Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-28

| Blake. think you are sensible IN max
ing that admission, Mr.. Bundle, and |
| like you for it."
Mr.. Bundle wished he had said that
| they had more rights now than they knew
| how to take care of, but he knew that he
| hadn't moral courage to say any such
| thing. The widow kept him there all the
| afternoon. 1t was a torment to him, but
he couldn't get away.
! "Dearr' exclaimed the poor man that
night, in the solitude Of his chamber,
Pm afraid she'll get me cOrnered up
and marry me.'
His sleep was haunted with widows.
| One leaned down from the headboard to
pull his hair and one shook her fist at
| him from the footbOard, while another
leaned over the side of the bed and re-
| quested him, in dUlCet tones, to kiss her.
| That woke Mr.. Bundle up, and not an
| other wink Of sleep did he get that night.
Oh, Mr. Bumbler' cried the widow
at breakfast, Belinda says they have the
prettiest view from the hill beyond the
| meadow, and I wanttO see 1t. Won't you
| 90 with me this morning."
| Poor Mr.. Bundle consented, because he
| didn't dare to do otherwise.
"I'm in for it, he grOaned, as he went
up stairs to get his buster. [ hope she
| won't propose before we get back. If
| she should"
Mr.. Bundle was mortified at the pros
pect. He never had thought of such a
thing before. But this widow was strong
minded and believed in "rights" Might
not the right to propose be one of them
And if she should propose he knew he
never should dare to say no.
If ever any one deserved canOniZation
as a martyr, Mr.. Bundle did that day.
Every hour was a week, and she insisted
on dragging him about the whole fore
noon. At last she was ready to go home,
and the poor bachelor began to revive as
| the distance between them and the house
grew less.
As they were returning across a pasture
COW which had been feeding in the
further corner saw them and came run
ming toward them. Mrs. Blake was ter
ritied and fed to Mr.. Bundle for protec-
| ton.
She won't hurt youp' said Mr. Bum
bic, comfortingly, edging away from the
! widow, who, he was afraid, contemplated
a raid on him under the plea of fright.
Shoe, boss! Shoor
The COW didn't choose to shoo," but
| came nearer.
ooh" shrieked Mrs Blake, fiinging
her arms about the poor man, Is save mer'
You old brutem exclaimed Mr. Bum
bic, making a terrible effort to free him
| self from the widows clutches; le- US
hope, for the sake of his gallantry, that
his exclamation had reference to the cow.
" You old brute! I'll see if you'll stand
there shaking your head at mep' and
thereupOn he charged at the animal so
rI,
treat.
How shall ever repay you?" cried
| the widow. feel that [ owe you my
life, and my lifelong gratitude is yours6'
Don't" said Mr.. Bum bic, evidently
greatly touched at her exhibition of
gratetulness. "'Tain't worth speakingOf.
You're welcome Pm sure"
g wish you'd let me lean upon your
| ARM" said Mrs. Blake, family; Il feel so
weak-I can hardly walk. [ don't know
but shall faint. OH"
Mr.. Bundle was aghast at the prospect
Of a fainting widow on his hands. He
grabbed off his straw hat and began to
fan her turiOusly. Presently she said
that she felt better, and took possession
of his arm, and they set out for home,
which was reached after many halts and
much suffering on the part of Mr..
Bundle.
cts getting desperate" said the per-
secuted man to himself as he reviewed
the events of the day and looked the sit
uatlOn boldly in the face "a widoW'u
bring things to crisis in no time. [
wish was going home tomorrow"
The next evening there was a party at
a neighbours, and John and Belinda and
Mrs. Blake and Mr. Bundle attended.
Mr.. Bundle supposed, as it was such a
short distance, that they would all walk
home together; but Belinda got chance
to ride, and consequently Mr.. Bundle
was left to the painful duty of seeing the
widow home.
Such beautiful night" she declared,
as, clinging closer than brother" they
sailed out. Glow forcibly I am re
minded of the time when dear Mr.. Blake
walked home with me from a party be-
fore we were married"
The widow gave signs of being about
to dissolve into tears Mr.. Bundle
could stand anything better than tears,
and he made desperate effort to ward off
the threatened calamity.
Have you ever been to Spadunk?" he
asked, grasping at the first idea that came
into his head, as drowning men clutch at
straws.
mo, never" exclaimed Mrs. Blake,
with closer grip of his arm. "But
would like to so much. Belinda says she
knows would like it up there"
I'D like to have you come up" said
Mr. BUNDLE, at loss to think of any
thing else to say, and determined that the
conversation should not revert to the dear
departed Mr. Blake.
Would you, now, really, Mr.. Bum
ble?" asked the widow, smiling into his
face. You men are $3.50 fond of teas
ing us poor women, you know, that we
can hardly ever tell when you're in earn
est. But do believe you're in earnest
this time. l acold like to come up and
see you, l assure you"
" put my foot in it this time" groaned
the bachelor She'll propose before we
get home" Then aloud, he added, q Yes,
I'd like to have you and Belinda come up
and stay as long as you like"
What if l should like to stay for Iife?"
laughed the widow "Oh!" suddenly APP
pearing to notice what she had said,
I'm so impulsive, Mr.. Bundle, that
never stop to think. What can you think
of me?"
Mr.. Bundle tried to say something,
but the words stuck in his throat, and
produced only an unintelligible sound.
" You wish | would? Was that what
you said, Mr.. Bumble?" exclaimed the
widow, archly. "Oh, Mr. Bundle! Did
you really mean that?"
Il didn't say it." exclaimed the suf-
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