The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-02-22
4 KER-CHEw DUET.
The Fun OF Popping the Question
with n Cold I'm the Head.

They had bson keeping company q
year. Ho told her Friday afternoon
that he would be up early Sunday
evening, as he had something OF great
importance to tell her, and present to
give her. With a womsn's keen intui-
ton she knew what the something of
importance would be, and she looked
forward to the hour with sweet expec-
tation. He was there on time, but
hardly in the condition he desired. A
heavy cold had tackled him in the night
before, and his eyes were red and in
famed. and his nose was twice its
natural size, and shone with lustre
that would have appeared to much bet
ter advantage on door-plate. Singu-
larly enough, the young lady was SINH
larly conditioned. She ushered him
into the parlor, and without any pre-
liminary ceremony they were on the
sofa together. He took out his hand
kerchief, and, finding a dry section,
wiped his nose. This reminded her OF
a duty she owed herself, and she at
tended to it at once. He held ons OF
her hands in one of his, and his hand
kerchief in the other. Then he spoke:
''Susad, / cub to nide TO dalk to you
OF subdig dearer-ah-ah-ooch q
prompt application OF the handkerchief
cut of the sneeze in its bud) dearsr to
be thad libo-oh, ah- thad-id-oo
ooh-ker-chew, kerchew, ker-chew. A
moments pause. "Ibe god nd AWFUL
code" he explains, with due solemnity.
"Sobe i, "she sympathizingly replies.
A moment is devoted to the silent
use OF the handkerchiefs, aud then he
continues:
"Darlig, YOU must hnb seed all de
tibe how mudge-oo-ooh-ke (ths hand
kerchief again saves him)--how nudge
/ hab thougd oh you. Ebry hour oh
de day or nide-ah- h-ooh- h-ch h-ch-chsw
KKR CHEW, KER CHEwl Thid il aw.
vul, he protested, walking around the
room, for the final explosion had rails.
ed him to his feet. She wiped her eyes
and then her nose. and made an honest
endeavor to look languishing, but ow-
ing 10 the watery condition OF the
former, and the fiery glow OF the latte,
she appeared to an unhappy advantage.
But he did not notice it. He felt OF
his PROPOSES tenderly for a moment,
and then returned to her side.
"Darlig, cad no lodger lib without
you. Withoud you libe would indeed
be wilderness; wild"
She impulsively raised her hand.
"Ker-ker-ksr-chew!" she shouted.
He paused and gazed tcnderly out Of
his inhsned eyes upon her convulssd
features.
"Darlig, he softly-continued, seeing
she was through, ''you cad nsber
know how mudge--ah-oeh-ooh -ah-ker-
chsw, observation-disclosures, ker-chew-
ooh nlyl o hearl" he walled, impetu-
ously grabbing for his handkerchief,
while the tears ran down his cheeks.
She took advantage OF the lull to un-
obtrusively apply her handkerchief.
"Susad, he began sgain. grasping
her hand with fervor, and clutching
his handkerchief with equal earnest
"whad id libe widoud lub? Nodding.
Darlig, do 700, lub be enough do bo
-sh-ah-ooh-ksr-chswl Heavigs thid id
awyulr
He mopped the perspirstion from his
troubled countensnce, aud then waited
until she reappeared from behind her
handkerchief, when he resumed:
'T ask agsid, darlig, can 700 lub be
enought to be nv wife?"
The young girl dropped her head
upon his breast, put her arm around
his neck, as was just about TO speak
the glad answer, when . sudden spasm
shook her frame, and she went off into
a series of sneezes which fairly endan-
gered TIE safety OF her fair neck.
80, by lubl o, by preciousl he
alphabetically exclaimed. "Sbsak, o,
sbcak-abooh-o -ook -ker-chew, ker-chew,
ker-chew," lie roared.
Sho fell into his arms again, perfect
ly exhausted.
you'll be bide, all bide7" he gaspod.
81 will, Hedry, will" she hoarsely
whispered.
He drew her to him with all his
strength, slipped the ring upon her
4 finger, and there they stood together,
their reddened and half-closed eyes
blinking in sweet, holy ecstacy upon
each other, while their exhausted nos
trils shone with a dim refulgence.
"By poor darlig has god sudge bad
code, ho sympathizingly murmured.
$50 id my Hedry." she softly whis-
pered back
81 dode gare for myself. L" lie
suddenly put her away, recoAersd his
handkerchief. and instantly went off in
q paroxysm OF sneezes.
80" he sighed, as ho gained a per
pendicular again, and mopped of his
face, which was now almost purple in
hue
"Yon must take sub medicid for thai
code, donide, she said.
"Both ob u.s." he added.
"Ye.. a'd you'll zoak your feed in
bod vadsrP"
'I will; al you'll Eosk yoursf" hs
eagerly askcd.
81 will, she solemnly replied.
"lieavig bless you, my darlig. IA,
precious darlig," no rnurmured, clasp
iDg her again 10 his breast. And ther
he stole out into tho darkness, and sh.
fingered q moment at the door, ant
head his dear voice ring out ON th'
night air as passed away:
"Her-eher, ker-chew, ksr.c-h.e-v.