Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-04-03

''Oh, Jack" she answered, while her
face cleared up with smile, chow can
you talk so; and what makes your nose
so pale?"
He placed his hand upon that mem
Der and the same ashy paleness over
spread his whole face, as he exclaimed:
'Hope | may die if it isn't froze.
There's no more feeling in it than there
is ii frosted potato"
'Egad," broke in Bob, who had ven
tured back to the door again, 81 was
half right after all. IF his nose is gone
there is not much left.
"You mean, spiteful thing" snapped
the widow, stamping her foot upon the
floor, 81 know what's the matter with
you. Get out of here in minute!"
Pique was what was the matter with
him, and he did get out of there with
out further notice.
Upon examination it was discovered
that Jack Frost had really bitten Jack
Rogers nose. which was altogether too
prominent and too tender for the expos
ure it had been subjected to during the
previous bitter night; and when the
room was warmed up and the nose be-
gan to thaw out howl Of anguish arose
from poor Jack, which it was painful to
hear, and which once more brought
tears to the eyes of the sympathetic
widow. The practical little lady hustled
about, however, and soon prepared an
unguent, composed Of equal parts Of res
in and beeswax melted together and
which valuable recipe was published
gratuitously-which she applied with
her own fair hands to the frozen organ.
All, who would have not endured the
frost-bites of forty winter nights, and
who would not nave frozen his nose and
his ears and all his toes to be attended
by nurse so charming!
Jack, albeit his pain was so intense,
was not the man upon whom so tender
care could be bestowed without appre-
| citation, and so, while a soft, white hand
applied a bandage to his face and a tap
ering little arm rested upon his shout
der, he breathed a gentle sigh, and sigh
ing, said:
"Alas, that my nose might be forever
froze, and that your form might always
thus hover around mel"
"And why should it not, dear Jack?"
she replied, with reference to the hov-
ering form and note to the frozen nose.
cit should, sweet Lamar, if you would
but say the word" said Jack again, with
his mournful sigh.
II would say any word to please my
noble Jack" she answered, nesting her
head, with its great glory of brown hair,
upon his broad shoulder"
"Then it is yes" suggested Jack.
"Then it is yes, repeated the Lamar
And so it was that when the whole force
of boarders came in body, to learn the
condition of the frozen nose, they were
amazed to behold that Jacks arm en-
circled the plump little widow, and that
her head reposed confidingly on his
shoulder.
cts a scandal" exclaimed Miss
Prudence Prim, who had herself been
this long time weaving a web for Jack
cts a derned imposition! said the
er in the face and left the room.
cts freeze-outp dolefully observed
Rob Carter; and so, wagging his head
in a sorrowful way, he walked from the
widows presence forever.
Jackie" she said, after pause, lift
ing her face with an arch expression,
Give keen thinking that our Christmas
dinner would answer quite we'll for d.
wedding feast. There's the turkey,
and the plum pudding, and the mince
pies, already in store; and Pm sure
there could not be better day for a
better deed.
GAS matter of economy" said Jack,
II consider that capital idea. Let the
good day and the good dinner go to-
gether"
So mutual friend was dispatched to
ferret out the clerk of the probate court;
a second mutual friend sought clergy
man, and numerous other mutual
friends were pressed into the service of
arranging Jacks wardrobe, and getting
him in proper trim for the occasion.
Such a rushing to and fro, and gather
ing of tailor, and barber, ard bootblack,
had not beed seen in many a day.
Everyone's brain was in whirl of ex-
element and confusion, but out of all
the disorder they emerged at last, and
Jack presented an appearance that was
a credit 10 his attentive dressing-men.
But the widOw-aE! the widowi How
the busting busybody spread havoc
among muslin, and linen, and en-
broidery, and filagree work that morn
ing! This garment was too short In the
skirt, or too low in the neck, or too full
in the back; another did not fit her,
did not become her, Or did not suit her
notion in some trifing detail and so
she went through long list of articles
which are too sacl ed for public men
| ton, until at last she sat down and fold
ed her chubby hands and fretted and
cried, as women always do, and de-
clared she would never be able to get
through with it. But she did; for the
maids laughed at her, and wheedled
her, and coaxed her, until she finally
realized that the time was getting short,
and then, sly fox, she submitted with
out murmur ana allowed herself to be
arrayeo in as handsome an outfit as
| ever decked bride.
And such bride! o, Hymen! such a
bridel No rose ever put to blush a
sweeter face than that which bloomed
among the laces and ribbons and flow
ers; no stars ever outshone a pair of
brighter eyes than those which cleaned
through the folds of the bridal veil; no
sculptor e'er carved from alabaster such
arms and such shoulders, so white and
plump and rounding. How many a
| lonely bachelor stood spell-bound in the
presence of her beauty and her charms,
and sighed and wished that heaven had
sent him such a widow.
The hour came, and with it came the
minister and the many friends of the