The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-02-17
A KER--OHEW DUET.
The Fun of Popping the Question with
Cold in the Head.

They had been keeping company a
year. He told her, Friday afternoon,
that he would be up early Sunday even
ing, as he had something of great impor-
lance to tell her and present to give
her. With a woman's keen intuition
she knew what the something of impor-
lance would be, and she looked forward
to the hour with sweet expectation. He
was there on time, but haI lily in the
condition he desired. A heavy cold
had tackled him the night before, and
his eyes were red and infamed, and his
nose Yves nearly twice the natural size,
and shone with a luster that would
have appeared to much better advan-
tage on a door plate. Singularly enough,
the young lady was similarly condition
ed. She ushered him into the parlor,
and without any preliminary ceremony
they were on the sofa together. He
took out his handkerchief, and, finding
dry section, wiped his nose. This
reminded her of duty she owed to her
self, and she attended to it at once. He
held one of her hands in one of his, and
his handkerchief in the other. Then he
spoke:
''Susad, cub to hide to dalk to you
of subdig dearer-ah all ooh Ca prompt
application of the handkerchief cut off
the sneeze in it's bud) dearer do be thad
Il. L L
ker-chew, ker-chew." A moments pause.
'sI'be god ad AWFUL CODE" he explains.
with due solemnity.
"Sobe T." she sympathizingly re-
plies.
A moment is devoted to the silent use
| of the handkerchiefs, and then he con-
tinues:
"Darlig. you must hab seed all de
tibe how mudge-ooh-oon-k er-Che
| handkerchief again saves him) how
nudge [ had thoughed OBJ you. Ebry
hour of de day or nide-ah- ali ooh-ch- CHI
cheac, KER- CHEW, KER- CHEW | Thid
id awful, he protested, walking,,around
the rorm, for the final explosion had
| raised him to his feet. She wiped her
eyes and then her nose, and made an
honest endeavor to look languishing,
but owing to the watery condition of the
former, and thefery glow of the latter,
she appeared an unhappy advantage. But
he did not notice it. He felt Of his
| probosis tenderly for a moment, and
| then returned to her side.
s'Darlig, I cad no lodger lib widoud
you. Widoud you libe would indeed be
| a wilderness; wild"
| She impulsively raised he hand.
''Ker- ker- ker-cheao." she shouted.
He paused and gazed tenderly out of
his infamed eyes upon her convnlsed
| features.
"Darlig," he softly continued, seeing
she was through, "you cad neber know
how mudge-ah-o ooh ooh ah- ker- chew,
-wish-sh- sh- er--rer, ker- chew-ooh
my! o dear!'' he walled impetuously,
grabbing for his handkerchief, while the
tears ran down his cheeks.
She took advantage of the luQ to u1l-
obtrusiveIy apply her handkerchief.
"Susad," he began again, grasping
her hand with fervor, and clutching his
handkerchief with equal earnestness,
''whad id ibe widoud lub -? Nothing
Darlig, do 700, cad 700 lub be enough
do be by-ah- ah-ooh ker- chew 2Heavigs,
thid id awvull''
He mopped the Precipitation from his
troubled countenance, and then waited
until she reappeared from behind her
handkerchief, when he resumed:
81 ask agaid, darlig, cad 700 lub be
enough to be my wibe'"
The young girl dropped her head
upon his breast, put her arm around his
neck and was just about TO speak the
glad answer, when SUDDEN spasm shook
h er frame and she went off into a series
of sneezes which fairly endangered the
safety of her fair neck.
80, by lub o, by preciousl.' he sym.
pathizingly exclaimed. ''Sbeak, o,
sbeak-abooh-o ooh ker-chew ,ker-chew,
ker-chew!" he roared.
you'll be bide. all bide," he gasped.
81 will, Henry, L will" she hoarsely
viii spered.
He drew her to him with ali his strength
slipped the ring upon her trembling fin
ger; and there they stood together, their
redeemed and half closed eyes blinking
in sweet, holy ecstacy upon each other,
while their exhausted nostrils shone with
a dim refulgence.
"NIy poor darlig has ged sudge bad
code" he sympathizingly murmured.
'sSoid my Hedry," she softly whisper
ed back.
81 dode gare for myseld. /" he
suddenly put her away, recovered his
handkerchief, and instantly went off in
paroxysm of sneezes.
"O,'' he sighed. as he gained per-
pendicular again, and mopped off his
face, which was now almost purple in
hue.
ssYou must take sub medicid for that
code, donide, she said.
'sBoth eff u.s. he added.
eyes, a'd you'll zoak your feed in hod
waderl''
81 will; a'd you'll zoak yours" he
eagerly asked.
II WILL, she solemnly replied.
'Heavlg bless you my darlig, my
precious daalig" he murmured, clasping
her again to his breast. And then he
stole out into the darkness; and she
fingered a moment at the door, and
] heard his dear voice RIM out ON the