Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-07-24

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 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 his cigar, until it became filled
with villagers, discussing politics, smok-
ing their pipes, talking of their crops
and ogling him, all of which was quite
1ninteresting to him, so he concluded
to 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 ?"
ellis name is Blumble; he's from
Boston," chimed in third voice, and
then added "You don't say SO l'' fol-
lowed by long low whistle of astonish-
ment. s
Blumble stepped off the piazza and
walked up 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 its way toward some
half-dozen farmhouses until he came to
a rustic seat, upon which he threw him
self and was soon oblivior1s to all the
world excepting the business affairs of
"Hood, Silver e Blumble." He sat un-
til 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
1ox ii
softly seized by the throat, by the shoul-
ders, and by the coat tails by at least a
dozen hands, He was rather too much
surprised to speak, even if he had a 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 speak, he
listened very patiently to some half
dozen ordinations of "Now we've got
your
Something desperate must be done !;
Sc Blumble struck the fellow that held
him by the throat full in the face, knock
ing him down, and then cried out as
though he expected that this would be
the last chance he would ever have to
speak.
GO What in the deuce are you about P
The striking question had a miracu-
lous effec upon the numerous hands dis
tributed about his person, and Blumble
regain his breath then looking around,
asked very energeticalfy
What does all this mean?"
sc 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.
"Leave town? Mary Gay? Why, L
do not understand what you mean, re-
marked Blumble, consideraly mystified.
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 tomorrow night, we'll pitch you
into the mill-pond."
"Hold on a moment, said Blumble ;
sI think you have got hold of the
wrong person, as L have not the ac-
quaintance of Miss Gay, nor, in fact, of
any other lady in this place. But I
want you to understand one thing dis
tinctly, and that is, L shall not leave
town until 1 get ready"
Something about Blumble's manner
seemed to convince the young men that
he was in earnest, for they uttered vari-
GUS expressions, such as, "That's a
likely story p "He's gassing p "I
don't believe that, etc. Men invariably
express 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 young
denizens of P. broke the spell by asking:
Amt your name Blumble ?'
{" Yes, sir. :"
"And you are from Boston ?"
&C Yes, sir. F"
''And don't you know Mary Gay?"
"No, SIR"
'Well, that's strange! She said his
name was Blumble, and that's yonr
name he belongs to Boston, and SO do
you; and you've been right up by her
house, and we believe you've been there
to see her. Don't we, Bill ?"
eyes, we do,'' replied Higdy.
Well, young men," said Blumble,
&c if you don't believe me, go ask the
young lady herself"
This proposition was met with APP
proval by the whole party, SO Blumble
started back up the lane, accompanied
by large escort before, behind, and ON
each side of him. They filed into the
yard, and crowded on the steps of a
HebG-lOOhllB d11o 111S5uJ
knocked at the door. In few moments
one of the chamber windows was opened
and protruding head asked:
Who's there?'
"Come down to the door a minute,
Squire, will you ?" asked Bill.
Why, what do you want p inquired
the voice in the chamber window above.
"W We want to see Mary minute, %
replied a voice from the crowd below.
50 Why, she has been abed these two
hours. Is it anything important ?'
eyes; we want to see her just q
minute"
"Well, I'll speak to her,"
In 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 mo-
ments the whole company remained
speechless. At last Blumble, tiring o.
his conspicuous situation, and the
nothing to-say" spirit of the party
broke the silence by asking the young
lady if she had ever seen him before.
"Not that 1 remember Of she re