The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-03-31
An Odd Man.

jovial companion, and who you have not
seen since.
was heartily glad, therefore, when at
last found that there was nothing to pre-
vent me paying visit Qong promised and
looked forward to, but against which l
began to think, gods and men had conspir-
ed) to my old true friend Lumley. l dare
say he has Christian name indeed,
have no reason to doubt it, and, on the
strength of an initial not very discipher-
able, pre1xed to the L in his signature, /
have never hesitated to address him, 81.
Lumley, Esq. )" but know him as Long
Lumley, and so does every man who, like
myself, remembers him at Oxford and as
Long Lumley do all his contemporaries
know him best, and esteem him accord
ingly; and he must excuse me if immor-
talize him to the public, in spite of god
fathers and godmothers, by that more ia
miliar appellation. A cousin was with
him at college, a miserable sneaking fellow,
who was known as Little Lumley . and
If, as suspect, they were both Johns or
Jamescs,it is quite desirable to distinguish
them unmistakably for though the other
has the best shooting in the country,
would not be suspected of spending even
the first week of September inside such a
fellows gate D..
But Long Lumley was and is of differ
ent stamp six feet three, and every inch a
gentleman. ! wish he was not, of late
years, quite so fond of farming man
who can shoot, ride, and translate an ode
of Horace as he can, ought to have soul
above turnips 1t is almost the only point
on which we are diametrically opposed in
tastes and habits. We nearly fell out about
it the very first morning after my arrival.
Breakfast was over-a somewhat late one
in honor of the supposed fatigues of yester-
days journey, and it became necessary to
arrange proceedings for the day. What a
false politeness it is which makes a host
responsible for his guests amusement and
how often, in consequence, are they com
PEELED to do, with grimaces Of forced salts
faction, the very thing they would not I!
However, Lumley and myself were too old
friends to have any scruples of delicacy
on that point. had been cycling him for
some minutes while he was fastening on a
pair Of formidable high-lows, and was not
taken by surprise when the proposal came
out, "Now, old fellow will you come and
have a look at my farm ?'' ji'1a5 #..
7 IA r.. A. I ayy
"Stuff come must show you my sheep;
assure you they are considered about the
best in this neighborhood. i1s' H.l
"Well, then, I'll taste the mutton any
day you like and give you my honest opin-
ion"
"Don't be an ass now, but get your hat
and come along; it's going to be a lovely
day ; and we'll just take a turn over the
farm-there's new threshing machine l
want to show you, too, and then back here
to lunch" Nni'
''Seriously, then, Lumley, won't do
anything OF the kind. do you the justice
TO believe, that you asked me here to enjoy
myself and that I am quite ready to do
any fairly rational manner and l ilatter
myself am in nowise particular but as to
going begging myself among turnips, or
staring into the faces and poking the ribs
of shorthorns and southdowns-wby, as an
old friend, you'll excuse me-" .IDol
"Hem there's no accounting for tastes,''
said Lumley, in half disappointed tone.
"No," said !, "there certainly is not.''
+" Wen, them" said he-he never lost
his good -humor-" what shall we doP I'll
tell you-you remember Harry Bolton
rather your junior, but you must have
known him well, because he was quite in
our set from the first-to be sure, didn't
you spill him out of tandem at Abingdon
corner? Well, he is living now about nine
miles from here, and we'll drive over and
see him. meant to write to ask him to
dine here, and this will save the trouble
With all my heart" said l % never
saw him since left Oxford. l fancied ]
heard Of his getting into some mess-in-
volved in some way, was he notP"
Not involved exactly but he certainly
did make himself scarce from very nice
house and curacy which he had when he
first left Oxford, and buried himself alive
for | don't know how long, and all for the
very queerest reason, or rather without any
reason at all. Did you never hear Of it %
ono; only some vague rumor, as sait
just now.' 'e' 'a>
"You never heard, then, how he cam'
into this neighborhoodP Have the dog
cart around In fen Ininntas Sam and w.