some half doz-
en- exclamotiOns of,
"Now, we've got you."
Something desperate must be done, so
Blumble struck the fellow that held him
by the throat full in the face, knocking
him down, and then cried out as though
he expected this would be the last chance
he would have to speak.
''What in the deuce are you about ?"
The striking question had miracu-
lous effect upon the numerous hands
distributed about his person, and Blum
BILE was free. He waited a few moments
to regain his breath, then looking around
him, asked very energetically
'What does all this mean p
. 1t means that if you don't promise
to leave town and not go 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.
"Leaye town? Mary Gay? Why, /
do not understand what you mean, re-
marked Blumble, considerably mistiied.
''Well, sir. )" interrupted another voice,
''we mean that you've come here from
Boston to court Mary Gay, and you mean
to cut out Billy Higdy here-now if you
don't give up Mary and leave town to-
morrow night wen pitch you into the
mill pond"
'Hold on a moment, said Blumble,
II think YOU have got hold of the wrong
man, as have not the acquaintance Of
Miss Cav, nor, in fact, of any other lady
in this place But [ want you to under
stand one thing distinctly, and that is,
that / shall not leave this town until l
get ready"
Something about BUNDLES manner
seemed to convince the young men that
he was earnest, for they uttered various
expressions, such as,
That's likely story" ''Ie's gas
sing" Il don't believe that :" etc.
Men invariably express doubts when
being convinced of something they had
rather not believe.
For a few minutes the whole party
remained in silence, vand then one of the
young denizens of p. broke the spell
by asking,
"Ain't your name Bundle ?"
''Yes, sir.
"And you are from Boston ?"
Eyes, Sir"
And you don't know Mary Gay?"
''No, sir"
s.Well, that is strange. She said his
name was Blumble, and that's your
name; he belongs in Boston, and so do
you and you've been there to see her.
Hain't be, Bill"
Eyes he has, " replied Higdy
''WeIl, young men, if you don't be-
/ lieve me, go ask the young lady her
self, f" said Blumble.
This proposition was met with approx
! by the whole party, so Blumble started
/ back up the lane accompanied by large
| escort before, behind, and each side of
/ him. They filed into the yard, and
! crowded on to the steps of a neat look
/ ing farm house, and Higdy knocked at
| the door In a few moments one Of the
chamber windows opened and prOtrud-
ing head asked;
''Who's there ?"
"Come down to the door minute,
/ o ,0-1vr
! "Why, what do you want 2 inquired
the voice in the chamber window
above.
''We want to see Mary for a min
ute" replied a voice from the crowd
below
''Why, she has been in bed these two
hours Is there anything important
Eyes; we only want to see her Just
for a moment.
',Well, TlLspeak to her.
In a few minutes Mary appeared al
the door. She was very good looking
notwithstanding her being called out OF
bed at such an unreasonable hOur-and
so thought Blumble. For some moments
the whole company remained speechless
At last Blumble, firing of his conspicu.
ous situation. and the ''nothing-tO-say
spirit of the party, broke the silence by
asking the young lady if she had evel
seen him before.
mot that l remember of, the lady
replied.
81 only asked you to satisfy thest
Young gentlemen, said Blumble.
''Then he amt your city beau r asked
Higdey.
E3No!" as short as though it had beer
but one letter.
'sThen we are mistaken said voict
in the yard, and two or three of tb
party slid out of the gate.
II am very sorry that | have been th
, indirect cause Of this annoyance TO you
but it is no fault of mine. This gentle
man." pointing to Higdy, g and his par
ty seized and would not allow me to pro
ceed to my hotel until | had proved f
them that l had not been visiting you
must now leave them with you I
make their own explanations, and biz
, you good evening
"Good evening, said the young lady
with a sweet voice.
Somehow Blumble didn't sleep yer,
! sound that Dight-he was in yer
strange place, and he constantly think
: ing of his strange adventure, and of tn
/ good looking strange young lady, an
: the more he thought the more he wor
dered who she was; and, when at las
he determined to inquire about her j
: the moning, he fell asleep and dreame
) | of her.
Blumble was an early riser, and th
e next morning, before the villagers wer
4 astir, he had walked out and passed th
D house of Squire Gay but he did not sc
/. Mary. so he returned to the hotel an
: incurred of the landlord concerning hel
t The landlord must have praised the cir
: for the bachelor decided to remain al
t other day and be introduced to her, the
. to remain a third, and finally he concluC
t ed he might as well stop the week on
s and so be wrote 70 his partners, inform
: ing them that he should remain a fe'
e days to himself. The professed woman
o hater walked up that same lane eac
e evening, and walked into the house, toe
He was not disturbed again by Bill Hi
dy, for the Squire had threatened if |
n came within gun-shot of the house agai
RI mt dooa nf cold load into him