The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-12
revive as the distance between them and


ture COW which had been feeding in
the further corner saw them and came
running toward them. Mrs. Blake was
terrified and fed to Mr.. Bundle for pro-
lection.
She won't hurt youn said MIR. Bum
bic, comfortingly, edging away from the
widow, who he was afraid, contemplated
a raid on him under the plea of fright.
'Shoo, boss. Shoo.'
The COW didn't choose to 'shoo,' but
came nearer
OH shrieked Mrs. Blake, fiinging her
arms about the poor man, save mer
/ You Id hrutep exclaimed Mr.. Bum
BILE, making a terrible effort to free him
self from the widows clutches; let us
hope, for the sake of his gallantrv, that
his exclamation had reference to the COW.
You old brute. I'll see if you'll stand
there shaking your head at mer and
thereupon he charged at the animal so
furiously that she made an inglorious
retreat.
How shall 1 ever repay you?' cried
the widow. L feel that owe you my
! life, and my lifelong gratitude is yours
Don't, said Mr.. Bundle, evidently
greatly touched at her exhibition of
gratefulness. 'Tain't worth speaking
of You're welcome, Pm sure.
Il wish you'd let me lean upon your
arm,' said Mrs. Blake, family; I feel so
weak-I can hardly walk / don't know
but shall faint. Ohr
Mr.. Bundle was aghast at the pros
pect of a fainting widow on his hands.
He grabbed off his straw hat and began
to fan her furiously. Presently she
said that she felt better, and took posses
sion of his arm, and they set out for
home, which was reached after many
halts and much suffering on the part of
Bundle.
Its getting desperate said the perSe-
cuted man to himself as he reviewed the
events of the day and looked the situa-
tion boldly in the face. "A widow'lI
bring things to a crisis in no time. l
wish | was going home tomorrow"
The next evening there was party at
a neighbor's, 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
his widow home.
Such beautiful night she declared,
as, 'clinging closer than brother,
they sailed out. How forcibly 1 am
reminded of the time when dear Mr..
Blake walked home with ME from par
ty before 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 a desperate effort to ward off the
threatened calamity.
Have you ever been to Spadunk? he
asked, graspingat the first idea that came
into his head, as drowning men clutch
at straws.
No, neverl' exclaimed Mrs Blake,
with a 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.. Bundle?
asked the widow, smiling into his face.
You men are $3.50 fond of teasing us
poor woman, you know, that we can
hardly ever tell when you're in earnest
But do believe you're in earnest this
time. would like to come up and see
you, l assure you.
Il put my foot in it this time,' groaned
the bachelor. She'll propose before we
get home. Then aloud, he added, Yes
I'd like to have you and Belinde come
up and stay as long as you like
What if should like to stay for life?
laughed the widow OH, suddenly ap
} pearing to notice what she had said
'I'm SO impulsive, Mr.. Bundle, that
: never stop to think. What can yor
: think of me?'
Mr.. Bundle tried to say something
: but the words stuck in his throat, anc
produced only an unintelligible sound
You wish would? Was that what
' you said, Mr.. Bumble?' exclaimed III,
r widow archly. 'Oh, Mr.. Bundle! Die
I you really mean that?'
/ II didn't say it, exclaimed the suf
E fering man, driven to desperation. 'Yor
E You misunderstood me, ma'ma,"
oh, did2 Excuse me, do,' pleaded
the widow; 'how could I have been So
mistaken?'
Mr.. Bundle didn't remember the in
. cidents of the walk very clearly whel
n he reached home. He tried to shake he
), off at the parlor door, but she wasn't t
be got rid of in that way.
t Come in and sit down, Mr. Bundle
y do she urged. And Mr. Bundle, ours
v ing himself all the while for being sucl
y a fool, allowed her to draw him into tht
e parlor, after the fashion U the fly an
o the spider, and there he sat and suffere,
for three mortal hours. More than ono
It he thought the important moment hat
r, come and that she was about to propoun,
p the awful question. But something
Providence, he called it-helped him Il
5. avert the awful fate which must hav
o been his if she had spoken, and he cor
It graduated himself as he reached hi
IT chamber that he was still spared t
E. freedom little while.
r. He went to bed and dreamed H
l. thought Mrs. Blake came and informe
1t him that she was going to marry hIr
the next day'at precisely half-past ter
at 1t was terribly real He woke up in
le cold and clammy perspiration. Houl
he passed before he slept, and then
It dreamed This time he thought that
oxuoxy ~ 1soa No !, ~ doom, on